Convicted Portage mayor’s campaign fund down to $233: report
Chicago Tribune
January 31, 2020
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/ct-ptb-snyder-finances-portage-st-0202-20200131-rgcd37xyo5fdtgfv4nkmfoecke-story.html
The campaign fund of disgraced former Portage Mayor James Snyder owes more than it has, as its once robust balance dwindled, according to an annual campaign finance report filed with Porter County Elections and Registration last month.
Much of the activity in and out of the fund ceased around mid-February, when Snyder was convicted of federal corruption charges and was removed out of office.
In all, including its balance at the start of 2019, the fund had contributions and donations totaling $19,129.77.
Expenditures, which, according to the form, included attorney fees and related expenses, including meals and hotels, for Snyder’s federal trial, as well as a handful of campaign-related meals and other expenses before Snyder decided not to file for a third term as mayor, totaled $18,896.36.
The balance at the end of the reporting period, which covered all of last year, was $233.41. The campaign owes $8,949.29. Of that, $6,000 was owed to John Cortina, who pleaded guilty to a federal bribery charge involving Snyder and was recently sentenced to time served, a $12,000 fine and probation. The remainder of the debt was owed to Snyder.
Snyder raised more than $69,000 in 2018, according to his annual finance report for that year, an off-year for municipal elections when Snyder had a federal trial looming on the horizon.
Snyder’s 2017 report reflected about $102,000 in contributions and expenditures, including $41,000 in legal fees for two attorneys related to his November 2016 federal indictment.
Snyder declined to comment, but Kenard Taylor, treasure of his campaign, said any contributions and expenses from early last year were from when he was still debating whether to seek another term for mayor.
“When he decided not to run in the primary is when he decided to suspend any payments to campaign staff, including me,” Taylor said.
Snyder was convicted on Feb. 14 of bribery and obstructing the IRS after a lengthy trial in U.S. District Court in Hammond. He was acquitted on a third count, also bribery. He is scheduled be re-tried in March on the bribery count for which he was convicted.
“Until the case is settled, (the campaign fund) will maintain itself as it is,” Taylor said.
In the event that Snyder is acquitted during his re-trial and successfully appeals the IRS conviction, Taylor said, his legal fees will become the responsibility of the city of Portage. Part of those funds would be returned to the campaign for what he paid in legal fees and expenses.
The debt to Cortina, listed as a loan, dates back to four years ago. The plan for repaying that debt, Taylor said, included Cortina remaining a member of Snyder’s roundtable without paying the dues. Members paid $2,000 annually for private group meetings over meals with the mayor.
If Snyder is cleared of all charges, Taylor said, money he is reimbursed for his legal fees also would be used to pay off that debt.
“We’re not taking an active role to pay that off until we see what the disposition of the case will be,” Taylor said.
Snyder’s annual report reflects a $1,250 contribution from Combined Transport Systems in Portage, received Feb. 20 and signed off on by Taylor.
Expenditures include $5,000 for legal fees for Indianapolis attorney Jackie Bennett, who helped represent Snyder during his trial last year, paid out March 5. They also include more than $4,400 in hotel expenses for legal meetings; $2,300 for additional legal work; and hundreds of dollars for restaurant bills for legal meetings, including a tab of almost $500 at Gino’s Steakhouse in Merrillville, paid in January 2019.
If Snyder is unsuccessful in his attempt to be cleared in federal court and is not reimbursed for his legal fees, “we’re going to have to figure something else out,” Taylor said.
