These are just a few of the 46 businesses that donated to Republican Phil Scott’s gubernatorial campaign in late September and early October, according to his latest filing with the Secretary of State’s Office. All told, the companies contributed $49,050 — or 36 percent of the $135,000 Scott raised during the 15-day reporting period that ended October 12.
It’s been like this all along. Since launching his campaign last December, Scott has collected more than $429,000 from corporate entities. That’s 33 percent of the $1.31 million he’s raised to date. (The incumbent lieutenant governor has raised another $20,500 from political action committees — many of which represent corporations or trade groups.)
Scott’s opponent, Democrat Sue Minter, hasn’t taken a dime from corporate entities — at least, not lately. Last May, after facing sustained pressure from a Democratic primary opponent, Matt Dunne, she returned $11,055 in corporate contributions and promised to leave them on the table in the future.
Remarkably, Minter has still managed to raise more money than Scott — every single reporting period. Her latest disclosure, filed Saturday, shows that she raised $165,000 in the latest 15-day period and nearly $1.7 million since joining the race last October.
Minter has done it, in part, by raising money beyond Vermont’s borders. To date, she has accepted nearly $648,000 from out-of-state donors, or 38 percent of her total. Scott has taken just $146,000 from non-Vermonters, or 11 percent of his.
The LG’s out-of-state haul is less than the nearly $149,000 Minter has raised from Californians alone. She has collected another $128,000 from New Yorkers and the same amount from Massachusetts residents.
For the most part, Scott’s corporate contributions have come from Vermont businesses. But he has taken $62,000 from out-of-state corporations. In the most recent reporting period, those included Verizon Communications ($1,000), Delta Dental ($1,000) and Jointa Galusha of Wilton, N.Y. ($4,000).
Scott’s other top out-of-state donors throughout the campaign have included Walmart ($4,000), Astellas Pharma ($4,000), tobacco company Reynolds American ($4,000) and the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Northern New England ($4,000).
Scott’s decision to accept corporate cash brings with it another advantage: His donors can easily avoid the state’s $4,000 contribution limits by giving money through the companies they control. Last Wednesday, for example, Scott took $4,000 from Boatright Companies, the Alabama-based business, and another $4,000 from its owner, Shane Boatright of Birmingham.
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Do we want a person who has VT ties or one who is accepting money from out of state donors. Do these out of state people really know what is right for Vt?
38% for Minter to 11% out of state money for Scott. Sounds like Scott will represent VT not the wealthy out of state people
Phil Scott is a “stand up Vermonter” and that is why I donated to him. I have listened to both of them tell their vision for Vermont. One has a vision that will put the Vermonters ahead and the other will cater to the 38% big out of state money, while trying to figure out how to get to Washington. I read one article yesterday where Minter accepted money from Jane Fonda. Why would Jane Fonda care about the Governors race in Vermont? I hope all the Vietnam veterans think about this when they vote.