Editor's note: The following is the text of a letter delivered by fax to state Sen. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, on April 17. Nodler refused several requests for an interview, telling Globe Editor Edgar Simpson that he thought he had been intentionally misquoted by reporter Max McCoy in a previous story, but that he would answer questions from other reporters.
Simpson explained to Nodler that the newspaper stood behind McCoy's reporting on the story, which involved a verbal altercation between Nodler and an adult caregiver at a local movie theater, and that the newspaper's long-held policy is that the journalists who are doing the stories should ask the questions since they have the information to provide proper context and the background to ask appropriate follow-up questions.
Simpson offered to have the questions submitted in writing and to have Nodler's responses returned in writing, or to conduct an interview by e-mail, or to have the interview taped. Simpson told Nodler that these are traditional solutions to gathering information when interview subjects may feel uncomfortable, or when the subjects want a record of the conversation.
Nodler said he would decline to answer questions in any format.
Dear Senator Nodler,
Because you have declined my request for an interview, my editor has directed me to submit questions to you in writing. It is important that we have your responses as soon as possible for an upcoming story.
PACs and businesses contributed more than half of the $231,703 raised by the Elect Nodler Committee from 2001 to 2005. How much influence do these contributions have on your role as a lawmaker? How do you balance the interests of your constituents with the interests of the utilities, businesses and political committees that contribute to your campaign?
The Elect Nodler Committee has a balance of more than $100,000. To what do you attribute your fund-raising success? Why does your committee need so much money, and what do you intend to do with it?
The largest category of expenditures for the Elect Nodler Campaign has been contributions to the committees of other candidates. Who decides who gets what? Isn't this the kind of lawful "money laundering" that you have recently criticized?
Tom Flanigan is the treasurer of the Elect Nodler Committee, and Joncee Nodler is the deputy treasurer. Does the committee have any other officers? If so, who?
Approximately $20,000 of contributions to the Elect Nodler Committee from 2001-2005 are from individuals who gave more than $25, but no employer or occupation information is given in reports to the MEC (Missouri Ethics Commission). Isn't the failure to list this information a violation of the state's financial disclosure law?
Nick Myers has said the Nodler Leadership PAC was created to promote your leadership philosophy. What is that philosophy?
What is your association with the Nodler Leadership PAC? Do you attend meetings? Who decides how this money is spent? How much influence do the PAC's contributors have on your role as a lawmaker?
Bill Gipson has said he is chair of the Nodler Leadership PAC, and named the other officers as Rudy Farber, Gary Duncan and Nick Myers. Are there other officers?
How much influence do you have in the 32nd Senatorial District GOP Committee? Do you attend committee meetings? Do officers of this committee confer with you about fund raising and spending?
You are one of the many co-sponsors of SB 1254, which, among other things, would increase the number of reports candidates file during election years and would even require reports every 24 hours in the last weeks before an election. Yet, in your own campaign disclosure reports, you have been late in reporting activity (a $2,048.50 expenditure made July 13, 2002, for television advertising, for example, wasn't reported until Oct. 12, 2002). Aren't your actions inconsistent with the spirit of the legislation you have co-sponsored?
SB 1254 would also end limits to campaign contributions. "Because these kinds of contributions have essentially been lawfully laundered," you have said, "the public is unaware of the money source." Yet, the Elect Nodler Committee has both contributed to and taken money from legislative committees. Isn't this participating in the same money laundering scheme you criticize?
The local Democratic chairman has said that no candidate could be found to run against you in 2006 because you appeared "unbeatable" due to your political influence and the money in your campaign war chest. What is your reaction to this comment?
Are you surprised at running unopposed?
Have you identified the priorities for your last term in office?
Sincerely,
Max McCoy
The Joplin Globe
Local News
Text of letter sent to state Sen. Gary Nodler
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