Analysis of Campaign Contributions by Chrysler Dealerships who are Scheduled to Close

OpenSecrets.org ^ | May 19, 2009 | William J. Smith

[smith5460]

Chrysler announced the closing of 789 dealerships earlier this month. On today's radio program, Rush Limbaugh spoke for a few seconds about whether or not some of the dealership closings are the result of politics (campaign contributions). After hearing this, I decided to look up the contributions of the dealers on the Internet.
Here are a few examples of the campaign donations made by some of the dealers who will close their doors shortly. I'm not anywhere close to going through the entire list yet. The figures are only from the 2004, 2006, and 2008 Election cycles:

(1) Michael E. Maroone

Mr. Maroone has 6 dealerships in Fort Lauderdale, FL that will close. Since 2003, he has donated $12,700 to the RNC, $10,000 to the Florida Republican party, and $2,300 to Mitt Romney's Presidential campaign.

(2) Vernon Buchanan

Vernon Buchanan is a member of the U.S. House from Florida since 2007. One of his dealerships in Venice, FL will close. In the past 3 election cycles, Mr. Buchanan has given $50,000 to the RNC, $20,000 to the Florida Republican party, $4,000 to President Bush's campaign, and numerous amounts of money to other Republican candidates for Congress.

(3) Larry Crain

Mr. Crain's dealership in Little Rock will close. He has given $1,000 to President Bush, $1,000 to Marvin Parks (U.S. House cndidate in Arkansas), $2,300 to Mike Huckabee's Presidential campaign, and $2,300 to John McCain's Presidential run.

(4) Thomas Ganley

Mr. Ganley has 3 dealership that will close in Lakewood, Ohio. He has given $1,250 to Sen. Voinovich, $200 to Sen. Dewine, $7,750 to the National Auto Dealers Association, and $250 to Steven Latourette.

(5) Ray Huffines

Mr. Huffines will have a dealership in Denton, TX lose. He and his family are huge donors to the GOP. He has gave at least $1,000 each to Sen. Brownback, Gov. Huckabee, and Sen. McCain during their Presidential runs. He gave $3,400 to Sen. Cornyn, $5,900 to Rep. Sam Johnson, $800 to Rep. Tom DeLay, and $5,000 to Jeb Hensarling.

(6) Ronald Hoover

Mr. Hoover has 2 dealerships in Charleston, SC that will close. He gave $1,000 to Pres. Bush, $1,000 to Senator Graham, $750 to Henry Brown, $500 to Charlie Condon, and $500 to the RNC.

(7) Roger Penske

Roger Penske has a delearship in Michigan that will close soon. He has given $28,500 to the republican Senate Committee and $15,000 to the RNC. He gave $2,300 to Guiliani's Presidential run, and more money to Senators Kyl, Alxander, Collins, and Elizabeth Dole. In the interests of fairness, he also gave small amounts to Michigan politicians Kilpatrick, Dingell, and Stabenow.

(8) J.J. Fitzgerald

The most interesting find so far is John Fitzgerald, Jr. and J.J. Fitzgerald III. They have two dealerships that will close soon in Maryland.

While the previous entries gave mostly to Republicans, these two guys gave most of their donations to the Democrats.

The two gave $3,800 to Chris Van Hollen, $1,000 to Rep. Hoyer, over $3,000 to Ben Cardin, and other small amounts to Barbara Mikulski, Wynn, and Dennis Hastert.

Since 2004, they gave $300 to Wesley Clark's Presidential run during the Primaries. In the General Election, they gave $1,000 to John Kerry. In the 2008 Democratic primaries, they gave $2,000 to Hillary Clinton. When the 2008 General Election came down to John McCain vs. Barack Obama, they didn't donate any money to Barack Obama. The Fitzgeralds gave $4,600 from May to September 2008 to John McCain's Presidential run.

[smith5460]

Some more information from the Joplin, Missouri area:

The Neosho Chrysler dealership (Chrysler, Dodge, Dodge truck, and Jeep) owned by Mark Hendren is shutting down while the Chrysler dealership in Joplin (Frank Fletcher) 12 miles away will remain open.

Since the 2004 Election cycle, Hendren has given $2,000 to Jim Talent (R), $500 to Roy Blunt (R), and $500 to John McCain. Fletcher gave $8,000 to Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D), $1,000 to Gov. Mike Huckabee, and $1,000 to two GOP candidates in Arkansas.

Fletcher will also benefit from 2 other dealerships closing in the Little Rock area. It looks like he will be the only Chrysler dealership left in the Little Rock metro area.

I have completed gathering information on the Chrysler dealers through Page 30. I will finish the other 10 pages tonight.

[Lexinom]

I remember you mentioning Fletcher earlier. That was $8,000 well-spent, I dare say!

BTW a heart KUDOS to you for completing 75% of that report!!! That is some stellar, heads-down FReep-work you've done!!!

Have you added the numbers yet? Could I help with that maybe i.e. have you published them?

[4woodenboats]

Sorry to hear about your BIL getting pushed out the door (and his misplaced faith in an empty suit), but why is he afraid of retirement - didn't he have enough years in, or is he afraid his pension & health insurance might evaporate in another "Change" aka New Deal aka Whim?

IOW, is he taking naps on the couch after lunch (THE American Dream :)), or browsing the local community college's program?

I'm curious what the moral in the plants has been like through this. Must've been pretty tough wondering.....

[Daisyjane69]

pluggin’ away in Utah...

These numbers pertain to a NON-CLOSING dealership in Layton, UT (near Ogden)

Contributions to Political Committees

CUTRUBUS, E. ANN MRS.
RIVERDALE, UT 84405

MCCAIN, JOHN S.
VIA MCCAIN-PALIN COMPLIANCE FUND INC.
10/31/2008 200.00 28993657646

CUTRUBUS, E. ANN MRS.
RIVERDALE, UT 84405
HOMEMAKER

MCCAIN, JOHN S.
VIA JOHN MCCAIN 2008 INC.
10/31/2008 -200.00 28993670675

CUTRUBUS, E. ANN MRS.
RIVERDALE, UT 84405
HOMEMAKER/HOMEMAKER

MCCAIN, JOHN S.
VIA JOHN MCCAIN 2008 INC.
09/11/2008 200.00 28933614078

CUTRUBUS, HOMER
OGDEN, UT 84405
CONTRUBUS MOTORS/AUTO DEALER

MCCALL, VICKIE L
VIA VICKIE MCCALL FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE
04/29/2002 1000.00 22991384654

CUTRUBUS, HOMER
OGDEN, UT 84405
ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHRY PLY

DEALERS ELECTION ACTION COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL AUTOMOTIVE DEALERS ASSOCIATION
12/31/1998 200.00 99034292520

CUTRUBUS, PHIDIA
OGDEN, UT 84403
CUTRUBUS MOTORS/AUTO DEALER

MCCALL, VICKIE L
VIA VICKIE MCCALL FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE
04/29/2002 1000.00 22991384655

Total Contributions: 2400.00

[Daisyjane69]

NON-Closing dealership group in Utah:

Contributions to Political Committees

MILLER, LARRY H.
SANDY, UT 84070
LARRY H. MILLER GROUP/BUSINESSMAN

COMMONWEALTH PAC, THE
06/21/2006 5000.00 27990956061

MILLER, LARRY H.
SANDY, UT 84070
SELF/BUSINESS EXECUTIVE

SWALLOW, JOHN
VIA JOHN SWALLOW FOR CONGRESS INC.
06/03/2002 -1000.00 27930496536
06/03/2002 2000.00 27930496537
07/31/2002 1000.00 23990099167
10/13/2004 -1000.00 24962668927
10/13/2004 2000.00 24962668926

MILLER, LARRY H. MR
MIDVALE, UT 84047
LARRY H MILLER OLDSMOBILE/DEALER

DEALERS ELECTION ACTION COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL AUTOMOTIVE DEALERS ASSOCIATION
05/17/2001 2500.00 21990133880
07/19/2002 2500.00 22991597083

MILLER, LARRY H. MR.
MURRAY, UT 84107
LARRY H MILLER TOYOTA/OWNER

DEALERS ELECTION ACTION COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL AUTOMOTIVE DEALERS ASSOCIATION
08/31/2007 5000.00 27931191881
06/09/2008 5000.00 28991452425

Total Contributions: 23000.00

[Lexinom]

Wow!!! I'm impressed! Nice work!!!

Larry H Miller is a former NBA great, deceased as of Feb. 20 this year)

So if we take out the $15,000 to NADA, that leaves $8,000, in theory - actually the contributions to non-NADA add up to $12,000.

CommonWealth PAC looks like a Mitt Romney PAC, so that is R, so $12,000 for R.

That would bring our totals to around $66,000 for IA, WI and UT for R, and whatever it was for D, since you say $0 in contributions in UT for D.

Thanks again for contributing to this effort!

[Daisyjane69]

I’ll tell ya where I’m going with this...I’m wondering if the entire S. Utah area has been “ceded” to any Obama friendly dealerships in Las Vegas.

Because there will be NO Chrysler dealers between Las Vegas and Provo, if these closings stand. That is a distance of 500 miles!

They are closing 5 in S. Utah.

[Lexinom]

One of Cutrubus is closing, on page 10 of the closure list. However, I believe you are correct, since the closing one is in Ogden, and this is in Layton. So the NADA-adjusted total for UT would be $14,100 to R (Vicki McCall is a R).

[Lexinom]

That's just the thing, though. I have yet to find a single dollar given by ANY dealership to Obama. Even Democrat contributions are rare - as you now know :-)

I am wondering if that is one component as to why this industry as a whole has been targeted.

[smith5460]

Here is a link to the research I have compiled on the dealers. 75% of the closing dealers have been analyzed so far, and I will finish the rest tomorrow.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/15760333/Chrysler-Report

[icwhatudo]

Thanks for doing what “reporters” should be doing.

[brwnsuga]

I think he has a part time gig to stay out of his wife’s hair.

[bmwcyle]

ping

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

Silly. Very silly. I am willing to bet a large majority of the dealerships that are remaining in business also contributed to Republicans.

[neutrino]

Fascinating work. Thank you!

[icwhatudo]

Great job! Doug Ross and RedState have picked up on your work!!! Possible 2009 Buckhead award winner here folks!!!

[kidd]

I was wondering about this.
You might have something here.

[cranked]

Another failed promise to heal the partisan divide ping.

[smith5460]

Latest information on the “protected” dealerships:

In my analysis of the Chrysler dealers that will remain open, I came across one dealer group that stood out to me.
The company is called RLJ-McLarty-Landers, and it operates six Chrysler dealerships throughout the South. All six dealerships are safe from closing. The dealer locations are:

1. Bentonville, AR (northwest Arkansas)
2. Lee’s Summit, MO (south of Kansas City, MO)
3. Branson, MO
4. Olathe, KS (near Kansas City)
5. Bossier City, LA (near Shreveport)
6. Huntsville, AL

The interesting part is who the three main owners of the company are. The owners are Steve Landers (long-time car dealer, 4th-generation dealer), Thomas “Mack” McLarty (former Chief of Staff for President Clinton), and Robert Johnson (founder of Black Entertainment Television and co-owner of the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats). Landers has given money to Republicans in the past, but McLarty campaigned for Obama in 2008, and Johnson has given countless amounts of money to Democrats over the years.

I will post some information on RLJ-McLarty-Landers and how their dealerships are effected by the closings shortly.

[smith5460]

Follow-up on RLJ-McLarty-Landers:

There are 5 Chrysler dealerships near Lee’s Summit:

Lee’s Summit Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep (Lee’s Summit, MO)
Crawford’s Raytown (Jeep) (Raytown, MO)
Mitch Crawford’s Holiday Motors (Chrysler) (Raytown, MO)
Raytown Dodge Company (Dodge) (Raytown, MO)
Milner-O’Quinn Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep (all 4 brands) (Harrisonville, MO)

#1 is located in Lee’s Summit and is owned by RLJ-McCarty-Landers.
#2, #3, and #4 are located 9 miles northwest in Raytown, MO and is owned by Michael Crawford.
#5 is located 19 miles south in Harrisonville, MO and is owned by Charles O’Quinn.

The Lee’s Summit dealership will remain open while the other 4 in Raytown and Harrisonville will close. The Lee’s Summit dealership will have no other Chrysler dealerships located within at least a 20 mile radius. All of the local competition will be wiped out due to the Chrysler closings.

More information on RLJ-McCarty-Landers coming shortly...