In its first six months of existence, the Executive Mansion Renovation Fund raised more than $600,000 to make improvements to the Governor's Mansion, according to the nonprofit corporation's IRS 990 form.
Given the initial contributors, it again raises the question whether the fund gives corporate interests an opportunity to exercise undue influence that they can't do under limits on campaign contributions.
nn
Speaking of the mansion, a legislative audit last week pointed out that the official state body charged with overseeing the maintenance and preservation of the first-floor "public" areas of the facility, the Governor's Mansion Advisory Committee, has not met officially for at least the past three years.
Instead, the audit noted that committee members have been invited to attend meetings of the West Virginia Mansion Preservation Foundation - the other private, nonprofit corporation set up to raise funds to maintain and preserve the public areas of the mansion.
Ellen Cappellanti, vice president, and secretary-treasurer of the Executive Mansion Renovation Fund, said the second fundraising body was necessary because the scope of the mansion preservation foundation is limited to the public areas of the mansion - where renovation work is essentially complete - while the new renovation fund raises money for public and private areas, including the kitchen, security quarters, the party tent, and any banquet facilities that might be constructed there.
nn
Speaking of racetracks, speculation during interims last week is that Mountaineer Racetrack president and CEO Ted Arneault could be assembling investors to purchase Tri-State Racetrack.
Arneault, who is no longer majority shareholder of MTR Gaming, is expected to step down as president there at the end of the year.
There were a number of suitors interested in Tri-State immediately after the table games referendum passed last year, although the interest may have waned since the economic downturn has hit the gaming industry hard nationwide.
nn
Sen. Clark Barnes, R-Randolph, says he dropped Sen. Vic Sprouse, R-Kanawha, as a consultant for his re-election campaign in the 15th Senatorial District following the May primary, but not over any personal issues.
Barnes said that, in outlining his strategy for how to run the general election campaign against former Sen. Mike Ross, it was clear that Sprouse was "out of touch" with how to run a campaign in a predominately rural district.
nn
Finally, Gov. Joe Manchin had not at press time responded to a letter from Tracy Reiman, executive vice president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, calling on him to adopt a vegetarian diet to inspire obese West Virginians to lose weight.
The letter isn't exactly flattering - the letter to Manchin starts out, "I'm sorry to hear that West Virginia was just named one of the fattest states in the U.S. by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although your residents might prefer the gentler moniker "pleasantly plump," let's face it, fat is fat ..."
Manchin spokeswoman Lara Ramsburg said that while the governor has promoted healthy lifestyles throughout his term, "He does not intend to become a vegetarian."
Reach Phil Kabler at ph...@wvgazette.com or 348-1220.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- In its first six months of existence, the Executive Mansion Renovation Fund raised more than $600,000 to make improvements to the Governor's Mansion, according to the nonprofit corporation's IRS 990 form.
Incorporated in July 2007 to "provide financial support and assistance for the renovation, remodeling and maintenance of the public and private areas of the West Virginia governor's mansion and surrounding grounds," the fund reported raising $626,333 through Dec. 31, primarily though corporate sponsors - including the state's four racetrack casinos and Mylan Pharmaceuticals' charitable foundation - as well as $740 in interest income.
Listed contributors are:
Hazel Ruby McQuain Charitable Trust, Morgantown, $100,000.
Mylan Charitable Foundation, Canonsburg, Pa., $100,000.
American Electric Power Foundation, Charleston, $100,000.
CONSOL Energy Inc., Pittsburgh, $75,000.
CNX Gas Corp., Pittsburgh, $75,000.
Centra Bank, Morgantown, $33,333.
Penn National Gaming/Charles Town Gaming, Charles Town, $25,000.
Mountaineer Racetrack, Chester, $25,000.
Racing Corporation of West Virginia (parent company of Tri-State Racetrack), Cross Lanes, $25,000.
Delaware North Companies Gaming and Entertainment, Inc., Buffalo, N.Y., $25,000.
Vecellio Group Inc., West Palm Beach, Fla., $20,000.
Through Dec. 31, the fund reported only $55,028 in expenses.
That includes $17,900 for a "mural deposit," $22,000 for a bathroom facility, and $14,206 for an exterior door unit - which is the west-side sunroom door installed in early December to provide access to the giant white party tent adjacent to the mansion.
The party tent was also purchased by the fund at an estimated cost of $150,000, but that expense does not show up on the 2007 form.
The fund is also paying for the renovation of the mansion kitchen, currently underway, but like the tent, those expenses won't show up until the 2008 disclosure is filed.
The only other reported expense was $109 to Centra Bank for checkbooks.
nn
In its articles of incorporation, the fund indicated that it intends to raise a total of $1.15 million in West Virginia through telephone appeals, special events, combined appeals and personal solicitation.
Given the initial contributors, it again raises the question whether the fund gives corporate interests an opportunity to exercise undue influence that they can't do under limits on campaign contributions.
nn
Speaking of the mansion, a legislative audit last week pointed out that the official state body charged with overseeing the maintenance and preservation of the first-floor "public" areas of the facility, the Governor's Mansion Advisory Committee, has not met officially for at least the past three years.
Instead, the audit noted that committee members have been invited to attend meetings of the West Virginia Mansion Preservation Foundation - the other private, nonprofit corporation set up to raise funds to maintain and preserve the public areas of the mansion.
Ellen Cappellanti, vice president, and secretary-treasurer of the Executive Mansion Renovation Fund, said the second fundraising body was necessary because the scope of the mansion preservation foundation is limited to the public areas of the mansion - where renovation work is essentially complete - while the new renovation fund raises money for public and private areas, including the kitchen, security quarters, the party tent, and any banquet facilities that might be constructed there.
nn
Speaking of racetracks, speculation during interims last week is that Mountaineer Racetrack president and CEO Ted Arneault could be assembling investors to purchase Tri-State Racetrack.
Arneault, who is no longer majority shareholder of MTR Gaming, is expected to step down as president there at the end of the year.
There were a number of suitors interested in Tri-State immediately after the table games referendum passed last year, although the interest may have waned since the economic downturn has hit the gaming industry hard nationwide.
nn
Sen. Clark Barnes, R-Randolph, says he dropped Sen. Vic Sprouse, R-Kanawha, as a consultant for his re-election campaign in the 15th Senatorial District following the May primary, but not over any personal issues.
Barnes said that, in outlining his strategy for how to run the general election campaign against former Sen. Mike Ross, it was clear that Sprouse was "out of touch" with how to run a campaign in a predominately rural district.
nn
Finally, Gov. Joe Manchin had not at press time responded to a letter from Tracy Reiman, executive vice president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, calling on him to adopt a vegetarian diet to inspire obese West Virginians to lose weight.
The letter isn't exactly flattering - the letter to Manchin starts out, "I'm sorry to hear that West Virginia was just named one of the fattest states in the U.S. by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although your residents might prefer the gentler moniker "pleasantly plump," let's face it, fat is fat ..."
Manchin spokeswoman Lara Ramsburg said that while the governor has promoted healthy lifestyles throughout his term, "He does not intend to become a vegetarian."
Reach Phil Kabler at ph...@wvgazette.com or 348-1220.
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