Would You Believe A Politician Returned Contributions?

Rickey Stokes

Viewed: 3624

Posted by: RStokes
Date: May 03 2016 7:04 PM

HOUSTON and HENRY COUNTY:   A couple of weeks ago a business person in Houston and Henry County told me something strange.

District Attorney Doug Valeksa was at their office and returning the campaign contribution they had given him.

Prior to the election deadline to qualify, Doug Valeksa was not sure if he would seek re-election as Twentieth Judicial Circuit District Attorney. Until the day of the deadline, Doug was non committal of his decision.

Doug was on a complete tug-of-war with himself in making the decision. The day to qualify came and ended, and the decision was made, Doug Valeksa did not seek re-election.

Prior to his making the decision, people had been making campaign contributions to Doug to seek re-election. He took the donations because he just had not made a decision.

After the businessman told me Doug was in their office returning the donation I saw him at the courthouse and asked him about it. Doug said, well yes. That he was taking some time, his personal time on his personal car, and visiting persons that had made campaign contributions and returning them to the contributor.

Now, politicians are not required to return to sender. The law specifies things politicians can do with excess campaign funds. Some of accepted expenditures are to give to other candidates.

Doug told me some people have told him to contribute to areas of interest that he has, non profits, that he has supported and supported the judicial system. Doug tells them they can do that if they want.

But Doug feels strongly, the money you contributed to Doug Valeksa was for him to seek re-election as District Attorney. He retired from that decision, and the money is not his, but the contributor’s. It was their contribution to support Doug Valeska for District Attorney and not for another cause that Doug Valeska decides.

Well over $ 30,000.00

Folks, that is the first I have heard of someone in politics who retires in returning the contributions.

For the record, Doug did not tell me. I had called someone and he was in their office. When they returned my call they told me that happen. And I asked Doug about it.

This was not something Doug was doing for show. He was doing it quietly. That was until I heard about it.

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