Friday, October 01, 1999
Anti-abortion group gives $25K to Winburn
BY HOWARD WILKINSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Family First, an anti-abortion political-action committee that spent nearly $100,000 in Cincinnati elections two years ago, has made a $25,000 contribution to Republican Councilman Charlie Winburn.
The group's organizers say there will be more for “pro-life, pro-family” council candidates in the final weeks of the campaign.
“We are going to monitor the race and if we see candidates who need our help, we will be there,” said Dick Hammersmith, executive director of the PAC.
So far, the group has endorsed only two candidates in the council race — Mr. Winburn and Republican challenger Ken Anderson, a first-time candidate who received a $1,000 donation from the PAC.
Two years ago, the $25,000 donation made to Mr. Winburn's campaign would have been illegal under Cincinnati law.
Then, a campaign contribution limits law was in effect, which capped PAC contributions at $2,500. But the law was repealed by a 5-4 vote of council last year — with Mr. Winburn voting for repeal — and now PACs are free to give any amount they want to candidates.
In 1997, the contribution limits forced Family First to spend most of the nearly $100,000 in its campaign fund on “issue ads” meant to influence the council campaign, instead of giving it directly to candidates.
In the final weeks of that campaign, Family First spent $30,000 on radio ads for Republican incumbent Jeanette Cissell — ads that touted her record on council but did not directly tell people to vote for her, thus avoiding being classified as campaign contributions to Mrs. Cissell. The ads are credited with saving Mrs. Cissell from defeat in the 1997 election.
Mr. Hammersmith said the group will try to keep track of polling done by the political parties and determine its spending in the latter stages of the race “based on who needs our help the most.”
The group might also use some of the money it is raising for more “issue” advertising, such as what was done in 1997 for Mrs. Cissell and Rosemary Meyer, an unsuccessful candidate for council.
Family First board chairman Joe Brinck said this year the organization will dole out contributions based on candidates' responses to a three-page questionnaire asking their positions on issues such as abortion, “special rights” for gays and lesbians, pornography and school vouchers.
Family First organizers ac knowledge that City Council members have little direct involvement in issues such as abortion and school vouchers, but say voters should know where candidates stand on social issues.
“We support candidates who are opposed to abortion, with absolutely no exceptions,” Mr. Brinck said. “There are many politicians out there who call themselves pro-life who really aren't very tough on the issue.”
headLINDNERS BIG DONORS
Family First leaders say they receive contributions from hundreds of people all over southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky.
But, in 1997, over half of the money spent by Family First came from one family — that of Cincinnati financier Carl Lindner.
According to campaign finance reports filed at the Hamilton County Board of Elections, Mr. Lindner and members of his family donated $55,000 to Family First in 1997; and another $50,000 in 1998, when Family First made contributions to a number of state legislative and judicial candidates.
Riverfront plan applauded, but funding needed
Proposals for 'The Banks' as link to downtown
Schools crack down on Pokemon trading
I-71 ramp to 275 to close for weekend
Reds going to town's head
State riding brakes on remedies for Ohio 73
Alzheimer's victim believed dead in Tennessee
Anti-abortion group gives $25K to Winburn
Booth indicates he'll back property-tax rollback
More getting splattered in Ludlow mudslinging
Robber beats store owner with gun
Cincinnati's Century of Change
Internet terrific resource for students
Recommended Web sites for students
Teen finds a second home
Vester moves to Fox News
Brightman's lovely voice can't carry show
GET TO IT
Publishing revelation
Mayor's race clash among titans
Camp Springs ponders becoming city
Covington regroups after low test scores
Ex-jailer guilty of sexual battery on female inmate
Grant Co. backs off biblical posting
Maker pleads guilty in drum explosion
Man hurt as crash ends chase
TRISTATE DIGEST
