Campaign Updates: Setting the Record Straight
July 20th, 2010
Recently, trial lawyer Chuck Fleischmann has been on the attack, attempting to smear my reputation and the success of all Republicans in 2008. In their negative attack ad, the Fleischmann campaign makes wild unsubstantiated and un-sourced claims of “lavish bonuses” paid to staff of the Tennessee Republican Party. This sideshow is the latest gimmick of a foundering campaign and we will not join Fleischmann in a back and forth political game, but you deserve the facts, and, unlike the attacks of Fleischmann, I want to provide you with accurate information.
False Fleischmann Attack: My staff at the Tennessee Republican Party was paid "lavish bonuses."
Below you will find a transcript of the December 5, 2008 meeting of the Administrative Committee of the Tennessee Republican Party following the historic wins our party achieved in 2008. I was offered a performance bonus for taking the majority in the Legislature for the first time in 140 years. I asked that the staff of the state party be rewarded with bonuses. Under the bylaws of the Tennessee Republican Party, compensation must be approved by the committee. Following the discussion, the committee unanimously approved a bonus structure for the staff per my request. An original motion was made that I alone receive a bonus.
Robin Smith: “I will only accept that motion, Madam Vice Treasurer …”
SEC Officer: “You’re well compensated, but not as well as a lot of state chairman who didn’t do as well.”
SEC Member: “Am I hearing an amount?”
SEC Officer: “Well no, we need to decide on that”
SEC Officer: “No I didn’t want to be fiscally irresponsible.”
Robin Smith: “I’ll be glad to leave the room, if necessary.”
TRP Officer: “Let me ask you, we’ve got 18,000 extra dollars to carry over. Ok, what have we got coming in? What’s our projection for the next 30 days? $18,000 won’t cut it.”
Robin Smith: “That is a very conservative amount. I’ve got a very large check that I’ll be receiving tomorrow.”
Robin Smith: “If it’s permissible, is to give that bonus money to people that have earned it rather than it being divided equally. I’m a believer in the law of the harvest. If you plant good seed and you work hard, you get to enjoy...”
TRP Officer: “May I suggest, Robin, that you, Mark and Randy leave and that (Vice Chairman) Bob (Rial) take the gavel and we have a discussion without you.”
Robin Smith: Mr. Chairman if you would take the seat, you’re now the Chairman of the committee. I will say this, if you get too generous, you have to help me raise that money.”
After discussion, the Committee unanimously approved for the 10 member staff of the Tennessee Republican Party: “A performance bonus, amount to be determined, subject to revenue availability and capped at $20,000.”
- Tennessee Republican Party State Executive Committee Administrative Meeting, December 5, 2008.
The Chattanooga Times Free Press exposes another Fleischmann misstatement on July 27.
"Three Republicans knowledgeable about the situation said the final severance agreement [former chief of staff Mark] Winslow entered into with [current party chairman Chris] Devaney “replaced the employment agreement” signed earlier by Mrs. Smith.
Summing up the situation, one of the Republicans maintained Mr. Winslow’s package “included no bonus money and was a settlement of salary owed under the prior agreement. The agreement with Devaney immediately terminated all employment and responsibilities between Winslow and the state party.”
False Fleischmann Attack: The Tennessee Republican Party Was "Audited"
The Fleischmann Campaign also has claimed, again un-sourced, that there is an “audit” of the party that shows financial misdeeds on my behalf and that I have “refused” to release this fictitious “audit.” The bylaws of our party require that a standard review take place when a chairman leaves office. Mr. Fleischmann is either ignorant of facts or misleading the voters. He has been told by party officials that all financial documents are the property of the Executive Committee and only they can authorize any release with a vote. On July 24, 2009 the required review was presented to the full State Executive Committee by party Treasurer Oscar Brock. In his presentation, Brock said:
“We also received yesterday, just in time, we received the review. As you know the bylaws require that when there’s a transition in Chairman, that we do a review of the financial statements and the CPA, Decosimo and Company, have presented their findings and have found that, with no exceptions, the financial statements of the Tennessee Republican Party for the last two years have been conducted and performed and delivered according to the generally accepted accounting principles and that Robin and her team did an first class job. And I think we can all be proud of her and the work she did.
Those reports are available for your review in the offices of the Tennessee Republican Party. We don’t, for obvious reasons, pass them out. But you’re welcome to come down any time during business hours and review those statements.”
- Tennessee Republican Party State Executive Committee Meeting, July 24, 2009
The Tennessee Journal reported on July 23 about this misleading statement:
"The Fleischmann attack ad, which charges Smith left the state party $100,000 in debt, shows the cover of what appears to be a state comptroller’s audit, state seal and all, and challenges Smith to make the findings public. But the picture is simply an illustration. The state didn’t audit the Republican Party. If it had, the audit would be a public record. Smith has refused to engage in a public debate over the party’s financial review."
Kevin West with WGOW Radio in Chattanooga sought the opinion of a professional accountant to clarify the misrepresentations of the Fleischmann campaign. His email tells a very different story from that of Fleischmann's handlers.
It is a shame that Chuck Fleischmann has decided to dive into the mud in an effort to salvage his failing campaign. I want you to know I have too much respect for your intelligence and too much respect for our values to join him. I want you to have these facts so we can return to a real discussion of the important issues facing the nation. Tennessee deserves better than we are getting from Chuck Fleischmann.
Posted by Robin Smith
5 Comment(s):
July 27th, 2010 at 8:09 am
Have you noticed, Robin, that, in a very crowded field of candidates, the only candidate to be attacked is you? I'd say this makes you the undisputed front runner. Good job.
July 23rd, 2010 at 1:16 pm
Thanks Robin. I had someone ask me about this and I told them that I would find out. I will pass it along.
July 20th, 2010 at 3:20 pm
Thank you Robin for straight talk and facts instead of rumor. Your honesty and integrity will be rewarded!
July 20th, 2010 at 2:46 pm
Thank you Robin, for showing the public and the citizens of the 3rd district (whats-whats), TV adds and "SOME CANDIDATE'S" are just untruth and may I mention also their employe's and this apply to "PEOPLE ENDORSING", them.
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P.O. Box 23805 · Chattanooga, TN 37422 · Phone 423.305.7744 · Fax 423.208.9907
July 27th, 2010 at 7:02 pm
In my effort to be an 'informed' voter, I've now labored through websites and commercials for 10 candidates (1 of the 11 did not have a website). Though a couple of the other candidates caught my interest, the honesty and 'back up' documentation you have provided on your site has put you at the top of my list. I hope other citizens go through the effort to find the facts, not just put their trust, and their future, on the commercials.