Interesting campaign finance filing with the Secretary of State today. The Pennington County GOP filed their campaign finance report, and it seems to be indicative of a Republican Party organization that has forgotten what purpose it serves.
Pennington 2024 Campaign Finance Report by Pat Powers on Scribd
The second largest GOP county party organization in the state reports having raised about $84,163.74 this last year. Unfortunately, between operating expenses and other things they spent money on, it only cost them $106,574 to do so (plus 9k in donated goods & services), eating into their bank account by $22k, leaving them $19,880 to fund their activities next year. Or less, since this is just the pre-primary report.
But here’s the line item that should chap the tails of the Pennington County candidates. (i.e., the reason the group is there in the first place). How much of that $106k did they spend in getting candidates elected? NOTHING.
$1000 to Vote No on H ballot measure, which the party took an official position on. And the party has long had an anti abortion plank. But $1000 to two of those that it didn’t, including the Anti-ethanol group, and Protecting SD Kids? What about Republican candidates?
They can blow $4K on ballot measures, over 8k on a “Candidate forum,” but nothing on candidates? It’s like they’re only there to perpetuate a fiefdom, and completely ignoring the fiefs.
The entire reason they exist in the first place is to elect Republicans. Maybe they should start considering that.
Quit donating to ballot measures, and start supporting candidates. Or you don’t deserve to exist.
(*BONUS*)
And they’re ending the reporting for the cycle with about as much in the bank.
Good on them for having their priorities straight.
Your criticisms are spot on, Mr. Powers.
If Pennington is anything like several other counties, then they believe they exist to only get “their preferred” candidate elected. Infiltrated by extremists that push their own agenda and the party’s. They believe they are completely autonomous and gop leadership has done nothing to stop that notion.
This so-called Conservative Pennington County “Republicans” leadership spend like drunken Democrats.
They exist to get their “preferred candidates” elected. If Pennington County is anything like many of the other county GOPs, then it has been infiltrated by extremists who are concerned with their own agendas and not that of the party. They believe they are autonomous and party leadership has done very little to dispell that notion.
Rumor has it that the current board is not the board that raised the money. Agree with your opinion about their ‘preferred candidates’. And not sure why Laffy Taffy would get more money than other females from the RW group. Have not seen where she’s done anything for them (or anyone).
Holy Deficit Spending!!! Have the Taffyites gone over to the darkside?
Who are the “Rinos” now???
The establishment is out of step with Republicans in the most populace counties in the state. That’s the real story here.
Wasn’t the bulk of that $84k raised for the LDD when Jeff Holbrook was chair? If so, then they’re losing money at a much faster rate than those numbers would suggest at first glance…
trump and the luddites he has dragged upward into state and local leadership over most of the country all HATE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. by which i mean to say they hate republicans and republican candidates, who they regard with much loathing and disregard.