Sunday, September 28, 1997
Stenholm critical of challenger's campaign
filings
By RICHARD HORN / Staff Writer
You may hate PACs or like them, Congressman Charles Stenholm
says, but at least you know when they contribute to his campaign.
The same cannot be said for his Republican challenger Rudy
Izzard, Stenholm contends, a charge that drew a sharp response.
"There were a lot of campaign expenditures that have never
shown up on the late and sometimes non-existent reports of Mr.
Izzard," Stenholm said last week.
"He has apparently believed that following the law on
reporting of campaign contributions was not important," he
said. "I disagree, and I think these monies that were spent
against me ought to be reported."
Izzard, who was six months late filing two post-election reports
with the Federal Election Commission, said he takes full responsibility
for being late. But he said he kept the FEC up to date, reported
every contribution and expense, and broke no laws.
"If he feels I have done something illegal, or that I
am hiding something from somebody or that there are people who
are funding expenditures illegally on my behalf, then I challenge
him to bring forth the evidence," Izzard said.
"I do believe campaign finance reports are absolutely
necessary and I did not willfully disregard the law; quite the
opposite," he said.
"The FEC was contacted right up front. We were in contact
with them on a regular basis. Our reports are complete and accurate,
and that's why we took the time to get them in."
Izzard, a former San Angelo city councilman who's moving to
Abilene to mount his second Stenholm challenge, did not file his
report covering the final days of last fall's 1996 campaign until
May 16. It was due in early December.
His year-end report was due Jan. 31 but was not filed with
the FEC until Aug. 7. His mid-year report, due in July, was received
within the proper time frame, an FEC spokesman said. It shows
his campaign to be $87,742 in debt, though the debt is to Izzard.
He loaned about that amount to his campaign.
Although the FEC sent Izzard notices his reports were past-due,
Izzard said he contacted the Washington agency when he knew he
was going to be late.
"There is a flurry of activity toward the end of the campaign,
and things just kind of got in a mess," he said.
He said he told the FEC he could have the information in on
time, but would be late with the most accurate information. Contributors
for those periods were contacted to verify their addresses and
occupations, he said.
"We accurately reported every contribution we received,"
he said.
Although Izzard told one voter in a letter this summer the
FEC had granted him an "extension," he admitted Friday
that wasn't true since the agency has no such authority.
"It was all informal discussions," he said.
An FEC spokesman said the agency cannot grant any extensions
but also does not comment on any staff discussions with candidates.
If there's an investigation leading to a penalty, that information
would be placed in the public file, he said. Izzard's file contains
no such notice, the spokesman added.
Stenholm has also complained about the relatively unregulated
party funds, known as "soft money," that were spent
against him in the 1996 campaign. He says it's being spent against
him now and believes any campaign finance reform should regulate
how such cash is spent.
"How much money was put into my race, against me, that
you don't know about?" he said. "Every penny that PACs
contribute you know about."
Izzard acknowledges party money was spent on his behalf, but
said Democratic money was spent against him, as well. He noted
he many times saw fliers stating "Don't let Rudy Izzard and
the Republicans destroy Medicare," all labeled as Democratic
campaign material.
He began raising money for the new campaign this summer, he
said; that will not be reported until the next campaign report,
due at year's end. He also has a fund-raiser with former Vice
President Dan Quayle scheduled next month.
"Any money that has been raised since the last election
will go toward the '98 campaign," he said. "I do not
intend to pay myself back at all. I made an investment in what
I thought was a good cause -- my campaign."
And despite the late filings, Izzard said he will not back
down from debating Stenholm on campaign finance issues. He noted
Stenholm has never challenged either President Clinton or Vice
President Al Gore for their admitted campaign finance problems,
now under Justice Department investigation.
"If Charlie Stenholm wants to point a finger at someone
who's obviously breaking the law, then he needs to look at his
own leadership," he said.
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Copyright ©1997,
Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
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