Slog
News & ArtsWednesday, April 22, 2009
Politics Bigot and Carpetbagger?
Posted by Dominic Holden on Wed, Apr 22, 2009 at 4:02 PM
In this week's news section, I write about Gary Randall, president of Faith and Freedom, a trinity of organizations that oppose same-sex marriage in Washington. And any day now, the group plans to file a referendum to repeal the recently passed domestic-partnership bill. Randall has made good money in the past opposing gay-rights, as Lurleen examines over at Pam's House Blend and I discuss in the article:
Tax records from 2005 to 2007 show that, on average, the group spent under 30 percent of its budget on program goals. Where does the money go?
"I don't get paid a salary," says Randall.
But IRS filings show the Faith and Freedom Foundation paid Randall $53,877 in compensation in 2006 for an average of only 15 hours of work a week.
But something else was fishy about the group's financial records that isn't in the article. While Randall provided a Bellevue, Washington PO box as his address on IRS filings, it’s unclear how much time he actually spends in Washington. Faith and Freedom’s associates much of its business with an address in Lake Oswego, Oregon. And Randall also had a long career as a pastor, evangelical leader, and television host in Oregon. “We now have a home in Issaquah and Portland,” he told me. But when asked what percentage of the year he spends living in Washington, Randall said, “I don’t know and I’m not going to go there. You are over the line. We are done.” So the question is out there: Does the guy planning to run a referendum in Washington actually live in Washington?
1
I think the big question is where is Gary registered to vote? Aren't you required to be registered voter to file a referendum?
2
Whoah. Your question and his evasive, petulant response just gave me a flashback to the days when the definition of "journalism" occasionally included asking public figures direct, probing questions they would rather not answer.
I hope it comes back into style.
I hope it comes back into style.
3
Did you know that if you report them to the IRS (Treasury) you can get a 10 percent reward for the taxes they haven't been paying?
Plus a similar amount from Oregon.
Hmmmm.
Wonder if any unemployed people want to make some cash?
Plus a similar amount from Oregon.
Hmmmm.
Wonder if any unemployed people want to make some cash?
4
Well with $54k a year for 15 hours of work a week, surely he has time to dig some gold out of something else to buy a ghost house in Washington.
6
Well, according to the Sound Politics voter database, there are five Gary Randalls registered to vote in Washington State, but not one match The Gary Randall's year of birth (1941 or 1942, according to a 2001 Portland Business Journal article announcing his retirement). Also, none of the Gary Randalls have the same voter address as Marjorie Randall (The Gary Randall's wife).
Of course, the database may be missing information...
Of course, the database may be missing information...
7
$80-100+ per hr (depending on how you break it down) is pretty good scratch. Looks like he's taking another play from old Loony Lon.
9
I am pretty sure the SA would have just beaten you up or killed you, not reported a tax indiscretion to the proper Weimer authorities. Anti-system parties tend not to be so hot on paying taxes Ms. Godwin.
10
Don't know which state Mr. Randall is registered in, but according to his blog (http://www.blackwhite.blog-city.com/elec…) enjoys smearing President Obama. He sounds like a republican.
12
RCW 29.79.010 pretty much says that if he's not a registered voter here, any referendum or initiative he touches is easily contested. You'd have to untangle it down to the references and definitions of proposer, but it's doable, I'm sure.
Moreover, if his name ever touches a petition and he's not a registered voter, he's subject to stiff penalties, especially as an agent to this proposal. At that time, too, you can argue that the petition is on the behalf of an outside unaffected party.
And imagine the commercials if this bears out that he's not a registered Washington voter! "Oregonian attempts to strip rights of domestic partners after measure in own state fails to reach ballot". Was he the one that failed to get to ballot after Oregon signed their expansion of rights measure in 07 or early 08?
Moreover, if his name ever touches a petition and he's not a registered voter, he's subject to stiff penalties, especially as an agent to this proposal. At that time, too, you can argue that the petition is on the behalf of an outside unaffected party.
And imagine the commercials if this bears out that he's not a registered Washington voter! "Oregonian attempts to strip rights of domestic partners after measure in own state fails to reach ballot". Was he the one that failed to get to ballot after Oregon signed their expansion of rights measure in 07 or early 08?
14
Interesting, according to the group's 2007 IRS Form 990 on Guidestar.org, the total compensation going to all officers, directors & employees was $11,624. all of which went to Randall as President of the organization (there are two other officers listed: Curtis Green & Richard Wilson, all three of which list the same Bellevue P.O. Box as their address).
Apparently they also paid a "professional fundraiser" $37,646, which seems pretty excessive considering their reported gross revenues for the entire year were only $87,149, while at the same time they spent $50,727 on fundraising activities, which, in addition to the professional fees, also includes $7,269 for attendance at conferences & conventions.
So, on the one hand, Randall is being less than truthful when he says he doesn't draw a salary (unless he can prove he hasn't drawn one so far this year, in which case he's spinning the question - he HAS drawn a salary n the past, even if he's not currently); and secondly, one has to wonder who exactly was paid that fundraiser's fee? Was it to Randall himself? If not, why is the individual or entity not listed?
Apparently they also paid a "professional fundraiser" $37,646, which seems pretty excessive considering their reported gross revenues for the entire year were only $87,149, while at the same time they spent $50,727 on fundraising activities, which, in addition to the professional fees, also includes $7,269 for attendance at conferences & conventions.
So, on the one hand, Randall is being less than truthful when he says he doesn't draw a salary (unless he can prove he hasn't drawn one so far this year, in which case he's spinning the question - he HAS drawn a salary n the past, even if he's not currently); and secondly, one has to wonder who exactly was paid that fundraiser's fee? Was it to Randall himself? If not, why is the individual or entity not listed?
15
I wonder if he's bothered getting Washington license plates, unlike the dozen or so Oregon transplants I see driving around each day. Pay your fair share, people!
16
loved by Jesus,
Sorry, this is what it said.
Election Over--Gary Randall Still Smearing Obama [blackwhite ...
Faith and Freedom Network's Gary Randall wasted no time is continuing the campaign of misinformation about Barak Obama in his first post-election ...
www.blackwhite.blog-city.com/election_ov…...
It seems the Faith and Freedom Network has two Gary Randalls. My mistake. Darn Google.
Sorry, this is what it said.
Election Over--Gary Randall Still Smearing Obama [blackwhite ...
Faith and Freedom Network's Gary Randall wasted no time is continuing the campaign of misinformation about Barak Obama in his first post-election ...
www.blackwhite.blog-city.com/election_ov…...
It seems the Faith and Freedom Network has two Gary Randalls. My mistake. Darn Google.
17
What? An out-of-stater trying to shoehorn in on Eyman's perpetual initiative machine business? The nerve!!
18
@8 & 14,
You have to look at more than 1 year, and you have to look at the 990s for both organizations, Faith & Freedom Network, and Faith & Freedom Foundation. Links to those documents are available in the blog diary at Pam's House Blend, linked to above. The year Gary gave himself the biggest salary was 2006, the year he, Eyman and Joe Fuiten ran the failed referendum against the new LGBT non-discrimination law. Referendum=Cash for Carpetbagger Gary.
You have to look at more than 1 year, and you have to look at the 990s for both organizations, Faith & Freedom Network, and Faith & Freedom Foundation. Links to those documents are available in the blog diary at Pam's House Blend, linked to above. The year Gary gave himself the biggest salary was 2006, the year he, Eyman and Joe Fuiten ran the failed referendum against the new LGBT non-discrimination law. Referendum=Cash for Carpetbagger Gary.
19
16 kim,
no, my mistake. i thought you were saying the blog was by him rather than the blog post being about him. my bad. :)
no, my mistake. i thought you were saying the blog was by him rather than the blog post being about him. my bad. :)
20
Would people really vote for this?
If passed by Washington voters, the Defense of Marriage Initiative would:
add the phrase, “who are capable of having children with one another” to the legal definition of marriage;
require that couples married in Washington file proof of procreation within three years of the date of marriage or have their marriage automatically annulled;
require that couples married out of state file proof of procreation within three years of the date of marriage or have their marriage classed as “unrecognized;”
establish a process for filing proof of procreation; and
make it a criminal act for people in an unrecognized marriage to receive marriage benefits
If passed by Washington voters, the Defense of Marriage Initiative would:
add the phrase, “who are capable of having children with one another” to the legal definition of marriage;
require that couples married in Washington file proof of procreation within three years of the date of marriage or have their marriage automatically annulled;
require that couples married out of state file proof of procreation within three years of the date of marriage or have their marriage classed as “unrecognized;”
establish a process for filing proof of procreation; and
make it a criminal act for people in an unrecognized marriage to receive marriage benefits
22
These are the same people who claim a vast conspiracy by gays. According to them the gays are lying about choosing to be gay. All the gays, everywhere. This always seemed strange to me.
I guess from their perspective a conspiracy of lies is perfectly normal.
I guess from their perspective a conspiracy of lies is perfectly normal.
24
Kim @ 20, where did you find the text that you're quoting - I'd like to see the larger document if you have a link to it or info on how to find it.
I would hope that no sane or rational person would ever vote for such a thing, but sadly the last eight years have shown us that many people are, at times, neither.
I would hope that no sane or rational person would ever vote for such a thing, but sadly the last eight years have shown us that many people are, at times, neither.
25
24
A Humorless Gary Randall [blackwhite--modern thought control]WA-DOMA is trying to put this petition on the ballot because it plays into the "reasoning" behind the recent Washington State Supreme Court decision that ...
blackwhite.blog-city.com/a_humorless_gar…
A Humorless Gary Randall [blackwhite--modern thought control]WA-DOMA is trying to put this petition on the ballot because it plays into the "reasoning" behind the recent Washington State Supreme Court decision that ...
blackwhite.blog-city.com/a_humorless_gar…
29
@5: Did you learn a new word? Do you actually know who the SA are and what they did? Or are you just shoveling yet MORE shit out your clueless ass? Do you even know that the Sturmabteilung and brownshirts refer to the same group or did you just learn something else?
30
I went through his disturbing blog for and couldn't find it. Perhaps it is just sick satire. Sorry, if it is. I wonder why an Oregon resident is so obsessed with Washington?
31
The Faith and Freedom Network has a full time lobby in Oregon as well.
http://faithandfreedom.us/lobby_or.html
http://faithandfreedom.us/lobby_or.html
32
As usual,
Slog is all screaming hissy fit,
no real world smarts.
Q- How hard will it be to now find a Washington resident to file the referendum petition?
A- Not hard at all.
Had you held on to this information until Randall filed the petition you could have had it nullified.
Slog is all screaming hissy fit,
no real world smarts.
Q- How hard will it be to now find a Washington resident to file the referendum petition?
A- Not hard at all.
Had you held on to this information until Randall filed the petition you could have had it nullified.
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