I think it is always okay for a relative to work for a campaign, the more volunteers the better. The question is, should relatives get paid to work for campaigns? That is a harder question to answer. Thankfully, I have never seen a candidate reimburse their husband or wife for their tireless work on behalf of their campaign. So why does a sister, inlaw or child sometimes get paid? Is it wrong? I guess not as it happens all the time.Personally, I don't like relatives getting salaries from campaign contributions. What is the going rate for a relative's work? Whatever the candidate decides and in reports I have looked at, usually the relative's payment is higher than others working for the campaign. Are they more valuable, do they work harder or is favoritism popping its ugly head? I don't think voters should have to figure that out. It is just bad policy and most candidates know it because if anyone deserves to be paid, it is the husband or wife - and candidates don't pay them.
Today's tip if you are running for office: Don't hire your relatives. Why raise concerns about your judgment before you are even elected?
13 comments:
It depends on the family. This is just my experience, but in a recent race the family members were almost living in the campaign hq, one of the sons quit his job to manage it. To my knowledge he did not get reimbursed however I know the entire thing was a "family affair" nephews, nieces, brothers, etc were always there keeping it in order. Some got paid some didnt. It was at the discretion of the candidate.
In this case the family worked double duty.
Of course you also get the other end of the spectrum.
You said they quit their job to work on the campaign, anonymous above? Why not just hire a qualified person? Are your relatives the ONLY qualified people? Why would anyone quit a job for a few month's of work?
Campaigns have degenerated into big money makers for the candidates - and not just for legitimate campaign related expenses. A new suit, money for relatives - with the expected kickback to big daddy. Why bother with bribery? A contributor and his proxies can funnel almost unlimited amounts of cash to a candidate. This is why even incumbents with safe seats raise mountains of cash. Do we need to name a few names on the County Comission?
Let's dispense with the charade of campaigns. Candidates should give us the money they collect and we will vote in the candidate that gives us the most money. Fair? You bet! Better than what we have now where we are screwed twice.
A candidate can even get arrested and win as long as they have enough money to counter it.
I know who the above anonymous is talking about. The campaign hired a bunch of people. But some families are close knit. There are exceptions to the rule. Its a personal story and pretty unique.
Ken Forbes paid his wife from his PACS. These PACs supported certain candidates and staffed poll workers. Perhaps a little more removed than working on a stated camapign but the end result is the same. Both he (because he paid himself too) and his wife faced Election Commission sanctions for taking money.
Campaigns have turned into enormous slush funds.
Why are incumbents raising mountains of cash when there is no way for them to lose? Because they get to spread someone else's money around to reward friends and family.
There is too much money at stake. The pensions are too large and the opportunity to award lucrative contracts to friends and campaign supporters is too obvious.
Why bother hiring your relatives onto your campaign, just get them a no show job once your elected and you don't even have to deal with them.
First anon spare me the BS story those relatives are either incompetent or there was something more in it for them.
Who are you the candidates cousin? Did he/she win?
If yes tell us about your new job.
How about hiring your brother as Attorney General of the United States after being elected president? Naw, that could never happen. And if it could, he couldn't possibly piss off anti-Castro Cubans, the Cuban government, the CIA, and the Joint Chiefs so sufficiently one; or some (sum?) of them not only thought it would be a good idea to kill the elder brother, they actually did it and got away with it. I guess I'm a little off subject, but the above is an extreme (and true) example of the foibles of nepotism. As Father Guido Sarducci has been known to exclaim..".'Scuse a me, please!"
I think some campaigns are being run specifically to employ relatives and provide money to friend's businesses. If you've ever wondered why certain candidates stay in a race who have no chance of winning... maybe it's to help out their family and friends for a awhile.
If you give your money to a campaign where the "deputy campaign manager" is the politician's granddaughter (i.e. Ferre for Senate), well, you'll get the kind of politician who hires his granddaughter... and/or makes his nephew deputy chief of the police department (i.e. Manny Diaz), or finds lots of nice cushy jobs for his other family members. Where are Regalado's relatives working now... a son I believe is working for a lobbyist (Wren Group) I wonder why he got that job? How much money is the Wren Group getting from the city in terms of contracts? Any other Regalado family members suddenly have cushy positions... in or out of government?
I don't think its fair to trash Regalado's kids. They were at his side every moment of the campaign. Even if you don't like his politics, you have to give the old man credit for raising a close knit and supportive family. Most political family are only together for the campaign picture.
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