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Today's Poll!Hartsfield's use of office raises questions
Friday, January 28, 2011
Despite questions about the legality of the situation, Jefferson City mayoral candidate George Hartsfield and two YMCA of Jefferson City officials maintain that an office used for campaign purposes on the premises of the YMCA is within their rights.
In an anonymous memorandum for the YMCA board of directors that was forwarded to the News Tribune, concerns were raised that Hartsfield is using an office at the YMCA Firley facility as part of his campaign.
According to Hartsfield, YMCA executive director Craig Lammers and Stacy Welling, chairman of the YMCA board, the offer for the office was made to Hartsfield as a gift for his years of service to the organization when he retired in the summer of 2009. The offer was made by the board of directors at that time.
Since the offer was made, Hartsfield said, he has used the office for work he does with different organizations, including church work and work for the Rotary Club.
“It was given to me as a courtesy, sort of an appreciation thing, with no restrictions,” Hartsfield said.
The Missouri Ethics Commission said no state law exists that would ban a mayoral candidate from using YMCA office space.
Federal law, however, does prohibit 501(c)(3) organizations, such as the YMCA, from participation in a political campaign.
A spokesman for the IRS referred a reporter to an IRS website that outlined the law. It says: “501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office.”
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Comments
portablepsilon 2 years, 3 months ago
Seems to me that the gift of a corporate office and a car (allegedly) would be at least a violation of the fiduciary responsibility of the BOD. If these sort of allegations are true, I do believe the Board may be at risk of a lawsuit by a group of YMCA members.
Realistically, if the BOD is to have the ability to partition and gift away parts of the facility, then why not just go ahead and give the remainder of the YMCA to George and be done with it.
I believe that what has allegedly occurred is a violation of federal tax law, and the YMCA tax-exempt status is indeed at risk with these sorts of activities.
doublemint 2 years, 3 months ago
malmo 2 years, 3 months ago
I'm not a member but I have donate an auction gift worth $400 - $500 every year for the big ritz fundraiser.
I didn't do it to keep Hartsfield in a car and office........ will not do it again.
camper 2 years, 3 months ago
Malmo...wonder how it will effect the auction this year
portablepsilon 2 years, 3 months ago
One more item to make this even more outrageous - The Operations Director at the YMCA is apparently George's campaign manager.....I bet they are busy all day working on YMCA-related issues!
camper 2 years, 3 months ago
Wonder if the IRS will get involved
camper 2 years, 3 months ago
The next week ought to be interesting
GhostRider 2 years, 3 months ago
Seems like the YMCA is Campaign Central and has been for the past several months now. Correct me If i am wrong, but isn't another YMCA full time employee running for City Councilman? I mean seriously......How much campaigning is going on at the YMCA that is possibly against Policy and Procedures of the Organization as well as current IRS laws for 501C3 as mentioned in this article?
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