California political losers have hard time paying debts

[PoliticAverse]

Today’s story in The Bee about lawmakers’ campaign debt showed that it can take months or even years to pay off personal loans and unpaid bills. And that’s for candidates who won. For losing candidates, the task becomes much harder, experts say.

“It’s undeniable that it’s a lot easier to raise money if you win than if lose,” former Assemblyman Roger Dickinson, D-Sacramento, said. Unsuccessful legislative candidates reported almost half a million dollars in debt at the end of 2014, records show.

Democrat Sandra Fluke lost her bid for a Los Angeles-area state Senate seat in November and her campaign reported more than $140,000 in outstanding debt Dec. 31. That included $100,000 in personal loans and more than $46,000 in credit-card bills, her reports show. Fluke declined to comment.

Diamond Bar Republican Phillip Chen, who finished third in an Assembly primary last June, reported $138,000 in debt, including a $100,000 personal loan. On his campaign campaign website, Chen thanked supporters: “Your sacrifices will not be forgotten and I am forever indebted to you.”

Read the rest at: http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article17696207.html

[justhanginon]

1. I understand that Ms. Fiorina (aka Cruella) managed to pay off

one of her bigger debts almost immediately. That would be the debt to herself for a rather large sum of money. Her staff and other creditors were not so fortunate. I guess it is all about priorities.

[JayhawkSD]

2. It should be illegal to campaign with borrowed money.

Camiaigning should be cash on the barrellhead, or at most common thirty day terms.

[KamaAina]

3. That would tend to amplify the influence of self-financed candidates

like tRump.