NORFOLK
Democrats are questioning fundraising reports filed by unsuccessful House of Delegates candidate John Amiral, saying they don't believe the Republican had the money to loan his campaign more than $100,000.
Amiral, who was defeated by Democrat Paula Miller on Tuesday, lists his income as $50,000 or less and lives in an apartment in East Ocean View, according to his campaign finance reports.
However, the reports show that he loaned his campaign $113,475, including $79,200 in the last month of his candidacy, according to the Virginia Public Access Project, a group that tracks political fundraising and spending.
The loan amount is the largest of any Virginia House of Delegates candidate this year, a VPAP official said.
VPAP reports also show that Amiral repaid himself $12,440 from campaign funds, which is legal. He is still owed another $101,035 he loaned his campaign.
Final campaign reports aren't due until December, but as of Oct. 21, Amiral had spent more than $25,000 on media advertising and more than $8,000 on yard signs. At the time, he had $25,470 left to spend.
"I don't know of anyone who lives in an apartment and drives an old car who can give himself $100,000 in the matter of a couple of weeks," said Norfolk Sheriff Bob McCabe, for whom Miller works.
McCabe has urged fellow Democrats to ask the Virginia State Board of Elections and Norfolk commonwealth's attorney to investigate Amiral.
"It is bizarre that this man was able to give his campaign this much money," said Diane Kaufman, chairwoman of the Norfolk Democratic City Committee. Kaufman said she is considering asking for an investigation. Virginia law states that all money collected or spent must be disclosed.
Miller declined to comment Thursday.
Amiral said Thursday that an investigation would not uncover anything unethical or illegal.
"All I can tell you is that from our side, everything was kept clean," he said. "I loaned myself money because I believed I was going to win this race."
"It's all my own money," he added.
"They can go ahead and file whatever they want. When they file their complaint, they'll get their answer."
Amiral, 32, waged an aggressive campaign, accusing Miller of cronyism in numerous TV ads for taking a job with McCabe's office.
Amiral's campaign ads made such an impact on polling by Democrats that the party gave Miller $80,187 in the last weeks leading up to the election so that she could respond.
Candidates generally repay loans from campaign contributions, but Amiral has had a difficult time raising large amounts of cash.
The Republican Party of Virginia gave him $13,680, and the Turkish Coalition USA, a political action committee, gave him $10,000, according to his reports. Virginia Beach businessmen Scott Rigell ($3,000) and Jeffrey McWaters ($1,000) were his largest local donors.
Amiral was bitterly critical of McCabe and City Councilman W. Randy Wright, saying they swung the election toward Miller by pressuring voters at the polls.
Amiral said sheriff's deputies worked the polls, some in uniform, for both Miller and McCabe, who also won re-election.
"In some places they had so many deputies at the entrances they were pretty much blocking the entrance," he said. "When you block the pathway like that, people have no choice but to stop."
McCabe said sheriff's deputies volunteer to work at the polls, but they do so on their own time and not in their uniforms.
He denied blocking any entrances, as did Wright, who noted that he spent most of the day at a City Council meeting.
"I would expect no less from someone who ran the most negative campaign I've seen in 16 years of elective office," McCabe said of Amiral.
Harry Minium, (757) 446-2371, harry.minium@pilotonline.com
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Ethan, you are so right!
"I don't know of anyone who lives in an apartment and drives an old car who can give himself $100,000 in the matter of a couple of weeks," said Norfolk Sheriff Bob McCabe, for whom Miller works.
I know of many people who rent, including myself, drive older cars, and guess what??? We don't pay interest to banks for our cars, or homes, we don't pay personal property taxes on our dwellings because we rent!! In the meantime, we can SAVE money!!!! And when I do decide to purchase a house I will pay CASH for it!!
By the way, I know of many well of and wealthy people, but you would never know it just by looking at them!!! ;)
Go Ethan!
A single guy aged 32 with a $50,000 per year job after the largest tech stock bull market, the largest real estate bull market, and a 40% Dow return in 8 months this year would have no problem accumulating at least a hundred grand. And 30 years from now it better be at least two million! Never how much you earn, it's what you do with it. Land is America's precious metal. Here, here, Ethan!...a toast to never becoming one of the "all show and no dough" people.
Uh, he RENTS AN APARTMENT,
Uh, he RENTS AN APARTMENT, of course he has money! It's the "home owners" with 30 years of debt, faking their lifestyles by repaying credit card debt by borrowing against home, then adding more credit card debt. People buy the expensive car then are saddled with huge property tax payments year after year. The more I think about it, the more I back away from the idea of replacing my car with something expensive, just from the property tax perspective. Who cares how others judge me? Lots of people pretend to have wealth that don't. Be careful how you judge.
Let's Investigate both candidates
“It is bizarre that this man was able to give his campaign this much money," said Diane Kaufman, chairwoman of the Norfolk Democratic City Committee. Kaufman said she is considering asking for an investigation” Yes, I agree that any inconsistencies in regards to Amira should be investigated and the truth be known. However, at the same time lets also investigate and reveal the truth into the matter of the means that Paula Miller was given a job at the Norfolk Sheriffs Department. Normally positions such as she now has are first advertised and then applicants have to be screened, interviewed and ultimately the job is filled on the basis of who is considered the best qualified. Furthermore, it was done during a time that there was a city wide hiring freeze. The Virginian Pilot reported the issue once and then abruptly never mentioned it again. However, if past performance is any indicator then the Pilot will keep this story alive for a long time. To set the rocord straight; I am neither a Demorcat or Republican and I did vote for Paula Miller in the last election but not in this one.
why is cronyism such a big deal when a woman is involved?
I don't get it. Men play golf all the time. The "good old boy network" is rampant everywhere. Men network all the time and through references and friendships, men get jobs and move to high places. That is a fact of life and it is simply no big deal. Yet when all of a sudden you throw a young, attractive female into the mix who does a good job and takes advantage of her connections the way any man would without a second thought - it becomes the crime of the century. There are some SERIOUS sexist men who have posted comments here. And did anyone notice - she kept her MAIDEN last name - that is NOT the sign of someone who is trying to ride her husband's coattails. Go back to the cave your cretins.
Who cares? The only aspect
Who cares? The only aspect of this story I care about is why the Sheriff is involved in a political campaign at all! Deputies at polling places? We are indeed a banana republic.
Navy Pay
You all do realize John was an officer in the Navy right? He speaks 5 languages...in the private sector he could make hundreds of thousands a year with no problem, in the Navy he was probably making 8-10k a month. When you think about how hard it is to spend money on a boat you realize that saving up that much money over several years is not too hard of a feat.
Pilot how about an auto post?
It would be nice to have an auto post so we can interact on this thread.
My post has been delayed for hours too. Please help facilitate communication.
Thanks for your consideration.
Mr. Wizard.
Posting delays
Apologies on the delays in approving your comments. There's a lot of news and a smaller staff today. Elizabeth
I love the censorship you guys practice
I think I am about to unsubscribe.
Post that never get posted
Is there an issue with my post from 11/06/2009 at 11:38A?
What's up?
Why aren't my comments getting posted?
Mr. Amiral is Nice
If you knew Mr. Amiral you would find him to be a sincere, nice man. His wife has her own earned money too. He's a Conservative! And I believe Mr. Amiral changed his name because YOU would not be able spell or pronounce his birth name.
nice?????
They are all nice when they want your vote. I'm not buying your comment that we would not know how to spell or pronmounce his birth name, but the truth of the mattter is I could really care less. The most important thing for me is the bigot LOST.
Please
Post your proof that this man is a biggot.
Deputies working polls in uniform
I SERIOUSLY doubt that any Norfolk deputies were "working" the polls in uniform. John Amiral needs to get his facts straight before making statements to the media.
"Which is the party of
"Which is the party of bigotry?" oh that's an easy one, the party that is control. How can the democrats investigate this guy when they can't even investigate their own Charlie Rangel? Where did ole Charlie get his money?
As for Paula Miller, her gravy job at the beach came to an end when she knew a democrat wasn't going to be sheriff. So now she applies for Norfolk, but she had to make sure that McCabe was re-elected before committed herself. Her new position was not advertised because of a state loop hole allowing it not to be but will paid Miller $68,000.00 a year, but a little of that will be deducted for leave take for her political duties (who takes care of the duties while she's gone?) And deputies working in the jails get how much a year? I wonder McCade's complain is an attempt to keep the dogs off of Miller, See it pays to have friends in high places unless you're a republican.
"unless you're a republican"
"See it pays to have friends in high places unless you're a republican"
Not true at all. It worked just fine for Hamilton and Norment.
Puckerbrush Continued
As I said, this is pure PUCKERBRUSH from double dip Paula and her Chicago style machine politician boss Sheriff Bob.
Voters are just as corrupt as the politicians in Norfolk. Sad but true. Judging by the last vote count though, people are catching on and it's just a matter of time before real change occurs.
He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetuate it. – Martin Luther King, Jr.
There is a foul odor in Norfolk democratic circles today
"I don't know of anyone who lives in an apartment and drives an old car who can give himself $100,000 in the matter of a couple of weeks," said Norfolk Sheriff Bob McCabe, for whom Miller works." This is the sheriff speaking? If you have facts, put them out in public. Oh, you don't. Get the investigation going to both into BOTH candidates finances.
"It is bizarre that this man was able to give his campaign this much money," said Diane Kaufman, chairwoman of the Norfolk Democratic City Committee." Bizarre? Lot's of inference and implying going on.
The election is over. The sheriff is now speaking for Paula instead of the other way around. The democrats wonder about MONEY instead of issues. Our sheriff has shown that his Chicago style political machine needs the wheels taken off of it.
This is REVENGE Norfolk style. Run against the machine and they will try and take you down even after a win.
This stinks. It's small time. But the people in the district voted for her. They get what they voted for, a sore winner who wants blood. Guess they want to make sure those who think about running against Bob or Paula next time think TWICE.
This is pure PUCKERBRUSH fr