Not Larry Sabato has just published what is the first in a series of blog posts focused on GOP fundraiser extraordinaire Chris Jankowski. It might not be a big deal, but it’s worth keeping tabs on; just ask FORMER Sen. George Allen or FORMER State Sen. Jeannemarie Devolites Davis (to name a few).
One of the things Chris did in order to increase his access was putting money for House candidates directly through Speaker Bill Howell’s PAC while funding his chosen Senate candidates directly. You can see on that link, Chris delivered over a quarter million dollars ($275,000) just to Howell’s PAC, which made him the #1 money source by far to the Speaker this year. To put that in context that is almost double what the Speaker himself put in through his committee.
The close ties between Chris and the Speaker don’t stop there. Chris also employs Bill Howell’s campaign manager from the last cycle, Andrew Lamar. Clearly Chris Jankowski is a guy with serious access at the highest levels of the Republican Party in Virginia.
UPDATE: Apparently it doesn’t matter if you’re red or blue when it comes to Bill Howell, the only color that really counts is green. NLS
Filed under: Local Politics
Chris Jankowski (J. Christopher Jankowski) is a principle
of the “political strategy” group called:
The Rhumb Line
http://www.rhumbonline.com/company.htm
Rhumb Line is also a strategic partner of w/Navigators “LLC, the website here: http://www.navigatorsllc.com/
Both firms serve “republican” political interests (check out client lists) and also offer up “grass roots” strategies for Corporate Clients…a.k.a. “astro turf” type campaigns.
The trend for big business is to gather support and influence at the state legislative level via lobbying, campaign contributions (opps I mean campaign support), writing/drafting legislation etc.
Frankly, not surprized by the $$$ as Bill Howell was named “legislator of the year” years back by “Big Biz’ American Legislative Exchange Council”..ALEC’s web site is here: http://www.alec.org/
Andrew Lamar serves as a Virginia coordinator for Huckabee..and so !! Bill Howell is supporting Huckabee.