The main 'Democratic' opponent in the upcoming primary of my local MO-2 House district has just posted an endorsement on his website that references our Progressive candidate in an unfriendly manner. He is the only candidate to have published anything in writing derogatory of anyone on the Democratic side. It almost seemed like we would have an attack-free primary.
I previously posted an
article about our local House race. Although the candidate I support
Rich Lesh was one of the first candidates, and the first I found when looking for an alternative to
Todd Akin, I did not immediately decide he would be the candidate I would most like to see elected. I investigated the other candidates as well, primarily the other newcomer to the race
Charles Karam. Karam filed on the last day, and seemed to come out of nowhere. But it turns out he has a long public history in the local newspapers. The articles I found relating to him solidified my intent to support Rich Lesh. I exchanged information on some of the articles I found with some folks via private email that Karam's campaign manager
Rory Riddler acquired a copy of this email, and accused me of attack politics on par with right wing web/newspaper attacks. Despite saying I did not intend to publicize my investigation of Karam, I did not back down from his accusations and threats to respond in kind. I maintained I was merely sharing public articles I had discovered with other citizens through private media, and had nothing to feel guilty about. Information wants to be free. I moved on from this event, and didn't let it concern me. However, I have now discovered that some very disingenuous comments about Rich Lesh are made in an editorial endorsement for Karam in the
First Capitol News of St. Charles.
I will first respond to the portion of this endorsement I find objectionable, and then point out some of the more interesting information I found related to Karam in my search that I had not previously intended to write about in any public forum, but Karam opting to use commentary about Rich on his Website has changed my mind.
"Charles main opponent in the Democratic Primary, Richard Lesh, is a Lindenwood University professor, who has had several business failures and whose wife is running for a State Representative seat at the same time. Lesh seems too far to the left to be a viable Democratic candidate. Karam is more moderate and has the strong support of organized labor."
- Saturday, July 08, 2006 - 'Anton' - First Capitol News, St. Charles.
First off, I will respond about his wife's candidacy. The Lesh's are a family that truely care about bringing about change in this country, and supporting Democracy everywhere. No candidate was willing to come forward the challenge the Republican incumbent in her race. She seems to feel that we should not leave any race unchallenged, and should always at least give the people a chance to voice their opposition to an ideology, even if it is a difficult district to win.
As far as business failures, what is wrong with a candidate who has experienced first hand some of the repercussions on our failed economic policies? My credit has yet to recover from layoffs I experienced at the beginning of the Bush reign, but that just gives me sympathy for the millions of other Americans with similar stories, and a determination to support candidates who will fight to fix our failed economic policies.
The comment fails to mention that Rich's last business was successful, but unfortunately his business partner no longer wanted to continue the company when Rich decided to run for office. Rich has sacrificed to help his family in the past, and will do the same for us. He would not use a political position for personal gain.
Rich also knows about many other issues first hand. He has a strong opinion on Stem Cell research, due to his father having Parkinson's. He has also locally fought to protect a day care center, and to ensure honest elections.
Karam has never held elected political office, despite attempting to run and losing in the past.
I'm apparently am not nearly the only local person with apparent concerns about Karam.
(alternate
google cache of former link)
First a quick TimeLine of information gathered from the St. Louis Post Dispatch, St. Louis River Front Times, and the Lebanese Forces forum (specific articles cited at end):
198?-199?-? - Charles Karam and Mark Brown are in business together purchasing real estate, and seemingly supporting each other's political aspirations.
1984 - Karam hired by the City of Overland
1984 - Mark Brown runs against local labor leader Cantrell for Missouri House and loses.
198? - Karam replaces Overland Public Works Director who had a required Professional Engineer certification and was making $36k/yr. Karam does not have his PE, and makes $49k/yr.
198?-now - Karam takes PE exam 4 times, and never passes.
1985 - Mark Brown runs for alderman against Cantrell protege, Quicke, challenges his residency in court, but still loses election.
1987 - Mark Brown runs for alderman and wins
1988 - St. Louis County Grand Jury indicts 2 men for Election Fraud in above election. One uses an address belonging to Mark Brown that Grand Jury claims is under construction, the other uses an address belonging to Karam's brother in Lebanon that the Grand Jury claims is under construction.
1989-1998 - Karam around an Overland governmental body involved in undocumented, questionable gun sales, FBI investigations into financial records, land sales, police pensions, and payroll files.
1990 - Mark Brown supports Republican Boeke against Cantrell, Boeke wins only after Cantrell is indicted on charges he is later cleared of.
1993 - Mark Brown runs for alderman, is challenged by Ruth Kelly, an 82 year old legally blind widow, who accuses him and others (including Karam) of corruption and cronyism. Accusations of vandalism, shadowing, and threats abound.
1993 - Karam sues Ruth Kelly for 1.16 million for slander. The only factually incorrect thing she claims is misquoting his salary as $60k/yr rather than $49k/yr. Her main accusation is pointing out his illegal status of Public Works Director without having a PE certification.
1993 - Overland City Council votes to remove requirement for Public Works Director to have PE certification.
1994 - Karam spends 80% of budget in first 6 months, article indicates they always run over budget.
1997 - Mayor Munsch and City Council attempt to give Karam larger pay raise than any other city employee, some Councilman think it inappropriate.
1998 - Mayor Munsch investigate by FBI for, among other things, using his position to financially benefit from land purchases through the city.
1998 - Mark Brown runs for Mayor of Overland and loses.
1999 - Karam fired as Public Works Director, cites plan to sue city.
2001 - Karam loses election for Councilman in Overland.
2004 - Charlie Dooley stops looking to County Council to approve land sales, and County approves sale of County property to Karam, $500 for one lot in Maplewood appraised at $35k, another lot in Webster Groves for $1k. Karam buys a smaller lot in Webster Groves through traditional methods for $65k.
2005 - Dooley appoints Karam to Metropolitan Sewer District's Board of Trustees. He is the first developer appointed since 1994, when Westfall removed all MSD Council due to there being too many developers and folks involved in industries related to the MSD's responsibilities being on it, and accusations they were too favorable to developers.
2006 - 'Seeman', a self-professed friend of Charles Karam looks for support for Karam on the Lebanese Forces Official Forums. Most forum users claim they do not support Democrats, only Republicans. 'Seeman' says there is no difference, and admits to normally supporting Republicans.
The seemingly recurring theme of officials benefiting from purchases of public land (albeit seemingly primarily through condemnation proceedings, or proceedings over past due property taxes) doesn't seem to exclude Karam. This becomes even more curious when we look into his Campaign Manager.
Rory Riddler is a notorius pro-ponent of the new version of Eminent Domain for economic development.
Rory also happens to have a regular column in the First Capitol News called The City Desk.
Be aware that these are bullet points I have strung together that I think show a somewhat interesting pattern. I have chatted with many folks in MO-2 that have little interest in voting, as they feel that too many politicians on all sides are corrupt.
On issues, some members of my local West County Democrats were given indications by Charles in person that he is Pro-Life, Pro-School Vouchers, Pro-Merit Pay. This upset many local folks who do not want to see public education further weakened. Charles has since officially claimed he is not for School Vouchers.
In general, I think Charles has a good stand on the issues. He would certainly be better than Akin on issues alone. However he does not have Rich's grassroots support, he has ties to many un-popular political figures, and has alienated the Progressive community.
Although Karam seems to have gotten some Union endorsements, despite many claims that the Unions would wait until after the contested election to endorse anyone, The Progressive Democrats of America have opted to endorse Rich. Rich is at the top of the ballet, and the campaign has great momentum. The only people to Challenge Todd Akin in recent past elections have been Conservative Democrats, and they have had little luck.
I have been volunteering for Rich, and among other things I have helped on has been a phone survey of local sentiment that has not reached a large enough sample size yet to be decently scientific. Although currently is seems to show a majority of people in the 2nd District feel our country is on the Wrong Track. This is a time to show the community a clear choice and difference between the Democrats and Republicans, and I truely think a Populist candidate here could surprise a lot of folks.
If you are inclined to support Populist/Progressive candidates in Red States to ensure that Republicans will have to fight everywhere, I strongly encourage you to look into his campaign.
References to articles mentioning Karam (Post-Dispatch archive requires payment for articles):
'Two Accused of Fraud in Overland Election' - Mary E. Chollet - St. Louis Post Dispatch - Jan. 23, 1988
'Woman 82, Puts Punch in Politics Campaign Peppered by Charges, Fliers' - Thom Gross - St. Louis Post Dispatch - Mar. 22, 1993
'Overland Official's Suit Accuses Ex-Candidate of Libel, Slander' - Thom Gross - St. Louis Post Dispatch - Apr. 14, 1993
'Lower Engineer Standard Draws Only One Protest' - Lia Nower - St. Louis Post Dispatch - Sep. 16, 1993
'Board to Decide on Funds for Parties, Parks' - Lia Nower - St. Louis Post Dispatch - Jan. 24, 1994
'City Council Wrangling Over Proposal For Director of Public Works' Pay Hike' - Chris Vogt - St. Louis Post Dispatch - Sep. 18, 1997
'FBI Investigation Delves Into City's Files, Financial Records, Focus Includes Land Sale, Police Pension and Payroll Files Ex-Mayor's Actions Will Be Checked' - Margaret Gillerman - St. Louis Post Dispatch - Aug. 10 1998
'Blue-Light Special - When it came to guns, the Overland cops weren't just playing around' - Roland Klose - St. Louis River Front Times - Aug. 02, 2000
'Dooley Sets Policy on Land Sales' - Phil Sutin - St. Louis Post Dispatch - Mar. 24, 2004
'Builder Stands to Get Lot For Just $1,000' - Martin Van Der Werf - St. Louis Post Dispatch - Mar. 23, 2004
'Developer Will Join MSD's Board of Trustees' - Phil Sutin - St. Louis Post Dispatch - Feb. 5, 2005
Lebanese Forces Official Forums - 'Seeman' thread about Charles Karam - Mar. 26 2006