PATA History Pages

BIA check and reminder of Mr. Kasson's loyalties

The outside interests never stop

Our last Newsletter included the language of this BIA funded Political Action Committee's fall flier. Gee, do you think there could have been obviously, figures and details obtained with City Staff support?

Mike Kasson unveiled again

From the October – December 2002 PATA Newsletter.

Amazing they use the same messenger during the election one year later.

2002 – No on Issue #17 2 unites per acre
2003 – The guys are want in (and signed ALL their candidate petitions) are going to control growth??

Issue #6 - Pickerington’s City Government has turned a deaf ear toward its constituents and appears to be holding hands with residential builders while they continue to bully critics.

City Council, the Mayor, and city manager Joyce Bushman all fought hard against the passage of Issues 17, 18, and 19 this past fall. Mayor Hughes wrote passionately in the papers and (illegally) on the City’s web site against these citizen-led initiatives. When the initiatives passed by an extremely wide margin, Mayor Hughes resigned and the rest of council has been wringing their hands, not sure what to do.

In their pleas against these issues, the Mayor and city manager cited a number of reasons as to why they were a bad idea. Much of the same thought processes were summed up in a flyer that was sent around to city residents that was published by a group called “Citizens Protecting Pickerington”. This group’s Treasurer was Mike Kasson, a Pickerington resident.

The opening paragraph of Mr. Kasson’s flier to the areas voters began .. “As a concerned citizen of Pickerington, I am asking you to vote against Issue 17 on Election Day. Issue 17 is illegal, retroactive and exclusionary. It WILL NOT slow down the growth of our community. Those that claim it will are simply not giving you the facts.”

For those that have forgotten Issue 17 dealt with zoning densities toward more aligning City Zoning with Township residential zoning. Issue 17 passed at the ballot by just over 77%. As the Treasurer of the Citizens Protecting Pickerington PAC, Mr. Kasson did not file a pre-election receipts and expenditures report, however he did file these reports post election.

Who funded this “Citizen’s” PAC?

The Fairfield County Board of Elections reports that the sole contributor to this PAC was the BIA (Building Industry Association) of homebuilders out of Columbus, Ohio. The BIA to this “supposed” Citizen’s PAC supplied $1,500.00. It was the sole listed income source to this PAC.

Let’s take a look at some BIA information from their website:

http://www.biahomebuilders.com/legislative.htm (the source of the below information)

BIA'S COMPETITIVE HOUSING & PRO-GROWTH AGENDA

The Building Industry Association of Central Ohio is the only trade association that is focused on promoting and protecting the viability of the local, private sector, residential housing industry. Whether it is through our government advocacy activities, networking programs or marketing of the region's premier homebuilders at the Parade of Homes, the BIA uniquely serves the housing industry.

Build PAC - The BIA’s PAC reached another one-year fundraising record with over $100,000 raised. This money was used to support pro-growth candidates in Columbus, Hilliard, Dublin, Reynoldsburg, Delaware County, Pataskala, Orange Township, Liberty Township, Violet Township, Etna Township and The Ohio General Assembly. The BIA’s PAC contributed $11,000 to the OHBA PAC. The Build-PAC, in combination with our lobbying agenda makes the BIA a political force in central Ohio.
(The information contained in the website did not include ‘which’ pro-growth candidates within Violet Township’s elected races, School District, or Township were “supported” however, PATA has previously identified past elected candidates who were supported by the BIA in City races.)