Two companies omitted from Secretary of State Candidate Robin Smith’s Personal Financial Disclosure, Blue Star, LLC and IFS, LLC are the source of contention between a handful of consultants and treasurer who conceptualized and established viability for the first time candidate on her statewide run in Missouri. In fact the work done all but assured Robin a clear path to November that would save her campaign hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Missouri political consultant Glenn Campbell along with the former With Robin Smith in 2016 Committee Treasurer requested the Missouri Ethics Commission (MEC) inquire why the two companies were missing among those reported to the state in compliance with Missouri candidate filing requirements. The two companies were center to a disagreement surrounding the payment of Robin’s husband. Robin disappointed work had not been found for him last November requested that the campaign pay for work he had done as well as her health insurance. Treasurer at the time Mike Kramper said no to both requests, since what was being asked would have left her campaign without sufficient operating capital, vendors in arrears unpaid and was outside ethical bounds, even legal when it came to covering healthcare costs.
The MEC complaint filed also addressed campaign reporting deficiencies and apparent violations of reporting requirements since going separate ways earlier this year in mid April. With promises of payment for work done broken, as well as agreements and assurances, the complaints are reminders that transparency and adherence to guidelines when it comes to elections and the public’s right to know are important, especially for someone running for Missouri Secretary of State. Instead, those left unpaid and threatened with legal action after invoicing for services provided and told for the good of their livelihoods to walk away, are pushing back, asking her campaign to not only be more careful going forward but to do right by all owed.
