Who’s funding Nick Ferrante’s campaign?

Letters to the Editor
Share this Post
Views 4465 | Comments 41

Who’s funding Nick Ferrante’s campaign?

Letters to the Editor
Share this Post
Views 4465 | Comments 41

There’s no doubt that Nick Ferrante’s campaign for mayor of Peachtree City has catalyzed a conversation about the role of our city government, and the relationship between our non-partisan local elections and the national political landscape.

I want to dive into a topic that’s received some scrutiny in this paper and on social media: How is Nick funding his campaign?

Back in March, Nick shared that he was endorsed by Run For Something, an organization that encourages younger progressive citizens to, well, run for something. Civic participation among young voters is traditionally low. Whether you agree or disagree with their political stance, I hope we can agree that citizens participating in our democracy is positive for our country and our community.

Beyond that, there’s been conjecture that Run For Something is directly or indirectly funding Nick’s campaign; and that Nick has received large campaign contributions from national political organizations. Both are untrue.

In a statement provided on October 21st, Run for Something stated “Run for Something has not provided Nick Ferrante or his campaign with any financial support, nor does Run for Something operate independent expenditure campaigns.”

Furthermore, an analysis of itemized contributions on Nick’s Campaign Contribution Disclosure Reports (CCDR) through October 25th shows that 53% of that funding comes from within Peachtree City, 95% from within Fayette Country, and 100% from within the State of Georgia.

Another candidate running for mayor stated categorically that “The simple fact is unless you spend a wad of personal money or have special-interest backers, you’re going to go nowhere near $2500.” The support for Nick’s campaign proves that this is also untrue. (Yes, my wife and I have contributed to Nick’s campaign; no, we’re not special interest backers.)

The CCDR itemizes contributions above $100, so I asked Nick’s team how many people have contributed at any level: Over 300 people contributed to Nick’s campaign online, and at least 200 more have supported the campaign by purchasing signs and merchandise. The momentum and the support is real.

And so the truth is more inspiring: Nick’s campaign is funded by citizens and neighbors who believe it is time for fresh leadership in Peachtree City.

Andy Powell

Peachtree City, Ga.

Letters to the Editor

41 responses to “Who’s funding Nick Ferrante’s campaign?”

  1. millenialPTC Avatar
    millenialPTC

    Andy Powell, you are the founder of a company that has 60 million dollars per year in revenue. Are you willing to follow Dan Price and pay your workers a minimum of $70k per year?

    You both share the same political views, I would hope you share the same values in practice.

  2. millenialPTC Avatar
    millenialPTC

    And local yokel Dawn haddock can’t actually respond to the evidence that he doesn’t want to reduce the scope and size of government. Par for the course.

    1. Dawn Haddocks Avatar
      Dawn Haddocks

      I have yet to see any evidence.

      1. millenialPTC Avatar
        millenialPTC

        Create a 6 figure salary (with benefits) bureaucrat position to “market” Peachtree city. Come on, who’s paying for the eventual pension of this employee? I’d rather see more support for our police and fire department, noting that DUI’s and other drug seizures are up more than 100%

        But…feel the magic! It will give you comfort.

        1. Dawn Haddocks Avatar
          Dawn Haddocks

          Did Nick say he was going to hire a person for marketing and then pay them six figures? Please provide us with the evidence.

          1. millenialPTC Avatar
            millenialPTC

            Nick said he was going to fund a bureaucrat marketing department (hard to dissolve) for $80k.

            Add in benefits and pension obligations to the citizens and this will be well over 100k.

            But nick wants less regulation and smaller government? Please tell me more

          2. Don Haddix Avatar
            Don Haddix

            Nick cannot do it by state law. We already have the CVB which does that function. We need our development authority back to do economic development, which Nick also cannot do and it also does that function. City government is not allowed to do that function, which is why authorities exist.

  3. drdrakerrmore Avatar
    drdrakerrmore

    I heard Nick wants to rename Smokerise Subdivision Wokerise.

  4. drdrakerrmore Avatar
    drdrakerrmore

    This whole opinion article by Andy P is classic Straw Man. Not fooling anybody.

    1. PTCitizen Avatar
      PTCitizen

      You probably should look up what a straw man argument is before you try to use the word in a sentence.

    2. AndyP Avatar
      AndyP

      I disagree that I’ve set up a straw man.

      While I didn’t cite every accusation or insinuation that’s been made, here are some quotes you can find in the op-eds and comments in this paper. This isn’t an exhaustive list, but it shows that I haven’t simply invented the concerns that I addressed in the article:

      Cal Beverly: “Instead, they [PACS] spend unknown buckets of money on behalf of the candidate” and “Ferrante’s ‘Magic Bubble’ campaign materials don’t disclose this close political and financial affiliation.” (The political affiliation was disclosed; the lack of financial affiliation is what’s addressed in the article.)

      Don Haddix: “The simple fact is unless you spend a wad of personal money or have special-interest backers, you’re going to go nowhere near $2500.”

      Skepticism is healthy, and I hope the facts are helpful.

      1. drdrakerrmore Avatar
        drdrakerrmore

        To me, the only thing that matters here in this election is which candidate is most qualified to be mayor, based on the totality of their body of work. To me, that is Eric and Kim, certainly not Nick. Nick is uniquely unqualified, about as unqualified as one could imagine. He grew up in PTC, likes magic and goodness and says we can do better. Well, okey dokey then.

        1. AndyP Avatar
          AndyP

          I respect that point of view and understand that Nick isn’t your candidate. It doesn’t, however, demonstrate that I’ve set up a straw man argument, which was the assertion you opened with here.

          1. drdrakerrmore Avatar
            drdrakerrmore

            AndyP, I certainly have no problem with you supporting Nick. I am certainly anxious to see how this all comes out. I still think personally Nick is just running on what he and many interprets as this new woke momentum in America. I cannot imagine a conservative candidate with no qualifications to speak of being able to get any traction at all. We will certainly see how much traction Nick has gotten. Nick is certainly our only woke candidate in a large pool of candidates. This on paper appears to bode well for him.

          2. AndyP Avatar
            AndyP

            This would be a fascinating conversation over coffee or a beer (for real, my contact info is easy enough to find). To me, it feels possible that if a young conservative candidate for mayor had run a campaign with the same energy and sustained effort, they would have had the opportunity to win the election.

          3. drdrakerrmore Avatar
            drdrakerrmore

            Andy, I certainly would have no problem meeting you in person. You seem way more reasonable than say Lever Up. I will have to respectfully disagree, even though this is obviously all speculative, about your contention about a young conservative candidate, energized, with no particular qualifications being to get traction vs an Eric or Kim.

  5. Doug Tucker Avatar
    Doug Tucker

    Do you think you may be one of the reasons people will not vote for Ferrante? Is your attitude and tolerance toward others showing?

    1. AndyP Avatar
      AndyP

      I’m hopeful that this is in response to “Dawn Haddocks”, and not to my letter overall. If I’m mistaken, I would be happy to discuss it further.

      1. Dawn Haddocks Avatar
        Dawn Haddocks

        If it is directed at me, I too would be happy to discuss it further.

        1. Doug Tucker Avatar
          Doug Tucker

          It was directed at you, Dawn Haddocks. Be happy.

          1. Dawn Haddocks Avatar
            Dawn Haddocks

            What leads you to believe I’m not?

  6. Dawn Haddocks Avatar
    Dawn Haddocks

    The local yokels don’t know what they want. They’re happy to whine and complain that issues aren’t being taken care of and then they whine and complain when someone says they want to do something about it. If you’re happy with the balding retreads of PTC, by all means vote for one of them. If you’d like to see someone with other good ideas – vote for Ferrante.

    1. Don Haddix Avatar
      Don Haddix

      First of all, I am not balding. Second, Nick has no economic development plan, but he has plenty of spending proposals.

      Economic development means producing products within the city to sell outside the city to bring money into the city. Retail brings in products from outside the city to sell within the city and then send the revenues outside the city. That is why we have had so many tax increases because mayor and council has been totally reliant on retail.

      Finally, he does not even know how council works.

      1. Dawn Haddocks Avatar
        Dawn Haddocks

        Don, you are not well versed in business. You’re spouting a rather simplistic statement that’s less than half true.

        Did you notice that neither Nick nor Kim continually put down the other candidates? I’m sure they’ve made some comments, here and there, but between you and the other retreads – that’s all we see from you. Then we have Steve Brown, another retread babbling his nonsense all over the place. Do you all ever wonder why you’re on the sidelines? Do you all ever wonder why you’re on the outside looking in? The citizens gave you retreads a chance. They didn’t like what they saw – if they had, you’d still be around and have influence.

        1. Don Haddix Avatar
          Don Haddix

          Nick has indeed attacked me and you fail to note what I said is actually true. Plus I am not on the sidelines. Far from it.

          1. secret squirrel Avatar
            secret squirrel

            Don, speaking of “attacks,” can you share the outcome of the libel suit filed against you in 2011? Did you, as respondent, lose and did the Peachtree City taxpayers ultimately foot the bill for your defense?

          2. Dawn Haddocks Avatar
            Dawn Haddocks

            What attack was that, Don? Not saying it didn’t happen, but I’d be willing to hear about it.
            If you’d like to discuss the pros and cons of retail business compared to others, Id’ be happy to do so. Your statement is lacking a lot of details.

        2. Don Haddix Avatar
          Don Haddix

          Dawn Haddocks, I am very well-versed in business. I owned one for years until I retired. I have taken every economic development and law course GMA offered.

          1. Dawn Haddocks Avatar
            Dawn Haddocks

            What was your business called?

        3. Don Haddix Avatar
          Don Haddix

          secret squirrel, When the facts emerged the lawsuit was withdrawn and all the actions of council were retracted. GIRMA found in my favor. Ask the three council members how much money they spent trying to get me.

          Now two them are running for mayor and do not mention me. Ask them why.

          1. Dawn Haddocks Avatar
            Dawn Haddocks

            They don’t mention you because you’re not a threat to them.

          2. secret squirrel Avatar
            secret squirrel

            So you did not lose and taxpayers weren’t out any money? En balance? Sounds good.

            What are your plans for possible future lawsuits… at least in any future public capacity?

        4. Hometown600 Avatar
          Hometown600

          Dawn, nick doesn’t need to attack other candidates…he has you and a few other toadies to do that for him…And you do an excellent job!

      2. PTCitizen Avatar
        PTCitizen

        Changing the city code to allow for Arts and Entertainment districts so that businesses can expand their operations to support more customer demand is not an economic plan?

        Everyone is out here accusing Nick of being some kind of commie pinko, yet he’s the only one who is talking about reducing the size, scope, and reach of government in order to unleash the economic potential of local businesses.

        1. millenialPTC Avatar
          millenialPTC

          Reducing the size, scope, and reach of government? He wants to add a bureaucrat marketing department which will end up as another 6 figure job with a defined benefit plan.

          1. PTCitizen Avatar
            PTCitizen

            Most civilized cities have someone who serves in this role.

          2. Don Haddix Avatar
            Don Haddix

            He cannot. Requires an authority.

          3. Dawn Haddocks Avatar
            Dawn Haddocks

            Yo Don. What department currently runs Peachtree City’s social media pages and the website? Who decides what content is put out to the public? Who is the media spokesperson?

          4. Don Haddix Avatar
            Don Haddix

            Dawn Haddocks We have no social media page for discussion. We have a public information website.

          5. Dawn Haddocks Avatar
            Dawn Haddocks

            Don. Do you know what Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram is?

            Again, I ask, what department currently runs the Peachtree City Government social media pages and who is the media spokesperson?

    2. millenialPTC Avatar
      millenialPTC

      Plot twist: Dawn Haddocks is the local yokel?

Leave a Comment

Stay Up-to-Date on What’s Fun and Important in Fayette

Newsletter

Help us keep local news free and our communities informed.

We’re committed to providing trustworthy, independent coverage of Fayette County, west Coweta, and the people and decisions shaping our shared future.

DONATE NOW

We’re a for-profit organization, so contributions aren’t tax-deductible—but they’re deeply appreciated.

Latest Comments

VIEW ALL

RELATED POSTS

Letters to the Editor

By Letters to the Editor July 14, 2024

About knowledge of the city council and bullying
About knowledge of the city council and bullying

Fayette County

By Letters to the Editor June 17, 2024

Does Councilman Holland have a conflict of inter...
Does Councilman Holland have a conflict of inter...

Fayette County

By Letters to the Editor June 3, 2024

Is County Commission blackmailing, bullying Peac...
Is County Commission blackmailing, bullying Peac...

City

By Letters to the Editor January 29, 2024

As Peachtree City turns 65, a look at how housin...
As Peachtree City turns 65, a look at how housin...

City

By Letters to the Editor January 17, 2024

It’s important to talk about affordable housing
It’s important to talk about affordable housing

Subscribe to
Our Newsletter

Newsletter
Scroll to Top