Political donations revealed

By WILL STEWART Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

Republican candidates and organizations have been the largest recipient of Warren County political contributions this election cycle, collecting just under half of all county donations.

According to The Center for Responsive Politics, a non-partisan research group which tracks political money, Warren countians have given a total $37,390 to candidates, parties and political action committees (PACs) since the beginning of the current election cycle last year.

The county’s largest individual contributor thus far this election cycle has been Bouldin Corporation owner Floyd Bouldin, who has given a combined $4,000, or $2,000 each, to President George W. Bush, a Republican, and Congressman Lincoln Davis, a Democrat.

Figures quoted by The Center for Responsive Politics were made available to that group by the Federal Election Commission, an independent regulatory agency whose job it is to administer and enforce federal campaign finance law.

The commission requires all donations over $200 to any federal campaigns (U.S. House, U.S. Senate and the presidency) to be identified by donor’s name, address, employer and occupation. Donations of less than $200 are not required to be identified and are not included in the commission’s figures.

So far, Republican candidates and organizations have been the biggest local benefactors, raking in a combined $18,600 from Warren County.

Bush, who has collected $6,250, is the biggest individual recipient of local Republican contributions, followed by Republican congressional candidate Janice Bowling at $2,900.

Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander, who does not face reelection this year, also received $1,000 and South Dakota U.S. Senate candidate John Thune received $500.

Democratic candidates and organizations have pulled in $14,100. Congressman Lincoln Davis leads the pack with $7,600 in contributions, followed by failed Democratic presidential candidates Wesley Clark and Howard Dean, who each garnered $2,000. Democratic nominee John Kerry has received $1,000.

An assortment of PACs have received a combined $7,190. Additional Warren County federal campaign contribution figures can be found The Center for Responsive Politics’ Web site, www.opensecrets.org.