Two candidates for Federal Office, running on the Democratic Ticket, have apparently failed to file their organization and financial disclosures with the Federal Election Commission.
It is time for South Carolina Democrats to make transparency and openness about campaign finances a priority for all our candidates as well as the candidates of other parties. South Carolina Republicans should do the same regarding the non filers within their own party as well.
Detailed information on two Democratic non filers, whose sources of support apparently remain secret are discussed in the body of this post.
The FEC Website (www.fec.gov) reports that Alvin M. Green, running for the Democratic Nomination United States Senate, has "reported no financial activity" even though he paid a Ten Thousand, Four Hundred Dollar filing fee in March, 2010.
An initial filing of organizational documents for the campaign would have been due within 15 days of receiving 5000 dollars or more. A full financial disclosure filing, reflecting donations including loans and contributions by the candidate himself was due April 15. Mr. Green and all the candidates were apparently provided with basic Federal FEC Compliance Information when they filed to run with the State Democratic Party and were warned of the serious consequences of not filing, which can include a Federal felony conviction and a term of imprisonment.
It also appears that Brian Lamont Doyle, a candidate running for the Democratic Nomination for the 3rd. Congressional District who was able to pay a filing fee and the costs of litigation, has likewise failed to file with the FEC. Doyle has also distributed large amounts of yard signs and other campaign materials which would indicate he has been raising funds.
It appears that several other candidates, Democrat and Republican, have missed their filing deadlines and that the date of the primary approaches without voters being able to assess who is funding these campaigns.
Given the overwhelming power of money in South Carolina politics, where campaign budgets are often low and political polarization is very high, it’s important to know who is funding these campaigns.
South Carolina has had an unfortunate history of phantom candidates planted in the opposing party’s primaries to disrupt the electoral process. Without financial disclosure prior to the primary, it may be impossible to tell who is being funded by the opposition.
In 2008 a "Ron Paul Democrat" captured the Democratic Nomination to run against Republican Lindsey Graham, resulting in a race for the US Senate where the Republican was to the left of the "Democrat." The debates and campaign were an embarrassing proof that the system had been profoundly compromised.
In the past, an unsophisticated candidate was recruited and paid to run by political manipulators, resulting in a conviction and prison term for a campaign manager who planted a candidate in the Democratic primary. Penalties were then limited to a find, but have since been increased. Paying someone to run for political office in SC now carries a prison term of one year. Violations of election laws can result in a person being permanently stripped of their right to vote. An incident in 1990 was widely reported. New York Times Article on 1990 Election Scandal
Failure to file violates Federal Law and undermines the integrity of the election process. Many campaigns of both parties in SC have expended the considerable effort to make complete and revealing filings. You can now read their April reports on the FEC website. http://www.fec.gov/...
Please contact the Federal Election Commission and call upon them to act to be sure that these candidates file full and complete disclosures of organization and contribution before the June 8th’ primary. Send a copy to the State Democratic Party and encourage them to join in our effort to secure transparent election disclosures in South Carolina.
You can contact the Federal Election Commission with your concerns in several ways:
E-mail - oig@fec.gov
Call - 1-202-694-1015 (Collect calls accepted)
Mail - Federal Election Commission Office of Inspector General 999 E Street, NW Room 940 Washington, DC 20463
Fax 1-202-501-8134
Please copy the State Democratic party with your concern. Chairwoman Carol Fowler receives email at
cfowler@scdp.org