Pam Byrnes goes on attack against Rebekah Warren for campaign finance violation in Senate race
(This story has been updated to note that Marc Corriveau dropped out of his district's Senate race and to correct information about a donation to the Washtenaw Democrats.)
State Rep. Rebekah Warren says technical difficulties prevented her from filing her campaign finance reports on time last week. But her opponent, state Rep. Pam Byrnes, is going on the offensive, calling it a clear violation of state law.
Pam Byrnes
After failing to meet a Friday deadline, Warren posted her campaign finance reports to the state's website on Monday. Because she was one business day late, she will be charged a $25 fine.
"Sadly, Ms. Warren has a history of this as the treasurer of MARAL," said Byrnes' campaign manager, Kent Sparks, citing records that show Warren was late in submitting other campaign finance reports in 2006 and 2007 as treasurer for the Michigan Abortion & Reproductive Rights Action League PAC.
The latest campaign finance reports show Warren, D-Ann Arbor, has raised $140,968, compared to the $199,558 raised by Byrnes, D-Lyndon Township. The reports also show Byrnes had outspent Warren $119,536 to $74,688 as of July 18, the reporting period ending date.
Byrnes' campaign also claims Warren worked around campaign finance laws to channel an extra $5,000 above and beyond the amount permitted by state law from her Envision Michigan PAC to her Senate campaign.
Records show Warren gave her campaign a boost in December by transferring $10,000 from her Envision Michigan PAC, the most allowed under state law. Five days later, the PAC made a $5,000 contribution to state Rep. Marc Corriveau, D-Northville, who gave $5,000 to Warren's campaign the same day.
While technically legal, Byrnes' campaign argues Warren's actions violate the spirit of the state's campaign finance laws.
"It seems to me if you can't follow the law, you shouldn't be writing it," Sparks said.
Warren defended herself by saying she and Corriveau are friends and support each other's campaigns. Just like one person might go to a friend's birthday party and bring a gift, she said, that friend might do the same in return on the other person's birthday.
"It's just very common that people support the people they'd like to serve with," Warren said. "We're both friends and colleagues in the House and were both looking forward to serving together in the Senate."
Corriveau dropped out of his district's Senate race in May.
Warren said it's unfortunate her opponent is going on the attack over a few late campaign finance filings in more than a decade.
"Sometimes despite your best efforts, you can miss a deadline," she said. "This is what turns people off about politics. Rome is burning and this is what we're talking about in a race like this?"
Warren, who uses online software to file her reports, said she discovered inconsistencies with the way some data was electronically entered in her reports on Friday and decided to wait an extra business day to file to ensure the reports would be completely accurate.
State records show Byrnes herself was late in filing a campaign finance report in 2008. She also has failed to include the required "paid for by" disclosure on two large campaign billboards she currently has up in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti.
"It's on the campaign finance report showing that we did pay for it," Sparks said Tuesday. "We're in the process now of getting a disclaimer added."
Rebekah Warren
Warren and Byrnes, who currently serve as state representatives for different parts of Washtenaw County, will face off for the 18th District state Senate seat in next Tuesday's Democratic primary, alongside Thomas Partridge.
The race turned ugly Tuesday when questions arose over a conservative-learning group's backing of Byrnes' campaign in a series of ads. The group attacked Warren for missing votes while on her honeymoon, but Byrnes' campaign denied any connection to the ads or the group behind them.
Campaign finance reports show that in addition to the $140,968 she raised, Byrnes reported another $1,376 in in-kind contributions, while Warren reported $3,843.
Byrnes transferred $35,547 of her fundraising total from her state representative campaign fund.
Warren transferred $10,000 from her state representative campaign fund. Her latest report also shows a debt of $10,000, which she owes for taking out four separate $2,500 loans over the last four months. Byrnes did not report any debt.
Some of Warren's largest expenses include more than $8,000 paid in salary to her campaign manager, Sarah Curmi, $5,700 for development of a website by Inner Circle Media LLC of Ann Arbor, $4,000 to Capitol Fundraising Associates of Lansing for consulting services, and $1,640 to Campaign Finance Services of Charlotte for campaign finance compliance services.
Warren also used campaign money to make a $250 donation to the University of Michigan College Democrats and a $1,455 donation to the Washtenaw County Democratic Party.
Byrnes paid more than $12,600 in salary to her campaign manager and more than $41,700 in political consulting fees to GMT Strategies Inc. of Lansing. She also paid $15,000 to West Liberty Information LLC of Ann Arbor for data management services and $1,120 to Thomas Knox of Chelsea for web consulting fees.
Byrnes also spent nearly $23,000 on surveys done by Lake Research Partners of Washington, D.C., between February and April. Byrnes went public in April with partial results from one survey declaring she had a 13-point lead over Warren. Her campaign declined to release the full survey results, saying findings used for internal strategy were not being disclosed.
Both campaigns accepted money from special-interest PACs, but Byrnes outpaced Warren. Warren reported taking $9,900 from the Michigan Education Association, $3,500 from the Auto Dealers of Michigan, $1,000 from the Michigan Psychological Association, $1,500 from DTE Energy and $1,000 from the Michigan Association of Community Bankers.
Warren also accepted $500 from Blue Cross Blue Shield, $500 from the Michigan Association of Theatre Owners, $250 from the University of Michigan PAC and $250 from the Michigan Association of Health Plans.
Byrnes took $6,000 from the Michigan Infrastructure & Transportation Association, $5,400 from the Operating Engineers Local 324, $3,000 from Blue Cross Blue Shield, $3,000 from the Michigan Association of Nurse Anesthetists, $2,250 from the School Administrators PAC, $2,750 from DTE Energy, $2,700 from the Michigan Trial Lawyers Association, $2,500 from the Dillon Leadership Fund, $2,200 from the Auto Dealers of Michigan, and $2,150 from the Michigan Association of Realtors.
Byrnes also accepted $1,750 from AT&T, $1,600 from the County Road Association of Michigan, $1,500 from the Michigan Association of Health Plans, $1,500 from the American Consulting Engineers Council, $1,500 from the United Transportation Union, $1,450 from the Norfolk Southern Corp., $1,450 from the Michigan Credit Union League, and $1,000 each from the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 190, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Michigan Democrats for Education Reform, Michigan Aggregates and Ford Motor Co.
“I’m humbled and honored to have such a broad base of support throughout our community,” Byrnes said in a statement. “While this financial support is encouraging, I remain focused on what this campaign is all about: creating jobs for our community and delivering the reforms necessary to turn our state’s economy around.”
Under separate reports, Byrnes and Warren each reported late contributions of $2,000 from the Michigan Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association. That came in addition to $2,000 and $1,750, respectively, Warren and Byrnes already received from the group.
"From the very beginning of this campaign, what's been so terrific to me is really it's a lot of community support," Warren said. "I did not spend a lot of time in Lansing fundraising. You don't see a lot of PAC support. What's so gratifying to me is that, even in these tough economic times, such a large number of individuals put their support behind the campaign."
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529.
Comments
Will Stewart
Fri, Jul 30, 2010 : 1:09 p.m.
A2_22010: Pam Byrnes was, for many years, an attorney with a private practice in the area. No horse in this race... just responding to your question.
Speechless
Fri, Jul 30, 2010 : 12:13 p.m.
"... That'd help her [Warren] have more sensible policies, instead of advocating a tax hike on working families... not very progressive...." Byrnes has called for a hike in the state gas tax — something necessary that I fully support, given Michigan's antiquated, failing, tax revenue systems. And Warren favors a slightly lower level of taxation for most working people. She has backed Alma Wheeler Smith's proposed tax reform, which calls for a Michigan constitution revision allowing for a graduated state income tax. Most state residents would pay a little less under that plan than they do now under the flat rate tax, while the privileged (such as DeVos) would pay more. State finances would greatly improve, and the business tax would become somewhat lower.
A2_2010
Fri, Jul 30, 2010 : 7:25 a.m.
Warren is just another immature professional politician. She needs to spend some real time in the real world. That'd help her have more sensible policies, instead of advocating a tax hike on working families...not very progressive. Pam Byrnes isn't perfect, none of us are. But her blend of real world experience and public service yields the more level headed common sense that Lansing is in need of... most the of the nasty stuff I've seen in this race has been spewed by Warren supporters. Oh well, just a few more days and we can get back to summer.
Sacha Pietrovich
Fri, Jul 30, 2010 : 1:50 a.m.
I have heard Pam Byrnes speak on numerous occasions and she always touts her "experience," as vague as it may be. Why can't someone with so much "experience" talk about things that she's done instead of run a smear campaign against her opponent? Should Byrnes really be casting stones about meeting deadlines anyway, having missed the 2008 campaign finance report herself? Byrnes lost my vote with her hypocrisy and dirty politics. GO REBEKAH!
Sacha Pietrovich
Fri, Jul 30, 2010 : 1:49 a.m.
I have heard Pam Byrnes speak on numerous occasions and she always touts her "experience," as vague as it may be. Why can't someone with so much "experience" talk about things that she's done instead of run a smear campaign against her opponent? Should Byrnes really be casting stones about meeting deadlines anyway, having missed the 2008 campaign finance report herself? Byrnes lost my vote with her hypocrisy and dirty politics. GO REBEKAH!
A2_2010
Thu, Jul 29, 2010 : 6:24 p.m.
Has Pam Byrnes ever had a real job? I'm tired of these people who have never had to make tough private sector choices... we don't need more professional politicians...we need citizens reformers not career hacks.
Aaron Wolf
Thu, Jul 29, 2010 : 5:47 p.m.
I was previously undecided, but Byrnes has failed the integrity test. I don't know if Warren would pass it, but she didn't get tested with awkward 3rd-party negative mailings against her opponent. My vote is with Warren, who hasn't been tested over Byrnes who failed the test.
Jon Saalberg
Thu, Jul 29, 2010 : 9:38 a.m.
I agree with the sentiment that Byrnes's emphasis on attacking Warren instead of touting the issues is a sign of trouble in the Byrnes campaign.Also, has Byrnes made a vigorous effort to distance herself from her right-wing "supporters"?
eyeblog
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 4:27 p.m.
In the mail yesterday, I received 2 large color, glossy, (expensive) campaign mailings from Byrnes. One piece explains that "Promises won't move Michigan forward... Jobs will." It explains that Byrnes is a problem solver and she gets things done. The theme of the next piece is "What will it take to reform Lansing?" and Byrnes is the problem solver that we need to fix what is broken in Lansing. After reading this article I feel like the Byrnes campaign sent false advertising to me. Bringing up petty issues like the ones that were raised in this article will not move Michigan forward, will not create more jobs, will not solve problems, and will not fix what is broken in Lansing. It is this type of selfish, self serving behavior and dirty politics that has added to the mess in Lansing. Wake up Byrnes while you are busy spending a lot of money (more than triple what some of your constituents will make in a year) to further your own career and while you are busy slinging mud, things are still very difficult in Michigan. When the news is filled with reports of our own Michigan oil spill, a young man shot at each to death at a local shopping center in broad daylight, school districts with low test scores and financial problems, neighbors still out of work and unable to find jobs, it is ridiculous that you are focusing on a report that was a day late. If you are going to play dirty, it would be wise to clean up your own house first.
Stephen Landes
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 3:17 p.m.
I won't be voting in the Democrat side of the primary, so my comment is really about political campaigning in general. It is unfortunate that Pam Byrnes has decided to focus on what amounts to a $25 fine for late filing of information rather than issues of real concern. Sure I wish everyone did everything exactly on time and never made a mistake. However, we have a lot of very serious issues to discuss this year and keeping the focus on those issues seems to me to be of primary importance. Is Pam Byrnes really losing on the issues and doing the typical life-time politician thing by changing the subject?
ypsilanti
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 1 p.m.
@A2_2010, naive as it may seem to you, if this is the "information" Byrnes thinks voters need to make a decision, she is obviously out of touch with voters. Given Byrnes' own transgressions, as noted in the article, it comes across as hypocritical at best, cynical and disingenuous at worst, for Byrnes to seek publicity by making these complaints.
A2_2010
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 12:46 p.m.
So Rebekkah Warren doesn't take PAC money? I mean come on... The Warren rants on here are ironically immature.
Lisa Starrfield
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 11:58 a.m.
Pam Byrnes took $3000 from BCBS? She's pretty tight with Dillon and supported his plan to nix MESSA. Of course, if MESSA is gone, were will all the teachers in MESSA be forced to go? BCBS.
amazonwarrior
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 11:49 a.m.
Sounds like "sour grapes", petty politics and afraid she's going to lose on Ms. Byrnes' part before the election is even held and the votes counted! Grow up, both of you, and stick to the issues! Crap! I HATE election years.
A2_2010
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 11:20 a.m.
What's the real differences between their life histories and experiences?
Ryan J. Stanton
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 10:53 a.m.
@a2huron Indeed. Rebekah and Pam faced off in the August primary way back in 1998. Click here to view the official election results. I wasn't around then, so I can't talk specifics about the race, but maybe someone else can fill us in.
Tom Wieder
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 10:52 a.m.
As an active Democrat for 40 years who lives in Pam Byrnes State Representative district, I have voted for her in three general elections. I am, however, supporting her opponent, Rebekah Warren, in the State Senate primary, and people ask me why. Most importantly, it is a question of political ethics and principles. In 1996, Pam and Catherine McClary ran for the Democratic nomination for Washtenaw County Treasurer. During that campaign, Pam made unsubstantiated, cheap-shot allegations against Catherine. The allegations concerned supposed improprieties in Catherines private career as a local stockbroker/financial advisor. I was a minor customer of Catherines and thought the charges were nonsense. The Ann Arbor News investigated the allegations, found them to be baseless and endorsed Catherine. She easily defeated Pam. Apparently, Pam didnt learn from this experience or improve her campaign ethics. Now, she attacks Rebekah for filing her campaign finance report one (business) day late, although Pam was late with one of her own reports previously and failed to put legally-required disclosure information on her billboards. She also attacks Rebekah for allegedly violating the spirit of the campaign finance law in the handling of her own PAC money, while acknowledging that what Rebekah did is legal. Its also perfectly legal for each of them to use leftover funds from their State Representatives campaigns for their Senate campaigns, but how would past contributors, who primarily gave money to them to beat Republicans, feel about their contributions being use to beat a fellow Democrat in the same community? Pam has used over $37,000 in these funds to Rebekahs $10,000. And then there is the issue of the DeVos-funded conservative group supporting Pam and attacking Rebekah. I have no evidence that Pam had any knowledge of this groups efforts before they became public, but Pams actions since the first brochure from the group appeared more than a week ago are not reassuring. She quickly learned of the group's GOP pedigree, but did nothing in response. She didnt ask them to butt out of the Democratic primary or publicly disown their efforts and disassociate herself from them. The same inaction followed the distribution this week of the groups piece attacking Rebekah. When I suggested to Pam that she take some action to publicly disown the groups actions and call for them to stop meddling in the Democratic primary, she said that shed have to consult her political advisors. So much for her leadership qualities. Either candidate would vote correctly, from a liberal Democratic perspective, on most issues, but Pams character problem makes Rebekah a clear choice for me.
A2_2010
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 10:31 a.m.
To one of the other poster's comments... Touch. I guess we can't expect elected officials to be better than the level of discourse and reasoning exhibited here. :)
Bill
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 9:55 a.m.
Pam Byrnes accepted $1,000 from the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.? Well, that doesn't get on my good side!
frankweir
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 9:43 a.m.
I know both Byrnes and Warren and they are both good people, this election not withstanding. So let's not demonize either with ad hominem attacks.
trapper
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 9:35 a.m.
I was visited at home yesterday by one of those nice young people who collect money and solicit petition signatures for Clean Water Action. CWA pays their canvasers to go door to door to solicit households for contributions. I have given in the past and expect the contribution went to save forests and fish, butterflies, etc. This paid canvasser also asked me if I was supporting Warren in the State Senate race, explaining that Warren was a wonderful person, had saved several trees, etc. I explained my recent humane relocation of a woodchuck to him to demonstrate my environmental sympathy, then sent him on his way without my usual gift. Shouldn't CWA be reporting the paid canvassing expense, in addition to their other direct contributions to Warren's camp[aign?
frankweir
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 9:35 a.m.
Robert... I gather from the story that the Byrnes campaign was not even aware of the mailings sent out by the DeVos group. That's not the same as consciously accepting a donation from them. Let's not spread hurtful inaccuracies this close to the election.
treetowncartel
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 9:32 a.m.
Oops, party should be primary in the first paragraph. If I could fix it I would, oh well.
Truth
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 9:13 a.m.
@A2_2010: If that is your only issue with Warren, I'd say she's an excellent candidate to cast your vote for!
treetowncartel
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 9:11 a.m.
As a person in their district who is considering whether to vote in the republican or democratic party, in order to get me to vote for one of them in the democratic party they need to start focusing on what they are going to do if they get elected, not what the other one is doing to try and get elected. For those of you waiting to chide me for not picking a party, I have voted for several different parties over the years. Right now, I am a little concerned about who the next Governor will be, and I see that person coming out of the Republican camp, so I am inclined to use my vote there.
Truth
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 9:10 a.m.
If I read this correctly, it wasn't that Warren didn't file, it was that she was late? As I read further, I am not going to vote for a candidate backed by RJ Reynolds.
David Cahill
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 9:08 a.m.
Pam Byrnes has panicked over AnnArbor.com's report that right-wing Republicans have spent tens of thousands of dollars in support of her candidacy without her approval. That revelation led Byrnes to "go negative" against Rebekah Warren. As every schoolchild knows, going negative offends many voters, and you only do it if your campaign is in trouble. Filing a campaign finance report one day late does not mean you have to pay a "fine". Instead, according to Appendix E of the Secretary of State's candidate committee manual, you have to pay a "late filing fee". My guess is that Warren could have filed a partial and crippled report last Friday, but chose to file an accurate report that would actually be useful to the public on Monday. This course of action hardly justifies Byrnes getting up on her high horse - particularly since Byrnes has big billboards up that don't have the required "paid for by" statements on them. I have been a Warren supporter all along because I prefer her policy positions to Byrnes'. Now, though, Byrnes has raised an issue of her judgment and ability to handle the pressures of being in the State Senate. If Byrnes panics so easily, she is not going to do well in the Senate. For that office, you need nerves of steel - not nerves of glass.
a2huron
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 8:59 a.m.
Ryan: I don't recall it, but have you mentioned in any of your articles on this race that these two candidates have gone up against each other in the past? I thought they both ran against each other in a state house primary in the 1990s? If so, it makes this an interesting rematch. What happened in that race - did either candidate go negative there like Byrnes is doing now?
Ross Dunbar
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 8:53 a.m.
Rebekah Warren will be an outstanding person to have in the state senate. Her background and qualifications are very strong, and I encourage voters to take a detailed look at her many strengths at http://www.rebekahwarren.com
Speechless
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 8:41 a.m.
With a week to go before the August primary vote, it's not exactly good timing for even a minor faux pas on Warren's part. It indicates mild disorganization. The attempt by Byrnes to turn this into a major, last-minute issue, however, is either overwrought (speaking kindly) or desperate and pathetic (putting it less kindly). Given the other recent news about this particular primary contest, she badly needs to raise distracting issues in the media. Warren's decision to file the report at the last minute, only to experience some kind of screw-up presumably related to sending file attachments, just doesn't compare to her opponent relying on the largesse of the far-right DeVos family for significant, third-party campaign support in the district.
Adam
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 8:39 a.m.
Representative Warren is a caring woman who cares about the people in our community. I can look beyond a small technicality like this for someone like Warren who will work for the good of us in this area. Byrnes seems like a rather nasty and negative politician...I will not be voting for that.
Aaron Wolf
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 8:09 a.m.
Very, very simple: Imaginary upstanding candidate Byrnes in public: "There have been some negative, petty attacks on my opponent. While I am not behind them, I furthermore reject and repudiate them. I believe I am the better candidate, and my qualifications and positions on the issues are reason enough to vote for me. I care that voters are informed and responsible and support me for legitimate reasons. Thank you." Or something like that. What an opportunity she has to come across as a really wonderful person with integrity who we could admire. Looks like she's just going to claim innocence while being perfectly happy with the negative ads. If this doesn't change, DO NOT VOTE for Pam Byrnes!!
GreenLiving
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 8:08 a.m.
The Byrnes people definitely need to watch out for the shattering of their glass house. First they attack Warren for missing some votes and it turns out Byrnes missed seven times as many votes this year. Whoops. Then they claim "violation of the law" on campaign finance and it turns out they violated the same law by not disclosing who paid for billboards. Now, they are attacking over a missed filing deadline by one day, and apparently Byrnes missed a filing deadline by two days. Warren's people must have known about the billboard violation -- it's like three blocks from her house and she probably drives by it every day. And it's been up for a month. I never saw any complaint about that until Byrnes started in with these obviously hypocritical attacks. Byrnes and her people seem to delight in putting Warren on the defensive like this, but I for one think it is both mean and meaningless.
xmo
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 7:55 a.m.
It seem that Democrats are always having problems with money. John Kerry's new yacht, Charles Rangle real estate deals, and now Ms. Warren finance report. Which ever one wins will raise your taxes so don't worry, keep voting for the Big D!
A2_2010
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 7:27 a.m.
Ypsi...that's naive. An election is a choice. We need candidates to give us information, even about their opponents, to mix it up. I think experience has taught us trusting politicians or the media to tell us the truth about themselves is misplaced. Campaigns that fail to provide information and ensure we voters have information - positive and negative - do the process and the electorate a disservice. The questions we need to ask are: -Are the statements factual? -Does it matter to our value judgement in making the choice between them? IMHO
ypsilanti
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 7:11 a.m.
Byrnes' negativity against a fellow Democrat will cost her my vote if she prevails in the primary. Warren has run a good, positive campaign, explaining why she is the better candidate. Byrnes seems overly focused on getting people to not to vote for her opponent rather than on why they should vote for her. If this is a preview of what she has to offer if elected, I say no thanks.
A2_2010
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 7:09 a.m.
If Warren can use a computer to file her reports on time, is she really ready for the Senate? Seriously. Warren's behavior is very immature.
a2huron
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 7:04 a.m.
Please. One day late is not a big deal. Clearly someone is trying to make something of nothing, and it seems that Byrnes doesn't have clean hands herself. I guess Byrnes has also "violated state law." Question: has Byrnes disclosed the Dick DeVos donations?
Joan Lowenstein
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 6:32 a.m.
Warren's husband, Conan Smith, is chairman of the city Democratic Party, not the county party.
Conservative
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 6:26 a.m.
Dear Lord, please have both of these 2 career polititians lose. I'll be voting for Mr. Partridge.