FDP FACING FINANCIAL CRUNCH...AGAIN!
With the Florida Democratic Party, if it ain't one crisis to be faced, it's another. That has been the recent history of the state party organization, as it has faced --- and survived --- one financial crunch after another. This time, it's the IRS that is carrying the billy club.
It seems that for at least a couple of years the FDP didn't pay federal payroll or Social Security taxes which had been withheld from party employees, a HUGE NO-NO! As a result, on May 12 the IRS filed a $190,000 lien against the organization, which has now mushroomed with penalties to more than $200,000.
Not only that, party officials have now ordered an independent audit to determine what happened to more than $900,000 which is unaccounted for.
This is potentially catastrophic to the gubernatorial candidacy of former Tallahassee mayor and party chairman Scott Maddox, under whose watch these occured. He has reportedly assured new chairwoman Karen Thurman that he had left the FDP financially sound when he resigned earlier this year to run for office.
The question of large amounts of unaccounted funds is not new. Maddox was asked about that the day Ms. Thurman was elected chair, and simply said that audits found everything fine.
This is a extremely troubling situation which I'm almost certain that our opposition will try to take advantage of. I agree with Hillsborough County DEC Chairwoman Janee Murphy, who told the St. Petersburg Times "We can't go out there and battle the Republicans or anything else until we get our house in order."
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Feel free to forward to anyone…
Thank you to everyone who expressed their well wishes over the past few days. It means a lot to know that many of you remain committed to electing Scott as the next governor of this state.
I am writing to you today to provide answers to many of the questions you may have regarding the financial situation at the FDP and Scott Maddox’s leadership as Chairman.
Initial Reports About Party Finances Were Erroneous; All FDP Funds Are 100% Accounted For
Initial news reports of a "missing" $900,000 were utterly incorrect, based on an error by a Party stiffer tasked with completing the myriad of state and federal campaign finance reports required in a fast-paced presidential election year.
Bottom line: Over the past 48 hours, a more careful review of Florida Democratic Party records has confirmed that all FDP funds for 2003-2004 are 100% present and accounted for. The FDP's 2004 campaign finance reports are now being corrected to properly reflect that every dime of Party money during Scott’s tenure as FDP Chairman is fully accounted for. This situation is not unique to Florida: Democratic Party organizations in several battleground states experienced similar reporting challenges in 2004, largely due to complexities arising from the brand new McCain-Feingold campaign finance law.
Resolution Of Party FICA Tax Issue Already In Place; Scott Stands Up And Takes Responsibility For Staffer's Error
Scott is making good on his immediate and solemn promise to help correct 2003's unpaid FICA tax error. He has been working with the new FDP leadership and officials at the Democratic National Committee to secure a DNC loan, allowing the Party to pay its outstanding obligations. I think that this situation is truly reflective of Scott’s personal character and leadership style: his insistence on accepting full responsibility for the actions of his staff is uncommon in a day and age when too many politicians attempt to shirk responsibility and shift blame during challenging times. Like everyone else, Scott only learned of the bookkeeping error -- which led to the accidental non-payment of some 2003 FDP FICA taxes -- two days ago. Unlike the President or our Governor, Scott immediately accepted full responsibility for the actions of his staff and found a solution to the problem. In my opinion, there is nothing more gubernatorial than the ability to respond to a public crisis quickly and calmly, like Scott has done over these past few days.
Scott’s Leadership Is Rooted In His Unequivocal Courage And Bravery.
Throughout his career Scott has fearlessly fought for what is right in America and to protect those that have been harmed. Unlike many politicians today, he leads by example—rather than through empty promises and rhetoric. When the time came for someone to step-up and lead the Florida Democratic Party in 2002, Scott accepted the challenge. There were many people that said he should not do it because there was such a huge downside. Many of you have faced the same decision. You were forced to either to step in to find solutions and begin to rebuild our party or remain on the sidelines and continue to talk about our problems from a distance. By the simple fact that you are a DEC officer you have agreed to step up and take responsibility for others. You have accepted the challenge just like Scott did three years ago. And with this responsibility comes the understanding that things may go wrong, that there may be problems that occur outside of your control that you will have to fix. But you understand, just like Scott does, that it is more important to fight for the Democratic Party than to worry about the risks involved or the personal sacrifices you will have to make. It took a tremendous amount of courage to accept a job with no guarantee of success. And it takes a brave man to stand up and take responsibility to rebuild our Party.
It is a fact that the FDP is better off today than it was before Maddox took over.
We can concentrate on the ‘should of, would of, could of’ mentalities, but that would be denying the truth. Very few people can disagree with the facts that the FDP: acquired more technology, increased staff professionalism and response, spent over $80,000 in the small counties, provided training around the state, developed new effective communication procedures, helped campaigns in areas that they had never been done before, worked to help elect 4 out of 5 Mayors in the states largest cities, and more.
Many of us have been involved in the Party for years, and we understand that there will always be more work we can do—and we will continue to work at it. Scott is committed, above all else, to working to rebuild the Democratic Party here in Florida and across the Nation. He has made numerous personal sacrifices towards this end and will continue to do so throughout his political career.
Maddox for Governor Campaign Racing Forward On All Cylinders.
This campaign is the campaign of those that choose to work and build the Democratic Party back into what it use to be: the party of FDR, JFK and Clinton. The Party that works for an equal starting point for all Americans, the Party that works to protect our environment and chooses people over power. The campaign is full-steam ahead as we build on Scott’s electrifying appearance at the annual Jefferson-Jackson Day Gala two weeks ago. Scott has already been endorsed for Governor by Republican and Democratic Mayors, local elected officials, and Democratic Party leaders across the state. Thousands of Floridians are joining Scott’s campaign to bring fresh new leadership to the Governor's office, and finally put everyday Floridians first again...every single day.
I hope that this email has answered your questions: no money missing, FICA situation being worked out. It is time now for those out there spreading false accusations to stop. As we all know there are a few individuals that have been flaming these rumors in an attempt to further there position in the Party structure. Many of you have expressed anger over this, and I am sure that these individuals will be forced to deal with the repercussions that they have created. Anyone with a personal agenda who continues to fuel this fire is spreading falsehoods that damage and disparage a Democratic Party that the rest of us believe in so deeply. I am outraged and ashamed of anyone who tears down our Party simply to build up their personal profile or promote their selfish political ambitions.
I hope that those of you looking to place blame on Scott will see through this smoke screen and see that the FDP is continuing to move forward.
Democrats are getting elected in places where they said it couldn’t be done. We still out number the Republicans here in Florida, and we still have a tremendous grass roots organization that is unifying to elect a Democratic Governor and Cabinet, and to re-elect Senator Nelson. I think we all can agree, now is not the time to form circular firing squads. We have to continue to search out the problems in our party, find solutions and move on to the next situation. There are too many people in our state without healthcare, and too many students not graduating from High School for us to fold from within. We have to join together to elect Democrats that will work to find answers to these problems and the many more that we face here in Florida together.
If there are any further concerns or questions please feel free to contact me at 850-224-2006.
Thank you for your continued work and support of the Florida Democratic Party.
Respectfully,
Christopher Petley
Maddox for Florida. For Governor.
www.ScottMaddox.com
850.224.2006
850.224.1277 fax
mr. petley -
please sir, breathe in deeply. that smell is coffee. now wake up.
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