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Hauser Gives GOP’S Foley $250

by Thomas MacMillan | Aug 5, 2010 4:21 pm

(15) Comments | Commenting has been closed | E-mail the Author

Posted to: Campaign 2010

Christine Stuart, Jay Dockendorf File Photos East Rock psychologist Debra Hauser has injected over $43,000 of her own money into her quest for a state representative seat, triggering four supplementary public-financing grants to her rival in the Democratic primary. She’s also found a few dollars to throw into another race, donating $250 to a gubernatorial candidate—Republican Tom Foley.

Hauser, a Democrat, is running to become the state representative from the 96th General Assembly District, comprising parts of Hamden and New Haven.

On June 24, she donated $250 to the Foley campaign. She said it was the entrance fee to a fundraising dinner, which she attended because, she said, she thinks it’s important to understand the opposition.

Hauser’s primary opponent, East Rock Alderman Roland Lemar said he was “shocked” Hauser would give money to a Republican candidate, whose record and agenda are so out of line with Democratic values.

“I went to a fundraiser,” Hauser said. “I like to know what the opposition is doing.”

Hauser said she is not supporting Foley for governor, but she wanted the chance to meet him. “He was smart.”

Hauser said she is supporting Democrat Ned Lamont for governor. Although she respects Dan Malloy, his primary opponent, Lamont offers “fresh ideas” and “new leadership,” she said.

“I’m shocked,” Lemar said of Hauser’s donation to Foley. If she wanted to know more about him, she could have read his website for free, Lemar said.

“He has a very regressive agenda,” Lemar said. “It doesn’t reflect the values we have as a party.”

Specifically, Foley represents a higher tax burden on the middle classes and a greater emphasis on property taxes, Lemar said.

“It’s shocking to me that she would support any Republican in this race,” he said. Even if Hauser said she doesn’t support Foley as a candidate, her money will be used to support his message, Lemar said.

Lemar said he hasn’t made up his mind which of the Democratic candidates he is supporting. Lamont and Malloy are both “strong choices,” he said.

“I just was curious about Tom Foley,” said Hauser, when asked why she didn’t simply read his website. “I’m a psychologist, so I like to meet people and size them up myself.”

Hauser Spends More, Lemar Gets More

Lemar said his campaign qualified on Wednesday for two more supplementary grants under the state’s Citizens Election Program (CEP). His campaign will now have received a total of four supplementary grants of $6,500 each, as a result of Hauser spending so much on her campaign.

Under the the public financing system CEP, in which Lemar is participating and Hauser is not, Lemar qualified for an initial grant of $25,900 after he raised over $5,000 in small contributions. According to CEP regulations, Lemar qualifies for supplementary grants when Hauser’s spending passes certain thresholds. Hauser campaign triggered two of those grants on July 21 and 27.

On July 29, two days after the last trigger, Hauser submitted a filing to the State Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC) indicating that her campaign had crossed another threshold by spending more than 150 percent of the total that Lemar has raised and received. Five days later, on Aug. 3, Hauser’s campaign submitted paperwork stating that it had spent more than 175 percent. That means two more $6,500 grants to Lemar’s campaign.

The two recent grants have been triggered almost entirely by Hauser’s personal spending. The campaign has raised only $110 in outside contributions since July 27, during which time Hauser has donated $15,000 of her own money to the campaign.

That brings her total personal contributions to $30,000. She’s also spent $13,346.21 of her own money on campaign expenses, according to the latest SEEC filing. That filing indicates that her campaign has a negative balance of funds on hand: $-1,357.47 with another $270.24 of campaign expenses still unpaid.

Hauser has in the past defended her campaign spending as an expression of her commitment to the race.

Lemar said he’s not sure his campaign can receive any more supplementary grants from CEP. “It’s well beyond what anyone conceived would be possible.”

At this point, with more money than he knows what to do with, Lemar said he is considering giving some of it back. It wouldn’t be responsible to spend it when his campaign had mapped out a winning strategy using far less money, he said.

Comments

posted by: Cedarhillresident on August 5, 2010 9:02am

Come on! I have given money to people in the past that I did not support. I have sign petitions for people I had know plans on voting for (because I like to see debates) . It is all part of it! You go to a fundraiser to network and see how people are running there campaigns. You have the right to see what they are all about. As a person actually running you have the obligation to the people to make friends with both sides….because you may be working with them in the future and that can only be an asset if you are elected. I think that is a smart way to be personally.
Are we at the nit picking stage?

posted by: streever on August 5, 2010 9:10am

There was no opportunity to meet him beside giving him $250? I’m a little surprised too.

posted by: Exceedingly Stupid on August 5, 2010 9:46am

This is an exceedingly stupid political move. People are caught all the time giving money to the “other side” but not during a race of their own. The need to see what he is about can be accomplished outside of a fundraiser (there are free events) and don’t forget he has a website. Foley also shows up a whole bunch if you Google him. He is not an unknown quantity. Bad move Deb.

posted by: sally tamarkin on August 5, 2010 10:01am

For real? You can research candidates by visiting their websites, digging through WNPR’s archives of interviews and debates, and reading various online new sources. All of which are free! Debra Hauser, you just contributed to Tom Foley’s gubernatorial campaign. At least own up to it!

posted by: eastie on August 5, 2010 11:24am

NPR?

That stands for national progressive radio, right?

posted by: Anderson Scooper on August 5, 2010 12:14pm

TOTAL LACK of JUDGEMENT!

Someone should ask Hamden DTC Chair Joe McDonagh if he’s still on board with Ms. Hauser, who is clearly out-of-control.

posted by: Sally Tamarkin on August 5, 2010 12:18pm

eastie:
NPR can stand for whatever you want it to. The CT NPR affiliate still houses archived recordings of candidates of BOTH parties debating one another and being interviewed. So, you know, candidates, progressives or no, speaking for themselves about their beliefs and platforms.

But, good try!

posted by: The NHI Machinery in full swing on August 5, 2010 1:49pm

Since it got started, the Independent has repeatedly bashed the DeStefano administration for using the “democratic machinery” to elect its candidates. It seems to me that the Independent has decided to try to do the same thing with its handpicked candidates. The NH Independent “machinery” is working against Hauser much in the same way that it advocated for the election of Goldson,despite his record of unethical behavior.

posted by: CT Guy on August 5, 2010 1:58pm

Anderson -

Given your comment that someone should talk to the DTC because Hauser is “out of control”, I wonder who you believe should be “in control” of her?

Thought the Dems were supposed to be the party of free thinkers? Unless of course you don’t subscribe to the group think of the moment, I suppose.

posted by: AndersonScooper on August 5, 2010 2:22pm

CT guy—

Where did I suggest that anyone should talk to Ms. Hauser to get her under control?

What I wondered was if, given this latest, her established Hamden supporters will be willing or able to continue backing her.

In discussions with neighbors I’ve tried to be open and fair to Debra. But this is the third or fourth time my jaw has been on the ground in shock at her colossally bad judgement.

Did Debra not know that her donation would be quite public? Or did she not understand that the $250 to Tom Foley, (under whatever circumstances), would be a complete non-starter to committed Democrats?

Roland Lemar it is. And let’s all hope this is Ms. Hauser’s last campaign.

posted by: Observer on August 5, 2010 3:03pm

There is no New Haven Independent Machinery here.

Everything reported in this story is factually accurate and can be accessed by viewing public records.

posted by: Sees thru Rolly on August 5, 2010 4:40pm

I would say that his “shock and outrage” is emblematic of a career politician who puts party affiliation ahead of all other considerations, while Hauser’s actions comes from knowing that to get things done in Hartford one has to build relationships across party lines.
There are good republicans and bad democrats, and vice versa. Debra will fight for her values across party lines. Moreover, if a candidate has a chance of winning, whatever side of party lines he falls on, how is it in any way problematic to try to learn about them? Of course Debra would rather a Dem in office. But Republicans do win in CT elections on occasion, and god-forbid they win this one, wouldn’t you rather that your Rep be on good terms with him?

I like Lemar’s “winning strategy”. Tons of lawn signs in his neighborhood, ignore Hamden, and complain about how unfair it is that Hauser is working hard to raise funds, while he gets taxpayer money for every dollar she raises AND every dollar she spends. Then, if that’s not enough, whine to the independent whenever Hauser releases a financial report. Because it would clearly be too honorable to stop there, he also has to accuse her of being both too rich and buying the election, but also bankrupt and bad with money—looking for anything to justify either position, as they are both simple and catchy attack rhetoric. If he finds something, he will of course whine to the NHI. Why is it news that she went to an opposition fundraiser? because Lemar looked up her contribution history and called the NHI to whine. And because the NHI seems to be heavily invested in Lemar winning, they will publish it.

Can I point out now that this is all representative of a career politician with a political machine behind him? He is outraged about everything Hauser does, especially when it means more money for him…If he can accuse her of being rich, he will. If he can accuse her of being bankrupt, he will. If he can find anything to be outraged about, he will call the NHI and whine. Do you want someone in office who wants to be there to help people, or someone who wants to be in office because he sees it as an expedient career move?

posted by: Observer on August 5, 2010 6:36pm

Let’s clear some things up:

Roland is not a career politician. He’s 34 for one thing, and has only served in office for 5 years. Guarantee you Hauser has been rubbing elbows with insiders for much longer. And this board deserves better than your silly distortions.

And no one is saying that Hauser is “both too rich and buying the election, but also bankrupt and bad with money” as you say, even though she has donated over $43k to her own campaign (with her committee still running a deficit), and her home is underwater and may or may not still be in foreclosure.

And there are plenty of ways of being in people’s good graces without writing max contributions to help him spread his message across Connecticut. It’s a message that helps advance public policy that’s detrimental to our cities and to our state. Get to know the man if you want, but don’t help spread that message.

Also, There’s no political machine behind Roland. That’s an insult to everyone who’s worked so hard for him over these past few months.

If you want to debate any of the facts in the article, or any of the other articles that the Independent has published, let’s have that debate. But don’t waste everyone’s time by distorting the facts and degrading the debate.

posted by: Terrapin on August 5, 2010 7:39pm

Gee, I’m not screwing my creditors out of what I owe them. Maybe that’s why I don’t have $250 to donate to people I don’t even support.

posted by: Oh My! on August 7, 2010 8:32pm

Observer:

Sure. No machine here. Oh My! Perish the thought.

Of course we won’t see the likes of Brian McGrath, Susie Voight, her son, Paul Wessel, and Mayoral staffers like Rob Smuts, Giovanni Zinn and others swarming all over the place pulling votes, poll standing, and manning the campaign hdqts. - all in support of Lemar.

Or will we?

Of course we will.

Wake up Observer.

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