School bond: Postal permits vs. small-cap filings

Jeff Melcher worries about school district architect Corgan funding a postal permit to pay for a variety of pro-bond mailings; I may be over-reading him, though, and he’s just being snarky, not worrying in an ethics sense.

Anyway, if Corgan has a single postal permit it has on tap to use not only for Lancaster’s citizens’ bond committee, but those in other school districts such as Frisco’s, I see nothing illegal or unethical as long as it’s properly reported.

And, speaking of reporting …

I found it interesting that Melcher’s TIGER PAC, opposing the bond, is deliberately keeping all contributions below $50, per his instructions. And, no, this is apparently not just a question of people not having more than $50; it’s Melcher’s instruction, so he doesn’t have itemize contributors by name.

That, then, leads to several questions on my part.

1. How many school district employees have contributed?
2. How many total contributors ― not contributions, but contributors ― has he gotten?
3. Would any of those contributors be “surprise” contributors by showing an active opposition to the bond.

Point 1, I can understand the desire for anonymity. And, with the “raise that is not a raise,” many of them might not have more than $50 to give anyway.

Point 2? Jeff, if you’re reading, and want to tell me, I’m listening.

Point 3? That’s the key. It sounds like a few people DO have more than $50 available, but for whatever reasons, Jeff wants to keep them on the QT. It’s legal, ethical and his tactical choice, but I find it interesting.