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Friday, December 15, 2006

Pepper got $450,000 from parents

Howard Wilkinson reports in Saturday's Enquirer:

Democrat David Pepper, the winning candidate in the Hamilton County commissioner’s race, got a late infusion of $450,000 in cash from his parents.

Pepper said he had to do it, because it was the only way to catch up with the fundraising of his opponent, Republican incumbent Phil Heimlich.

“We decided to fight fire with fire,’’ Pepper said. “It comes down to a choice of whether you choose to lose or you choose to compete. We chose to compete.’’

A record $2.7 million was raised by the two candidates, with Heimlich raising $1.390 million and Pepper raising $1.341 million, according to post-election campaign finance reports filed Friday with the Hamilton County Board of Elections.

Up until mid-October, Heimlich held a substantial fundraising advantage over Pepper. Pepper said that, by that time, he could see Heimlich’s campaign still making large television ad buys and said he decided to ask his parents for help.

“There really aren’t any other people I would feel comfortable asking for that kind of money,’’ he said.

His mother, Frances Pepper, gave her son’s campaign $350,000. His father, former Procter & Gamble chairman John Pepper, gave another $100,000.

The reports filed Friday – which covered the period from Oct. 19 through the Nov. 7 election – showed that Heimlich’s fundraising slowed considerably in the final weeks of the campaign, after leading Pepper by a substantial margin earlier.

In the final period, Heimlich had $242,042 in contributions, compared to $494,356 for Pepper.


42 Comments:

at 7:21 PM, December 15, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

These are auctions not elections! We don't have anything close to a democracy.

We suffer from Plutocracy and Daddyism!

 
at 7:45 PM, December 15, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yuck.

Guess it's better to get money from one's parents than hundreds of thousands from Uncle Carl, Uncle Richard (Farmer), etc., who have been buying elections around here for years.

 
at 8:30 PM, December 15, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'd much rather see a good man get money from family and not be expected to do anything for it except make them proud, than
a bad man getting a bunch of money from people who expect him to pay them back through government contracts, insider deals, and pay to play politics that is the hallmark of Hamilton COunty and Ohio.

Let me say, "Thank you!" Pepper family for believing in your son and having the wealth to displace a corrupt, politician like Heimlich and his croonies and free us from the strangle hold he and HIS campaign contributors normally have on Hamilton COunty.

Thank God, the Pepper family had the means to meet that SOB dollar for dollar - Heimlich didn't get to buy this election!!!!!!

 
at 8:34 PM, December 15, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Is it a wonder how righteousness overcame the greed of Heimlich and his big corporation dollars and the usual big players who have been controlling local and state politics.

 
at 8:43 PM, December 15, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

What's the difference between Pepper getting money from Big Daddy and Heimlich getting money from Uncle Carl?
The taxpayers would have had to pay Uncle Carl back in spades, and Big Daddy will just reduce it from Pepper's share of the eventual inheritance.

I'd think we, again, got the better deal with Pepper

David Pepper must have really been on a mission if he was willing to stake his OWN money on it.

Heimlich just wanted everyone else to pay his way - no matter how it turned out.

 
at 8:51 PM, December 15, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

The Enquirer's attack plan on Pepper is pathetic. First, we have the "spending your money" crap regarding normal, necessary and unavoidable expenses that merely replace the expenses Heimlcih charged to taxpayers - including his "staff" working on the county dime to run his campaign, send out literature and make phone calls - now, we have this
Where's the list of campaign contributors for Heimlich and the business connection in county government.

 
at 4:37 AM, December 16, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

We just allowed ourselves to be bought and sold by Richie Rich's parents. It takes skill to raise money or to earn millions yourself to turn around and spend on a campaign. It takes nothing to cash checks from your rich parents. David Pepper can't accomplish anything on his own merits so he relies on his parents to buy his success that he can't earn for himself.

And I got some news for the white Pepperbots who think those donations came without strings. Just wait until Richie Rich's father wants the county to give money to the Freedom Center.

 
at 8:02 AM, December 16, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

For a considerably more thorough report, read today's Post article by Joe Wessels.

 
at 9:23 AM, December 16, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

like the song says, money makes the world go round. its refreshing to see someone who believes in principles enough to go this length to fund their campaign. glad to see a monkeywrench thrown into the old machine.

 
at 9:37 AM, December 16, 2006 Blogger Nasty, Brutish & Short said...

Mrs. Pepper must have put all the money she saved buying clothes for David from Kmart, and put it aside for the special day when he would need a $450,000 campaign contribution.

Mom's are sweet.

 
at 10:55 AM, December 16, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

....Just wait until Richie Rich's father wants the county to give money to the Freedom Center....

Sure is easy to tell when a wRong wingnut whaco sticks their ugly head out !

John Pepper has no personal motive in the freedom center !

No, in fact, the freedom center is true public service !

Unlike hindlick, Pepper actually succeed in getting a development on the banks of the Ohio. It is a museum benefiting all citizens and enjoyed by those who value history.

It is not political quid pro as evidenced by the wRong wingnut whackos pouring money into the "culture of corruption" politicians for self serving, pocket lining, death preserving, taxpaying, corporate welfare !

HAD ENOUGH, VOTE DEMOCRAT 2007 !

second note:

sure hope it was a loan !

THANK YOU, JOHN and FRANCES for making the personal financial sacrifice for the good of all citizens in Hamilton County, Ohio.

We are proud and have faith in your son, as well !!!

 
at 12:32 PM, December 16, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

"a bad man getting a bunch of money from people who expect him to pay them back through government contracts, insider deals, and pay to play politics that is the hallmark of Hamilton COunty and Ohio."

Pepper takes money from Uncle Carl and all the same people.

"Thank God, the Pepper family had the means to meet that SOB dollar for dollar - Heimlich didn't get to buy this election!!!!!!"
Yeah, Pepper's Daddy did.

Bring the troops home to Hamilton County. We need a real Democracy here instead of oligarchy.

 
at 12:37 PM, December 16, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...



Happy Political Correct Holidays !

 
at 12:38 PM, December 16, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Here's some of who bought Pepper his seat besidews his mommy and daddy.

From a real reporter at the Post!

"It was a virtual who's who of local business executives, including Convergys Corp. CEO James Orr; Neil Bortz father of Cincinnati City Council Member Chris Bortz and a principal of Towne Properties LLC; Corporex CEO Bill Butler, whose company pulled out as the master developer on The Banks project last year, and Jack Rouse, chairman of the Port Authority, which was responsible for developing The Banks until the commission took over that task"

 
at 1:13 PM, December 16, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

The report must have some mistakes. Chris Finney name is no where to be found.

 
at 1:48 PM, December 16, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Let's just wait and see what David Pepper does, not how he got there...

And yes, sadly enough, American politics is for sale and everybody who reads this blog knows it... But that's the sad state of affairs for both political parties; not just one...

Is there anybody out there who just truly wants to represent people in order to make their lives better, to fight for people who have to work for a living, to fight for senior citizens, and your children and your families?

Is there anybody out there who doesn't have a finacial goldmine but has to work to get people to believe in their candidacy? Is the Enquirer ever going to be willing to pay attention to candidates who have to do things the old fashioned way?

Is there anybody out there who believes that America should not go to the highest bidder?

Anybody?

 
at 2:05 PM, December 16, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

That should say, for an UNBIASED report - read the Cincinnati Post

 
at 2:32 PM, December 16, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

The only skill Heimlich needed was greed and the weak character required to be willing to barter away public interests against self serving, big bucks from like minded people

And for idiots who aren't paying attention - Pepper has already said he will not and cannot, vote on any matter that involves the Freedom Center or other business deal he or his family is involved in.

Now, on the other hand, Heimlich was all about using his position
to forward his personal holdings and stakes - that's why he wasn't reelected - the majority of Hamitlon County residents, including Republicans, knew Heimlich had put a "For Sale" sign up on the county public business.

Let's see where Heimlcih ends up working ( and I use that term losely)- will it be for Finney the Foul-mouthed, fanny-spanking Fink, or for the un-Health(y) Alliance that Heimlich gifted with the Drake Center? Maybe Uncle Carl will give this washed up politician a place in his businesses or better yet, the santumonious church-front used to appeal to the blind -Christian-followers who see nothing except a steeple with a cross on it and think that condones allthe evil they do everyday to their fellow man.....

 
at 9:20 PM, December 16, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

"“We decided to fight fire with fire,’’ Pepper said. “It comes down to a choice of whether you choose to lose or you choose to compete. We chose to compete.’’

So I guess Pepper couldn't win on message alone?

I see he owes the corporate interests quite a bit...what happened to our real democrats?

 
at 10:36 PM, December 16, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm "anybody" - I have dedicated over 10 years to helping this community, working every day with out pay, recognized by numerous groups for fighting on behalf of "regualr citizens" - but when the Enquirer did an expose about my so-called good deeds - they had to take little, under handed jabs at me. Insults. Innuendo.

How can I, if I had the nerve to stick my hand out and ask for money - subject my kids and family to those kinds of unjustified attacks -- Lord, what would happen if I - or the numerous other volunteers who work merely to serve - actually entered a race.
And, until the money is taken care of - it really can't be done.

We really need serious limits on campaign finances and equality. Otherwise, our poole of candidates is limited to those with personal wealth

 
at 6:48 PM, December 17, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

This bickering is idiotic.

I hope when Davy is spending MY money he gets about the business of controlling crime and bringing people back downtown.

Maybe he can get daddy to spring for more police and better funding for the law enforcement community in Hamilton County.

 
at 10:27 PM, December 17, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

All of those people who are on Peppers side. If the reverse had happened and the Republican Canidate had gotten money from his Parents in the form of almost half a million dollars I can see what you would say. You would have said it was another rich kid republican getting money from his parents who were buying him an election. Well the rich kid was a democrat. You all are ridiculous.

Then as proven both canidates got lots of money from companies and idividuals who may or may not be buying favors in the future. And as proven also Pepper got plenty of money from people who have alot to gain my what happens in the "Banks" project on the river.
It is sad how so many of you make an arguement one way if a de. does or gets something and will make the reverse arguement if it is a republican. I am sure if Heimlich had gotten half a million from his family you would all be crying foul.

Oh and Mr. I call everyone I don't like or agree with a "wRong wingnut wacko" First that museum is a money pit on the river. Maybe before we poured so much money into something like that we should think about it first. Also very original you calling people the samething all the time.

 
at 9:40 AM, December 18, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dear Mother and Father Pepper,

I would really like to be a County Commissioner for Christmas....errrr, the Holidays. Last year, Santa did not bring me the Mayor's seat, so I was really good this year. If I get this, I will serve the Freedom Center and P&G....errr, I mean the citizens of Hamilton County.

Your son,
David A. Pepper

 
at 10:47 AM, December 18, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dear Mom, Dad, and Uncle Carl and Richard:

I really appreciate the $100,000s you gave me in the campaign--plus that great Mitt Romney event where you guys made so many calls to arm-twist contributions from even those who hate me. We raised a half-million for that alone.

Sorry I completely blew it. For the first time, I had to run against an opponent who actually could put up a fight. It stinks to actually have to win on the merits. Plus, since you forced me to hire Ron, everything sort of went down hill.

I'll be calling you soon for my next campaign.

Phil

 
at 4:23 PM, December 18, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dear Mom and Dad:

I'm so glad, I was able to arm twist the theft of Drake !

Now, could you talk to your buddies and get me a trumped up consulting contact with your alliance ?

Thanks,

Phil, the finney fanny, Hindlick !

HAD ENOUGH, VOTE DEMOCRAT 2007 !

 
at 6:46 PM, December 18, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dear annoying bold-type guy,

Our city has just suffered it's 81st murder of the year. Why can't our Democratic-run city get our crime problem under control? We look like a party can't fight crime.

~M

 
at 12:51 PM, December 19, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey Mr. call everyone wRong wing wacko!!

Your freedom center that you think is so great lost 5.5 million in 18 months. Now they are getting millions from the state(that is yours and my tax dollars). And they say they are going to need another 10million in the upcoming years.
Great to see how the Pepper family is doing a bang up job. We are going to keep paying millions for something that was poorly planned. It was also promissed that this would cost no more tax dollars just a year or so ago.

Yea you are full of good ideas.

 
at 2:54 PM, December 19, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

...Hey Mr. call everyone wRong wing wacko!!

Your freedom center that you think is so great lost 5.5 million in 18 months. Now they are getting millions from the state(that is yours and my tax dollars). And they say they are going to need another 10million in the upcoming years.
Great to see how the Pepper family is doing a bang up job. We are going to keep paying millions for something that was poorly planned. It was also promissed that this would cost no more tax dollars just a year or so ago.

Yea you are full of good ideas.....

So what !

We are paying Billions to pad the pockets of connected wRong wingnut whackos in Iraq !

We are paying billions for airports, roads, etc.

Cincinnati was a major beacon for history in the underground railroad !

It now has a beacon landmark on our Ohio banks !

What have the wRong wingnut whackos placed on the "Banks" ?

PATHETIC !

Here is another great idea:

HAD ENOUGH, VOTE DEMOCRAT 2007 !

 
at 3:01 PM, December 19, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

M. Mallory said...
Dear annoying bold-type guy,

Our city has just suffered it's 81st murder of the year. Why can't our Democratic-run city get our crime problem under control? We look like a party can't fight crime.

~M

It is not hard to find your answer:

wRong wingnuts control the courthouse, police, county sheriff !

The, do nothing, blame everyone else, wRong wingnut whacko, cronies need crime to pad their payrolls and build larger jails !!

Hey, let's arrest everyone for jaywalking or putting a quarter in a parking meter for another citizen !

PATHETIC !

HAD ENOUGH, VOTE DEMOCRAT 2007 !

 
at 3:07 PM, December 19, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

....Dear annoying bold-type guy,....

....Hey Mr. call everyone wRong wing wacko!!....

I want to talk about me !

I want to talk about I.

I want to talk about number one, Oh my, oh my !!

As long as the wRong wingnut whackos continue to follow, I shall lead !

Repeat after me:

I've HAD ENOUGH, VOTE DEMOCRAT 2007 !

 
at 6:06 PM, December 19, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

The comment that the guy made was about the sinkhole on the river. The Freedom Center. They promised not use anymore tax money. Now they are coming back to ask for millions and millions and say they will ask for more.

You BOLD FACE GUY, had to go off and comment about things totally unrelated. Roads, Airports, etc. Guess what we need Roads and Airports.

I bet if this was a republican running the Freedom Center you would be yelling and screaming about wasting your money.

They lied about no more taxes going into the Freedom Center. You can go off on other things but you cannot defend the fact that they have no plan to make the finances for the Freedom Center work. They lies and now they want our money. I could care less who is running it. But it has been a failure.

 
at 6:10 PM, December 19, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

I don't think anyone wants to arrest anyone for Jaywalking so stop the stupid statements.

The city of Cincinnati Rep. and Dems. are all at fault for the Crime and murders in this city. They have all done a terrible job of working toward a solution.

Maybe the guy in Bold face could admit that noone has done a good job with this and maybe the guy who said he was M. Mallory could admit that also.

To blame one person or group is not right. This is not a Rep. or Dem. problem. This is a larger issue. So stop blamming each other and lets work for a solution.

 
at 6:11 PM, December 19, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Can you explain your comments

I want to talk about me. I want to talk about I. I want to talk about number one.

Please explain to us what that means.

 
at 10:21 PM, December 19, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

....I bet if this was a republican running the Freedom Center you would be yelling and screaming about wasting your money...

What political party is John Pepper affiliated with, clueless ?

...They lies and now they want our money. I could care less who is running it. But it has been a failure....

Whoes be they lies ? fanny finney ?

...I don't think anyone wants to arrest anyone for Jaywalking so stop the stupid statements....

Think again, clueless ! How do you think they round up homeless ?

...I want to talk about me. I want to talk about I. I want to talk about number one Please explain to us what that means....

think country music and how redneck wRong wingnut whackos want to post about a bold blogger's comments rather than the, so called, fishwRap news article !

....Maybe the guy in Bold face could admit that noone has done a good job with this and maybe the guy who said he was M. Mallory could admit that also.....

I don't think I know: noone !
Are they an elected official ?

...But it has been a failure....

Now finney fanny, perhaps you should visit the center ! We can tell you are clueless and spewing the wRong wingnut propaganda !

PATHETIC !

HAD ENOUGH, VOTE DEMOCRAT 2007 !

 
at 10:22 AM, December 20, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

...They lied about no more taxes going into the Freedom Center.

They Lied !

If the U.S. government doesn't plan to occupy Iraq for any longer than necessary, why is it spending billions of dollars to build "enduring" bases?

PATHETIC !

Tired of LIES !

HAD ENOUGH, VOTE DEMOCRAT 2007 !

 
at 2:31 PM, December 20, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey I don't like the war. I want us out.

But the comment on the Freedom Center had nothing to do with the war.

You can't admit thay we have been lied to about the fact that no new taxes would be used on the Freedom Center. You turn that comment and bring the war into it.

Freedom center is costing millions in tax dollars. We were lied to to. That has nothing to do with the War.

Lets see you don't like a comment so you bring up the war??? I see where you tell other to talk about the articles or the comments and then you go off on something like that.

Once agian the coments have nothing to do with the war. If you want to start a blog on the war go for it.

 
at 2:34 PM, December 20, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey Bold face guy. You get mad when people make comments about your posts and not the article??? You do the exact same thing all of the time. And then all you do is throw out insults and slam others. You call them names and make personnal attacks.

You do just what you insult others for doing.

 
at 2:48 PM, December 20, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

...You do just what you insult others for doing....

Spin, Spin, Spin

Liar, Liar, schmidt'y pants on fire !

Not hard to tell when a wRong wingnut whacko sticks their finney fanny out !

PATHETIC !

HAD ENOUGH, VOTE DEMOCRAT 2007 !

 
at 10:17 PM, December 20, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Spin, Spin, Spin that is exactly what you are doing BOLD FACE GUY!!

Anytime you don't like a comment you call names and then when you have no comment to make you SPIN AND SPIN more. You tried to spin a discussion on the Freedon Center into a discussion about the war.

You mentioned comething about Schmidty pants on fire?? Well if you are talking about Jean Schmidt I don't like her either and voted against her. So you just lump me into a group, because I did not agree with you. That is real open minded of you.

Thank you for the insult that did not even fit me. How enlightened of you.

 
at 11:00 PM, December 21, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

....Thank you for the insult that did not even fit me. How enlightened of you.....

Hey self identified wRong wingnut whacko: just because your paranoid doesn't mean there isn't someone out to get you !

PATHETIC !

HAD ENOUGH, VOTE DEMOCRAT 2007 !

 
at 12:09 PM, December 23, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

No, not paranoid at all. Just pointing out your lack of ability to facr the facts and talk about them. Just pointing out your intolerant attitude toward those with a different opinion than yours. You name call and act like a jerk to those you don't like. You might be able to have a discussion with me and others if you would show you can have a point without insulting those you don't like.

 
at 12:59 PM, December 25, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey bubba, thanks for revealing your character and true ability !

The online community can see that the whacko wRong wingnuts are all "TWISTED" !

This is more fun than watching finney show his fanny at ivorydale !

I've never witnessed a stuttering keyboard before !

Are you a da, da, whiner !

lol, lol, lol, lol

PATHETIC !

HAD ENOUGH, VOTE DEMOCRAT 2007 !

 
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