While the DeKalb County Commission's spending of taxpayer money for charitable causes is under scrutiny, politicians across the state regularly re-purpose campaign donations to support everything from local Boy Scout troops to large national charities.
An Atlanta Journal-Constitution analysis of campaign records found more than $2.7 million in charitable donations from candidate funds over the past decade. A good example is former Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin.
In 2010, as Irvin prepared to retire after more than 40 years in office, he was sitting on more than $200,000 in unspent campaign donations.
Some of it he passed along as donations to political allies, but a large percentage was disbursed to one of Irvin’s favorite causes — the Future Farmers of America.
Records show Irvin made to donated $62,690 to the Georgia FFA Foundation, using a state law that allows politicians to give "excess" campaign money to non-profit organizations. Chip Bridges, state program manager for the organization, said the money established an endowed scholarship fund to help high school students pay to compete in national FFA events that foster leadership skills in aspiring farmers.
“We really, really are pushing leadership with our agriculture students. They are going to feed the world,” he said. “If we manage (Irvin’s gift) right, this should impact agriculture students from now on.”
Who gave the most? Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, who stroked big checks in 2013 to his favorite causes.
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