Kittle Ending Role as GOP Chair

[hippiechick]

Wonder if it has anything to do with his involvement in the Abramoff fiasco ? :rofl:

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060112/NEWS02/60112023

Kittle ending role as Republican chair

By Mary Beth Schneider

Indiana Republican Party Chairman Jim Kittle is stepping down, with Gov. Mitch Daniels to name a successor to lead his party tomorrow.

State Rep. Luke Messer, the Shelbyville Republican who recently announced his own decision to give up his post as the party's executive director, confirmed that Kittle has decided to give up his political post. A news conference will be held Friday afternoon at the GOP's downtown Indianapolis headquarters to formally announce Kittle's resignation and announce his replacement.

The selection of a new chairman does not become official until the party's state central committee votes. However, a governor traditionally is given the discretion to choose the party leader. Messer said that in this case both Daniels and Sen. Richard G. Lugar have made the choice.

Kittle, chairman and CEO of Kittle's Home Furnishings, had been mostly a financial backer of Republican candidates. But frustration with a string of defeats, especially the repeated loss of the governor's office and control of the Indiana House, led Kittle to get more involved in the party infrastructure.

... more at link ...

[salin]

1. worries per the press's lessons via DeLay?

and the role that certain orgs have played in funnelling money (slush funds, anyone)? From the article:

In 2001, Kittle formed a new political structure, the Phoenix Group, to rethink the Republican strategy. And in January 2002, he ran for and won the party's chairmanship. In that election, he promised party insiders money and enthusiasm.

Perhaps he wants to get out before closer looks at money flows in and out of the Pheonix Group gets a closer looksie?

[hippiechick]

2. Could very well be ...

Would be nice if some DU'ers had the ability/time to do some investigating on our own and break something 'big'.

:hi: Salin! :hug:

[izzybeans]

3. Hard to find info. on the Pheonix Group-here is a discussion of money

issues with Kittle in 2002, when the account balance in their funds was low but with huge promises of money and a newly christened shiny new headquarters supposedly paid for in full.
http://www.indgop.org/editorials/display.php?EditID=36&h=2

[izzybeans]

4. They were fined for their campaign contributions along with several

other PACs in 2002.

http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/pdfs/minutes6-27-02.pdf

on page 13. Then a brief note on page 15 showing no discussion of the case took place and the chair imposing a reduced fine, total of $12.50.
The same was true for all those mentioned in the proceedings.

[hippiechick]

5. Thanks Izzy !

Shall we dig, Indiana DU'ers ? :evilgrin:

[izzybeans]

7. More in link below. I ran into a dead end using public data.

For being the PAC run solely by someone promising big bucks they sure give very little through official channels. Campaignfinance websites don't even have data on them.

[izzybeans]

6. The Pheonix Group in 2003 gave $1000 to Daniels, this is their only

listed contribution. They supposedly receieved a little over one thousand dollars from some group called the November Group, LLC. Plus three "unitemized" contributions given to them by unnamed sources with no dollar sign attached to the cell.

http://www.indianacampaignfinance.com/INPublic/inDownloadData.aspx

take your pick on who The November Group really is. None of these links seems to be to a legitimate group

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&rls=RNWE%2CRNWE%3A2004-19%2CRNWE%3Aen&q=%22The+November+Group%22

[hippiechick]

8. Woo hoo, you could be on to something !

:applause:

[izzybeans]

9. Following the links in google the November group is either a

small software firm specializing in internet security or a supposedly defunct Campaign contribution firm from the 90s involved in democratic scandals. I think that's as far as I can go with it.

[SpeedwayDemocrat]

10. Go sell some more crappy, over-priced furniture, you prick...

I can only hope he's out of politics for good, but that's too much to hope for. Anyone wanna bet what office he will run for next?