You Knew I was NOT Going To Leave The "Cesspool" Alone, As The Herald Leader's John Cheves Comes Through -- Again.
John Leonard Lawson remains major campaign donor
Leonard Lawson -- the 69-year-old road contractor at the heart of an FBI investigation of Transportation Cabinet deals -- has been controversial for years. One of his companies pleaded guilty in the 1980s to felony bid-rigging on state road contracts. But his checks are good with politicians of both parties.
Since 2004, Lawson's family in Lexington and the executives and employees of companies associated with him have given at least $473,988 to Kentucky's state and federal politicians, according to a Herald-Leader review of campaign-finance reports.
That breaks down to $240,150 from the Lawson family (Leonard and his wife Bonnie; son Steve Lawson and his wife Suzanne) and $233,838 from people at the companies.
The biggest recipient has been U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who is up for re-election this year. In his current election cycle, McConnell has taken at least $46,500 in Lawson-related donations to his campaign committee and to The McConnell Majority Committee, the joint fund-raising entity McConnell created to collect money from a March 2007 appearance by President Bush at the Seelbach Hilton in Louisville.
However, Lawson-related money has flowed to Democrats and Republicans, even those who oppose each other ideologically, including U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky.; U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Somerset; U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler, D-Versailles; the state Democratic Party; the state Republican Party; state Supreme Court Justice Mary Noble (nonpartisan); then-Gov. Ernie Fletcher (Republican); state Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville; House Majority Leader Rocky Adkins, D-Sandy Hook; House budget Chairman Harry Moberly, D-Richmond; Attorney General Jack Conway (Democrat); State Auditor Crit Luallen (Democrat); Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer (Republican); and the inauguration party for Lexington Mayor Jim Newberry (nonpartisan).
As a general rule, Lawson money goes to incumbents at all levels, particularly well-entrenched incumbents (including some with little to no opposition), and not to challengers.
Lawson is registered to vote as a Democrat.
-- John Cheves
Leonard Lawson -- the 69-year-old road contractor at the heart of an FBI investigation of Transportation Cabinet deals -- has been controversial for years. One of his companies pleaded guilty in the 1980s to felony bid-rigging on state road contracts. But his checks are good with politicians of both parties.
Since 2004, Lawson's family in Lexington and the executives and employees of companies associated with him have given at least $473,988 to Kentucky's state and federal politicians, according to a Herald-Leader review of campaign-finance reports.
That breaks down to $240,150 from the Lawson family (Leonard and his wife Bonnie; son Steve Lawson and his wife Suzanne) and $233,838 from people at the companies.
The biggest recipient has been U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who is up for re-election this year. In his current election cycle, McConnell has taken at least $46,500 in Lawson-related donations to his campaign committee and to The McConnell Majority Committee, the joint fund-raising entity McConnell created to collect money from a March 2007 appearance by President Bush at the Seelbach Hilton in Louisville.
However, Lawson-related money has flowed to Democrats and Republicans, even those who oppose each other ideologically, including U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky.; U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Somerset; U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler, D-Versailles; the state Democratic Party; the state Republican Party; state Supreme Court Justice Mary Noble (nonpartisan); then-Gov. Ernie Fletcher (Republican); state Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville; House Majority Leader Rocky Adkins, D-Sandy Hook; House budget Chairman Harry Moberly, D-Richmond; Attorney General Jack Conway (Democrat); State Auditor Crit Luallen (Democrat); Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer (Republican); and the inauguration party for Lexington Mayor Jim Newberry (nonpartisan).
As a general rule, Lawson money goes to incumbents at all levels, particularly well-entrenched incumbents (including some with little to no opposition), and not to challengers.
Lawson is registered to vote as a Democrat.
-- John Cheves
Labels: Crime, Democracy for sale, Keeping them honest, Kentucky politics, Punishment
posted by KYJurisDoctor at 3:15 PM
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