If you've been following along, the PCC claimed to have supported candidates in the last election, one mechanism being an endorsement sent to the general public. Richard Thornton, Director of Campaign Finance at the RI Board of Elections said that would trigger reporting requirements if it exceeded a certain threshold. Tonight, I asked PCC, Inc. Prez Larry Fitzmorris about the size and cost of distributing to non-members, and he refused to answer, saying that they are "not obligated to release" that information to me. Well, let's see if they can stonewall the state...

From: John McDaid
Subject: Re: Question about campaign finance and Portsmouth Concerned Citizens
Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2007 22:12:09 -0400
To: Richard Thornton

Hi, Mr. Thornton...
I spoke this evening with Mr. Larry Fitzmorris, President of
Portsmouth Concerned Citizens, Inc., and he did not dispute an
assertion that the PCC did, in fact, distribute the newsletter
containing their endorsement to non-members. He declined to discuss
the size of the mailing, even the order of magnitude, and he was
quite firm in his refusal to provide any detailed information.

"We have that data," he said, but "we're a private organization, and
you're asking us questions about our private expenditures." When
pressed, he responded, "We're not obligated to release to you our
internal financial operations."

I have no leverage, but perhaps this is an issue which might be of
interest to the Board of Elections. Mr. Fitzmorris's business card
lists his address as 50 Kristen Court (also his address as registered
agent for the PCC, Inc.) and his phone is [redacted]. His e-mail is
listed as [redacted], but he explained to me tonight that he
did not receive my prior electronic communication, so this may not be
the best way to reach him.

Real transparency in election finance is an issue of concern to the
residents of Portsmouth, and given the PCC's unwillingness to be
open, I'm afraid we have to look to your office. Thanks very much for
any help you can provide.

Kind Regards.
--John McDaid
harddeadlines.com