You are on eastlansinginfo.org, ELi's old domain, which is now an archive of news (as of early April, 2020). If you are looking for the latest news, go to eastlansinginfo.news and update your bookmarks accordingly!
ASK ELi: Who Funded Nathan Triplett's Campaign?
Friday, June 19, 2015, 12:55 am
Image: Courtesy City of East Lansing
The question this week: Who funded Nathan Triplett’s campaign?
Some background: Two weeks ago, we answered a reader’s inquiry about who funded Susan Woods’ campaign for Council. In response, readers asked us to also examine and report who funded the other current Councilmembers’ campaigns. I asked our Managing Editor Ann Nichols to roll a die to determine which campaign I’d review next. Last week we reviewed Ruth Beier’s campaign donors. This week we look at Nathan Triplett’s.
Triplett was first elected to City Council in November of 2007. He was re-elected in November of 2011, and elected by Council to be Mayor in November of 2013. He is running for reelection in November (read our report). We look here only at the campaign documents from the cycle of his most recent completed campaign in order to have a parallel comparison to what we did with Woods and Beier.
How I investigated the answer: I went to the Ingham County Clerk elections website and clicked on “campaign finance report search” and then searched under Triplett’s name. Doing so gave me all the correspondence about his campaign. (You can do this with any candidate.) I focused on the campaign reports marked “received” February 1, 2009, October 28, 2011, and December 8, 2011, because those are the ones that listed his donors from his last completed campaign cycle.
What the campaign finance reports show: From the time Triplett began accepting campaign contributions for his last campaign cycle, in December of 2008 through his re-election in November of 2011, his campaign collected $12,060 in contributions. (I find no donations after the election.) The donations are shown below in table form. Here is what they show:
About 30% of Triplett’s donations came from East Lansing residents with no apparent business with the City, totaling $3,655. These came from 57 of the 148 individuals or entities that donated to Triplett’s campaign in this cycle.
Triplett’s campaign shows strong support from Democrats and Democrat-associated causes. His campaign received $2,575 from political funding sources (e.g., other people’s campaigns or PACs), bringing those donations from 16 entities to about 17% of his campaign total. These included $1,000 from a union political fund, $100 from a union PAC, and $700 from two LGBT PACs. In addition to that $2,575, Triplett also accepted three donations from Kevin McKinney, a lobbyist, totaling $300.
As far as donations from people with known business dealings with the City, Triplett accepted $220 from Jim Little, owner of H&H Mobil, which is the company the City calls most for towing of cars with violations. From Joe McGuire, President of Wolverine Development (a developer and commercial real estate company with projects in East Lansing), Triplett accepted $200. Triplett also accepted $200 from Kevin McGraw, principle in the development company River Caddis (of Trowbridge Plaza and the project at the site of the old Blue Cross building at Coolidge and Lake Lansing Road). From David Krause, a local developer (e.g., “The Residences”), Triplett accepted $200. These all amount to $820 or 6.8% of his campaign total.
Triplett’s campaign also accepted a $500 “gift in kind” from Paul Vlahakis, who owns a local commercial real estate company/developer, because Vlahakis is an owner of Dublin Square and the restaurant gave Triplett space and food worth $500 in March, 2011 for a fundraiser. In addition, the General Manager of Dublin Square gave another $500 “gift in kind” of the same type to Triplett’s campaign in October, 2011 for another fundraiser.
Donor information : The campaign reports marked “received” February 1, 2009, October 28, 2011, and December 8, 2011 show the following:
|
Person |
Info |
Date |
Amount |
|
Craig S. Covey |
Ferndale, MI |
12/8/08 |
80 |
|
IBEW - COPE |
Union political fund |
2/9/08 |
1,000 |
|
Jim Little |
Owner of H&H Mobil (company city calls for towing) |
3/9/11 and 3/29/11 |
220 |
|
Karen Merrill |
Lansing, MI |
3/9/11 |
50 |
|
William Rittenberg |
Touraine, East Lansing |
3/9/11 |
25 |
|
Diane Springer |
Farmington Hills, MI |
3/10/11 and 10/8/11 |
150 |
|
Erick Williams |
Old Hickory Lane, East Lansing; administrative law judge for Michigan |
3/1/11 and 3/29/11 and 10/12/11 |
290 |
|
Sandra Draggoo |
Haslett, MI |
3/10/11 and 9/29/11 |
100 |
|
Winifred Motherwell |
Haslett, MI |
3/10/11 and 8/23/11 and 10/3/11 |
100 |
|
Sally Silver |
Bailey Street, East Lansing |
3/11/11 |
20 |
|
Jackson Kaguri |
Okemos, MI |
3/12/11 |
200 |
|
Jane Triplett |
Peoria, AZ |
3/12/11 |
50 |
|
Kathy Carney |
Brighton, MI |
3/12/11 |
50 |
|
Susan Schmidt |
Colorado Drive, East Lansing |
3/12/11 |
25 |
|
Debra Nolan |
Okemos, MI |
3/13/11 |
50 |
|
Mary Valentine |
Muskegon, MI |
3/13/11 |
25 |
|
Tim Higgins |
Birmingham, MI |
3/13/11 |
100 |
|
Dorothy Brooks |
Marble Road, East Lansing |
3/14/11 and 10/29/11 |
75 |
|
Frank DeRose |
King Court, East Lansing |
3/14/11 |
20 |
|
Kevin Beard |
Rolling Brook Lane, East Lansing |
3/14/11 and 10/12/11 |
250 |
|
Thomas Hacker |
Lansing, MI |
3/14/11 |
50 |
|
Joe Tuchinsky |
Clarendon Road, East Lansing |
3/15/11 |
25 |
|
Dawn Williams |
Pine Hollow Drive, East Lansing |
3/16/11 |
25 |
|
Nancy English |
Lansing, MI |
3/17/11 |
50 |
|
Phil Mitchell |
Highland Avenue, East Lansing |
3/17/11 |
25 |
|
Whitmer Leadership Fund |
Political fund of Gretchen Whitmer |
3/17/11 |
50 |
|
Martin Griffin for State Representative |
Political fund |
3/18/11 and 10/18/11 |
50 |
|
Gary Murphy |
Birmingham, MI |
3/19/11 |
50 |
|
Roger Stuart |
PO Box in East Lansing |
3/19/11 |
50 |
|
Victor Celentino |
Lansing, MI |
10/15/11 |
50 |
|
Celentino for Commissioner |
Political fund |
3/20/11 |
25 |
|
Erich Ditschman |
Wildwood Drive, East Lansing |
3/20/11 and 3/29/11 |
100 |
|
Jeff Davison |
Bingham Farms, MI |
3/20/11 |
100 |
|
Marsha Parrott-Boyle |
Southlawn Avenue, East Lansing |
3/20/11 |
25 |
|
Nate Engle |
Reed City, MI |
3/21/11 |
25 |
|
Jean Golden |
Rosewood Avenue, East Lansing |
3/22/11 |
100 |
|
Kevin McKinney |
Lobbyist, McKinney & Associates |
3/22/11 and 9/8/11 and 10/13/11 |
300 |
|
Nell Kuhnmuench |
Applegate Lane, East Lansing |
3/22/11 and 10/9/11 |
75 |
|
Patrick Gillespie |
Thorngate, East Lansing |
3/22/11 |
50 |
|
Kristin Beals Bellar |
Oakwood Drive, East Lansing |
3/23/11 and 6/25/11 |
100 |
|
Tim Phelps |
Dearborn, MI |
3/23/11 |
50 |
|
Bob Page |
Okemos, MI |
3/24/11 |
25 |
|
Friends of Rebecca Bahar-Cook |
Political fund |
3/24/11 |
100 |
|
Lori Miller |
Birmingham, MI |
3/24/11 |
25 |
|
Phil Thompson |
Lansing, MI |
3/24/11 |
100 |
|
SEIU Local 517 PAC |
Union PAC |
3/24/11 |
100 |
|
Joe McGuire |
President Wolverine Development; developer and commercial real estate |
3/25/11 and 9/29/11 |
200 |
|
Mark Meadows |
Lexington Avenue, East Lansing |
3/25/11 |
100 |
|
John Revitte |
Wick Court, East Lansing |
3/26/11 and 9/30/11 and 10/12/11 |
45 |
|
Pat Munschaw |
Golden Circle, East Lansing |
3/26/11 |
25 |
|
John Saltzgaber |
York Way, East Lansing |
3/28/11 |
50 |
|
Patrick O’Neil |
Birmingham, MI |
3/28/11 |
200 |
|
Amanda Stitt |
Lansing, MI |
3/29/11 |
50 |
|
Ann Francis |
Lansing, MI |
3/29/11 |
25 |
|
Barbara Thibeault |
Beech Street, East Lansing |
3/29/11 |
25 |
|
Bob Higgins |
Portage, MI |
3/29/11 |
50 |
|
Bob Swanson |
Lansing, MI |
3/29/11 |
50 |
|
Citizens to Elect Brian McGrain |
Political fund |
3/29/11 |
50 |
|
Curtis Hertel Jr. for Register of Deeds |
Political fund |
3/29/11 |
100 |
|
Dorsey Gude |
Farwood Drive, East Lansing |
3/29/11 |
25 |
|
Elizabeth McGaughey |
Lansing, MI |
3/29/11 |
50 |
|
Ellen Rodman |
Chesaning, MI |
3/29/11 |
25 |
|
Eric Schertzing |
Kedzie Street, East Lansing |
3/29/11 |
50 |
|
Erin Schor |
Lansing, MI |
3/29/11 |
50 |
|
Friends of Carol Koenig |
Political fund |
3/29/11 |
50 |
|
G.N. Ackerman |
Holt, MI |
3/29/11 |
25 |
|
Greg Crockett |
Okemos, MI |
33/29/11 |
25 |
|
Jack Schmitt |
Evergreen Avenue, East Lansing |
3/29/11 |
50 |
|
Jeff Hicks |
Okemos, MI |
3/29/11 |
50 |
|
Joe O’Connell |
Lansing, MI |
3/29/11 |
25 |
|
John Cahill |
Virginia Avenue, East Lansing |
3/29/11 |
50 |
|
Josh Clayton |
Northgate Drive, East Lansing |
3/29/11 |
100 |
|
Joy Thrun |
Okemos, MI |
3/29/11 |
50 |
|
Kerry Ebersole |
Ferndale, MI |
3/29/11 and 10/12/11 |
100 |
|
Laurie Bechhofer |
Bath, MI |
3/29/11 |
50 |
|
Linda White |
Sunset Lane, East Lansing |
3/29/11 |
25 |
|
Lynn Johndahl |
Okemos, MI |
3/29/11 |
100 |
|
Margaret Thomas |
Orchard Street, East Lansing |
3/29/11 |
25 |
|
Mark Grebner |
Lilac, East Lansing |
3/29/11 |
25 |
|
Mary Pollock |
Prescott Drive, East Lansing |
3/29/11 |
35 |
|
Matt Phelan |
Timberlane, East Lansing |
3/29/11 |
25 |
|
Milton Scales |
Haslett, MI |
3/29/11 and 10/12/11 |
50 |
|
Paul Pratt |
Lansing, MI |
3/29/11 and 10/12/11 |
150 |
|
Peggy Dunn |
Ridgewood Drive, East Lansing |
3/29/11 |
50 |
|
Rory Neuner |
Lansing, MI |
3/29/11 |
25 |
|
Sally Burroughs |
Forest Street, East Lansing |
3/29/11 |
25 |
|
Sam Singh |
Ann Street, East Lansing |
3/29/11 and 10/12/11 |
300 |
|
Sara Metz |
Barnes Avenue, East Lansing |
3/29/11 |
50 |
|
Thomas Morgan |
Abbot Road, East Lansing |
3/29/11 |
50 |
|
Walt Song |
Lansing, MI |
3/29/11 |
25 |
|
Whitney Mich |
Bay City, MI |
3/29/11 and 9/26/11 |
50 |
|
William Beachler |
Lansing, MI |
3/29/11 |
25 |
|
William Sawyer |
Virginia Avenue, East Lansing |
3/29/11 and 10/12/11 |
75 |
|
Jody Weissler DeFoe |
Lansing, MI |
3/29/11 |
25 |
|
Noah Smith |
Lansing, MI |
3/31/11 |
50 |
|
Roger Triplett |
Birmingham, MI |
3/21/11 |
500 |
|
Kevin McGraw |
Developer (River Caddis) |
4/6/11 and 11/3/11 |
200 |
|
Tom Boyd |
Okemos, MI |
4/17/11 and 10/12/11 |
75 |
|
Barb Byrum |
Onondaga, MI |
4/20/11 |
150 |
|
Barb Byrum for State Representative |
Political fund |
4/20/11 |
100 |
|
Lisa Schweitzer |
Tanager Lane, East Lansing |
4/22/11 |
50 |
|
Fred Bauries |
Old Hickory, East Lansing |
4/25/11 |
100 |
|
Alex Fike |
Royal Oak, MI |
5/11/11 |
20 |
|
Josh Smith |
Lilac Avenue, East Lansing |
5/14/11 |
100 |
|
Bill Camp |
San Francisco, CA |
5/15/11 |
100 |
|
Ryan Seabolt |
Lansing, MI |
6/2/11 |
25 |
|
Karla Kube |
River Terrace, East Lansing |
7/21/11 |
50 |
|
Brian McGrain |
Lansing, MI |
7/25/11 |
50 |
|
Kit Calson |
Southlawn Avenue, East Lansing |
6/16/11 |
50 |
|
Jon Hoadley |
Kalamazoo, MI |
8/30/11 |
100 |
|
Konrad Hittner |
Kedzie Street, East Lansing |
8/30/11 |
25 |
|
Dave Noble |
Washington, DC |
9/6/11 |
250 |
|
LAHR PAC |
LGBT PAC |
9/16/11 |
200 |
|
Karissa Chabot-Purchase |
Lansing, MI |
9/28/11 |
25 |
|
Linda Pivarnik |
Huntington Road, East Lansing |
9/29/11 |
50 |
|
Phil Shepard |
Bainbridge Drive, East Lansing |
10/1/11 |
20 |
|
Kelly Rossman-McKinney |
Lansing, MI |
10/2/11 |
50 |
|
Richard Stillwell |
Okemos, MI |
10/6/11 |
25 |
|
Doug Pratt |
Haslett, MI |
10/6/11 |
100 |
|
Judy Martin |
Okemos, MI |
10/8/11 |
50 |
|
Phil Reid |
Clarkston, MI |
10/8/11 |
25 |
|
Bob Hubbard |
Kenberry Drive, East Lansing |
10/12/11 |
100 |
|
Chris Swope |
Lansing, MI |
10/12/11 |
50 |
|
Craig Ruff |
Okemos, MI |
10/12/11 |
50 |
|
David Krause |
Developer |
10/12/11 |
200 |
|
Dennis Denno for Trustee |
Lansing, MI |
10/12/11 |
50 |
|
Diane Wing |
Huntington Road, East Lansing |
10/12/11 |
25 |
|
Irene Cahill |
Virginia Avenue, East Lansing |
10/12/11 |
50 |
|
Jermaine Ruffin |
Hagadorn, East Lansing |
10/12/11 |
25 |
|
Letisia Ruffin |
Hagadorn, East Lansing |
10/12/11 |
50 |
|
Jessica Gillard |
Wharton Street, East Lansing |
10/12/11 |
100 |
|
Kaiti Aprill |
Lansing, MI |
10/12/11 |
20 |
|
Lynsey Clayton |
Northgate Drive, East Lansing |
10/12/11 |
50 |
|
Marvin Dunn |
Ridgewood Drive, East Lansing |
10/12/11 |
30 |
|
Melissa Weipert |
Marshall Street, East Lansing |
10/12/11 |
25 |
|
Mitchell Rivard |
Lansing, MI |
10/12/11 |
50 |
|
Rebecca Bahar-Cook |
Lansing, MI |
10/12/11 |
100 |
|
Sarah Curmi |
Ypsilanti, MI |
10/12/11 |
25 |
|
Steve Japinga |
Farwood Drive |
10/12/11 |
50 |
|
Doug Jester |
MAC Avenue, East Lansing |
10/17/11 |
250 |
|
Mike Frederick |
Lansing, MI |
10/17/11 |
50 |
|
Equality Michigan Pride PAC |
LGBT PAC |
10/19/11 |
500 |
|
Ryan Fewins-Bliss |
Bath, MI |
10/21/11 |
25 |
|
Robert Swanson |
Lansing, MI |
10/21/11 |
25 |
|
Omero Jung |
Pebblebrook Lane, East Lansing |
10/21/11 |
50 |
|
Jim Bonfiglio |
Okemos, MI |
10/29/11 |
50 |
|
Brian Bates |
Grand Blanc, MI |
11/3/11 |
25 |
|
Dana Gill |
Eastpointe, MI |
11/3/11 |
100 |
eastlansinginfo.org © 2013-2020 East Lansing Info