The Financial Dealings of Ward Crutchfield

Some $10,826.60 was given out by Ward in "gifts", most of which were "flowers" or "wedding flowers" for constituents. In 2004 alone, Ward spent $1,236.11 with the Chattanooga Florist. Other notable "gifts" were $104.84 at Jax Liquor, $302 at a Nashville cigar shop, and $120 at a local tobacco shop.

Those were the gifts that Ward was legally required to itemize. According to TN law, Ward was/is not required it itemize gifts & donations under $100. Each year he would make unitemized gifts and donations in the thousands. In 2002 (by no means the largest) he disbursed $2,597.51 in unitemized funds. He would also receive a substantial amount of unitemized donations ($14,380); he received $9,100 in 2003 alone.

As mentioned earlier, the bulk of his money came from PACs, most in Nashville, many labor/union related. There were also a few interesting PACs like the Tennessee Interior Design Coalition and the local Greater Chattanooga Sports Committee, both of whom were consistent givers to Ward's campaign.

The biggest PAC giver was the Tennessee Employee Action Movement of the (TSEA) which gave Ward $7,500 for his campaign in 2003-2004. The pro-labor PAC the Tennessee AFL-CIO gave Ward some $3,360 in money and "in kind" gifts.

Herb Adcox of Herb Adcox Chevrolet was the largest individual donor, giving Ward several thousand over the six year period from 2001-2006. City Councilman for District 4 Jack Benson was also a large and substantive donor to Ward, giving him $3,000. Other notable individuals make an appearance as Ward donors as well, from former Hamilton County Democratic Chair Stuart James ($2,000), former Mayor Jon Kinsey ($2,000), current County Mayor Claud Ramsey's campaign ($500), Senator Bob Corker's wife Elizabeth Corker ($500), and former County Commissioner and all around fruitloop Lou Miller ($200, cheapskate).

Those who benefit from Ward financial were a select group of family and female (mostly) politicians. His daughter Missy received a couple thousand dollars for "work" prior to Ron Littlefield's 2005 victory (wherein she received her current job from Ron). Ward gave $2,000 to his brother Tom's failed bid for Judge. Former City Councilman Yusuf Hakeem received nearly $1,000. State Rep. Tommie Brown (at least $500), State Rep. Joanne Favors (nearly $2,000), School Board Member Debra Matthews (nearly $1,000 in donations and for "work"), School Board Member Janice Boydston (nearly $2,000), and State Senator Thelma Harper (nearly $3,000). Even Lou Miller made her $200 back.

Ward's aesthetic is also reflected in his choice of restaurants. He spent nearly $10,000 in food from 2001-2006 at a strange combination of Patrick's, Mt. Vernon, Las Margaritas, Longhorn's, and Wally's Restaurant.

Current Hamilton County Democratic Party Chair John Bailes received $500. Current County Commission for my district, John Allen Brooks, received $1000 (who will be receiving a call from me soon).

The Hamilton County Democratic Party fared quite well, receiving at least $6,310 from Ward, "FOR DONATIONS". Not all of the money stayed local, as the Tennessee Democratic Party received $12,000 from Ward, $10,000 of that in a single gift.

Ward certainly showed that being a public servant can be a profitable affair (at least if one doesn't have to spend money on trying to get re-elected). The question now is what's going to happen to the roughly $174,000 has still has in the bank? Does he refund his donors? I vote he has to give the money towards covering the costs of the special election for his replacement.

I'll be interested in seeing what Ward's 2007 financial report looks like and if Ward has started cutting checks to all his old political allies to empty his bank account.

The biggest surprise in reading the reports: no donations from Ward's campaign to Ron Littlefield.

Josiah, I don't mean to be "Debbie the Downer" but I notice you've been posting a lot about chatty politics the past week or two and its starting to concern me. I want to congratulate you on taking an interest in the transdoings of the local political scene, its much more admirable than my general approach of political apathy.

However, speaking as a friend who hasn't spoken to you since leaving town, I feel it is my duty to point out that you have about a total of 4 comments from these combined posts. I mention this because I fear you maybe isolating your core audience.

I was hoping to ride out this latest ranting on your overused soap box and just await some amazing post about indie music that I'll never listen to or a take on a new restaurant that opened on the South Ward or Red Light Art District. Alas, I felt today might be the last straw.

Now take my blog for instance, chocked full of goodness about phones, softball, and hell's kitchen. If your looking for inspiration then look no further. My completely pointless and utter waste of bandwith blog is what the blogosphere is all about. Rants about meaningless things like atlanta traffic or people who take 15 items into the 10 item or less line.

Perhaps you could attack some hate group again, that always made for interesting posts. Or hijack a coleagues blog and spice it up a bit. Isn't there something terrible going on at Covenant you could talk about?

I'm just concerned for your well being and this latest foray into forming a political consciousness is quite scary.