C-L takes a look at campaign donations

Clarion-Ledger reporter Jimmie Gates took a look at campaign donations in judicial races in Sunday’s edition.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s upcoming role was discussed briefly, as was the fact that while Kitch leads Jim Smith in fundraising, that could change at any time.

On the Chamber:

State Supreme Court races used to draw little attention and didn’t require much money, but Diaz said that changed in 2000 when the U.S. Chamber of Commerce pumped about $1 million into ads to help his opponent and other candidates the group thought were pro-business. Mississippi trial lawyers opposed the Chamber’s effort and countered by spending more money in the judicial campaigns.

“I expect the same this time,” Diaz said of the Chamber’s effort to try to get him defeated.

Bryan Quigley, a spokesman for the Chamber’s Institute for Legal Reform, said the group looks nationwide at judicial races but hasn’t finalized plans of any areas that it will target.

“We don’t talk about any specific races,” Quigley said. “Of course, Mississippi is an important state.”

The institute this year ranked the state 48th among all 50 states in the fairness of its litigation environment.

On Kitch vs. Smith in fundraising:

In District 1, Chief Justice Jim Smith, who has been on the court since 1993, has raised $69,550 this year. His opponent, Crystal Springs lawyer Jim Kitchens, has raised $125,000.

Smith and Kitchens couldn’t be reached for comment.

Kitchens’ campaign manager, Sam Hall, said he is absolutely certain the Chamber will get involved in the local state Supreme Court races.

Also, Hall said the early campaign contributions in the race between Kitchens and Smith may be misleading.

“If Jim Smith wants to raise more money than Mr. Kitchens, he will do it,” Hall said. “He (Smith) has the capability to raise more money. All of Mr. Kitchens’ contributions are from family and friends.”

The majority of Kitchens’ campaign contributions have come from out-of-state and in-state lawyers, according to the campaign finance reports.

Hall said Kitchens has made it clear that he doesn’t want to know who is contributing to his campaign to prevent any appearance of impropriety.

Here are a few other things Gates and I discussed that did not make it into the article:

1. Jim Smith can get away without raising as much money as Kitch, because Jim Smith will have the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to do his dirty work for him.
2. When the U.S. Chamber comes to Mississippi and starts running television ads, they will be dirty, sleazy, negative attacks against a good man.
3. Jim Kitchens will defend himself. If he doesn’t like something Jim Smith has done or not done, Kitch will say so himself. He doesn’t need anyone to fight his battles for him.

I’ll also clarify this statement:

“…All of Mr. Kitchens’ contributions are from family and friends.”

I believe “and colleagues” was tacked on at the end of that quote when I said it, but I’ll give Jimmie the benefit of the doubt. He’s a good reporter.

That said, most all — if not all — of Kitch’s colleagues are also friends. So in that sense, the quote holds true.

But the point is this: We’re not reaching out to a bunch of PACs and mysterious “big money” types to fund his campaign. Members of the campaign are calling Kitch’s friends and asking them to help. And they are indeed helping.