We discussed in some detail during the Louisiana Lieutenant Governor race the fact that campaign finance disclosure records of Oct. 13 indicated that Caroline Fayard’s father had donated $210,000 to the Louisiana Democrat Party, probably in violation of legal prohibitions against earmarking party donations to political parties for specific campaigns. Immediately upon receiving funds from Fayard, the LDP made a $210,000 media buy on behalf of his daughter Caroline’s campaign for the state’s No. 2 office.
After that sleaze was exposed, the Louisiana Democrat Party “went dark” and failed to disclose its campaign finance records for the last two weeks prior to the Nov. 2 election, in which Fayard was handily beaten by Jay Dardenne, 57 percent to 43.
It is now obvious why.
Today the PAC of the LA Democratic State Central Committee (DEMOPAC), the fundraising arm of the Louisiana Democrat Party, finally filed its “Form 202: Committee’s Report” for the period Oct. 14-Dec. 2. And the information in that report is scintillating reading. It indicates that the Caroline Fayard campaign was the product of Calvin Fayard’s money and not much else – something the public might want to take into consideration should Caroline pursue another elected office next year.
DEMOPAC reports taking in some $873,703.14 from Oct. 14 to Dec. 2, $863,703.14 of that figure coming between Oct. 14 and Oct. 30. That’s a relatively impressive amount of money for a state party to be raising in what amounts to an off-year election; the Lt. Governor race was the only major statewide position up for a vote in this year’s cycle.
But as it turns out, that impressive money total comes from an astonishingly small number of very large donors. And the majority of it comes from the Fayard family.
Line by line, the disclosure record indicates the following contributions…
| 1. Name and Address of Contributor | 2. Contributions this Reporting Period | 3. Total this Year | Memo | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| a. Date | b. Amount | |||
| Kleinpeter & Schwartzberg LLC 619 Jefferson Hwy Suite 2h Baton Rouge, LA 70806-6117 Political Committee? No |
10/18/2010 | 500.00 | 1500.00 | |
| Glenn Armentor LTD. 300 Stewart St. Lafayette, LA 70501 Political Committee? No |
10/18/2010 | 500.00 | 5500.00 | |
| The Cochran Firm Metairie LLC 1 Galleria Blvd Ste 2130 Metairie, LA 70001 Political Committee? No |
10/18/2010 | 500.00 | 500.00 | |
| The August Group 442 Europe St Baton Rouge, LA 70802 Political Committee? No |
10/18/2010 | 500.00 | 7000.00 | |
| Michael C. Palmintier APLC 618 Main Street Baton Rouge, LA 70801 Political Committee? No |
10/18/2010 | 500.00 | 2500.00 | |
| Cossich Sumich Parsiola & Taylor LLC 8397 Highway 23 Ste 100 Belle Chasse, LA 70037 Political Committee? No |
10/18/2010 | 500.00 | 500.00 | |
| Dodson Hooks & Frederick APLC 445 N. Blvd Ste 850 Baton Rouge, LA 70802 Political Committee? No |
10/18/2010 | 500.00 | 500.00 | |
| Iberia Parish Democratic Executive Committee PO Box 13410 New Iberia, LA 70562-3410 Political Committee? No |
10/18/2010 | 1000.00 | 2560.00 | |
| Williams Law Group LLC 435 Corporate Drive Ste 101 Houma, LA 70360 Political Committee? No |
10/18/2010 | 500.00 | 500.00 | |
| Iberia Parish Democratic Executive Committee PO Box 13410 New Iberia, LA 70562-3410 Political Committee? No |
10/18/2010 | 1000.00 | 2560.00 | |
| Kanner and Whiteley LLC 701 Camp Street New Orleans, LA 70130 Political Committee? No |
10/18/2010 | 500.00 | 500.00 | |
| Chalyn Fayard P O Box 968 Denham Springs, LA 70727 Political Committee? No |
10/19/2010 | 50000.00 | 80000.00 | |
| Mr. Calvin C. Fayard III PO Box 968 Denham Springs, LA 70727-0968 Political Committee? No |
10/19/2010 | 50000.00 | 90000.00 | |
| Dr. Koti V Sangisetty 1281 W. Tunnel Blvd. Houma, LA 70360 Political Committee? No |
10/19/2010 | 80000.00 | 80000.00 | |
| Wiliston Oil & Gas Properties LLC P O Box 1180 Denham Springs, LA 70727 Political Committee? No |
10/19/2010 | 25000.00 | 25000.00 | |
| TBI PAC PO Box 416 Mansura, LA 71350-0416 Political Committee? No |
10/21/2010 | 7000.00 | 14000.00 | |
| Blayne Honeycutt 1211 S River Rd Denham Springs, LA 70726 Political Committee? No |
10/21/2010 | 80000.00 | 80000.00 | |
| Frank Dudenhefer Jr. 604 Poydras St Ste 2655 New Orleans, LA 70130-2419 Political Committee? No |
10/21/2010 | 35000.00 | 41358.00 | |
| Robert A Maurin III P O Box 1457 Hammond, LA 70404 Political Committee? No |
10/21/2010 | 40000.00 | 40000.00 | |
| Kathleen Blanco Campaign Fund 701 Robley Dr Ste 200 Lafayette, LA 70503-5200 Political Committee? No |
10/21/2010 | 11000.00 | 99500.00 | |
| Bring It Home Inc. PAC 868 N. 6th St Baton Rouge, LA 70802 Political Committee? No |
10/25/2010 | 15000.00 | 15000.00 | |
| Ben Barnes 98 San Jacinto Blvd Ste 1400 Austin, TX 78701 Political Committee? No |
10/25/2010 | 2500.00 | 2500.00 | |
| Claude Leach Jr. 7777 Nelson Rd P.O. Box 997 Lake Charles, LA 70605 Political Committee? No |
10/25/2010 | 11357.53 | 62132.53 | |
| St. James Democratic Executive Committee 21030 Hwy 20 Vacherie, LA 70090 Political Committee? No |
10/25/2010 | 4000.00 | 6040.00 | |
| Michael Smith 3513 Bradley Lane Chevy Chase, MD 28015 Political Committee? No |
10/25/2010 | 1500.00 | 1500.00 | |
| Imperial Properties LLC 1905 W Thomas St Ste D Hammond, LA 70401 Political Committee? No |
10/26/2010 | 25500.00 | 95500.00 | |
| Imperial Properties LLC 1905 W Thomas St Ste D Hammond, LA 70401 Political Committee? No |
10/26/2010 | 30000.00 | 95500.00 | |
| Mitch Landrieu Campaign Fund Inc. 3421 North Causeway Blvd Ste 701 Metairie, LA 70002 Political Committee? No |
10/26/2010 | 10000.00 | 11750.00 | |
| Committee To Elect Caroline Fayard 801 Howard Ave New Orleans, LA 70113 Political Committee? No |
10/26/2010 | 8113.55 | 8820.61 | |
| Robert Ramelli 5603 Saint Charles Ave New Orleans, LA 70115-5049 Political Committee? No |
10/26/2010 | 50000.00 | 50000.00 | |
| Claude Leach Jr. 7777 Nelson Rd P.O. Box 997 Lake Charles, LA 70605 Political Committee? No |
10/26/2010 | 3275.00 | 62132.53 | |
| LHC Group Inc. 420 W Pinhook Rd # A Lafayette, LA 70503-2131 Political Committee? No |
10/26/2010 | 2000.00 | 14000.00 | |
| Fayard & Honeycutt 519 Florida Ave S.W. Denham Springs, LA 70726 Political Committee? No |
10/26/2010 | 10000.00 | 25000.00 | |
| Frances E Gray 5809 Saint Charles Ave New Orleans, LA 70115-5067 Political Committee? No |
10/27/2010 | 30000.00 | 90000.00 | |
| Frances E Gray 5809 Saint Charles Ave New Orleans, LA 70115-5067 Political Committee? No |
10/27/2010 | 30000.00 | 90000.00 | |
| Trey Ourso & Associates Inc. 352 Napoleon St Baton Rouge, LA 70802 Political Committee? No |
10/27/2010 | 250.00 | 2737.50 | |
| Frances E Gray 5809 Saint Charles Ave New Orleans, LA 70115-5067 Political Committee? No |
10/27/2010 | 30000.00 | 90000.00 | |
| Imperial Properties LLC 1905 W Thomas St Ste D Hammond, LA 70401 Political Committee? No |
10/28/2010 | 40000.00 | 95500.00 | |
| Mr. Calvin C. Fayard Jr. PO Box 1180 Denham Springs, LA 70727-1180 Political Committee? No |
10/28/2010 | 40000.00 | 65000.00 | |
| Chalyn Fayard P O Box 968 Denham Springs, LA 70727 Political Committee? No |
10/28/2010 | 30000.00 | 80000.00 | |
| Valerie Honeycutt 1211 South RiverRoad Denham Springs, LA 70726 Political Committee? No |
10/28/2010 | 50000.00 | 50000.00 | |
| Mr. Calvin C. Fayard III PO Box 968 Denham Springs, LA 70727-0968 Political Committee? No |
10/28/2010 | 30000.00 | 90000.00 | |
| Committee To Elect Caroline Fayard 801 Howard Ave New Orleans, LA 70113 Political Committee? No |
10/28/2010 | 366.06 | 8820.61 | |
| Committee To Elect Caroline Fayard 801 Howard Ave New Orleans, LA 70113 Political Committee? No |
10/29/2010 | 341.00 | 8820.61 | |
| Jim Bernhard 17000 Highland Road Baton Rouge, LA 70810 Political Committee? No |
10/30/2010 | 25000.00 | 25000.00 | |
| Mr. Calvin C. Fayard III PO Box 968 Denham Springs, LA 70727-0968 Political Committee? No |
11/22/2010 | 10000.00 | 90000.00 | |
A little research shows exactly how cozy this contributor list is.
Wiliston Oil & Gas Properties, LLC, which donated $25,000 to the Louisiana Democrat Party on Oct. 18, is Calvin Fayard. A search of the Secretary of State’s corporation records turns up the fact that Fayard is the registered agent of the company. He’s listed as one of the officers of the LLC along with one Robert Maurin, who donated $40,000 on Oct. 21. Turns out that Maurin is Calvin Fayard’s cousin.
Imperial Properties, LLC was very busy writing checks to the state party. Two donations, one of $25,500 and another of $30,000, made their way to DEMOPAC on Oct. 28 and another $40,000 check hit the party on Oct. 28 for a grand total of $95,500. And a search at the Secretary of State’s office indicates something which isn’t a surprise – namely that not only is Calvin Fayard the registered agent for Imperial Properties, the mailing address for it is “c/o Calvin Fayard” and Calvin, Cynthia and Cathryn Fayard are listed as corporate officers.
Fayard’s law partner at Fayard & Honeycutt, LLP ($10,000 on Oct. 26) is Blayne Honeycutt ($80,000 on Oct. 21). Honeycutt’s wife is Valerie Honeycutt, who donated $50,000 on Oct. 28. A Hayride source we discussed this information with told us that Ms. Honeycutt “never had $50k in her own bank account in her life.”
Frank Dudenhefer donated $35,000 on Oct. 21. Dudenhefer is an old lawyer buddy of Calvin Fayard’s, and he’s had a history of working with Calvin on fundraising – like for example when he helped put this event together for Hillary Clinton at Calvin’s house in New Orleans in 2007.
And by the way – Frances Gray? That was her former name. Her name now is Frances Fayard. She’s Calvin’s wife. You won’t find many campaign donations from Frances Fayard anywhere, but you’ll find lots of them out there from Frances Gray. She’s essentially using an alias to give money to people, like when she gave three $30,000 checks to DEMOPAC on October 27.
That doesn’t include the $50,000 Chalyn Fayard gave on Oct. 19. Or the $50,000 Calvin Fayard, III ponied up that day. Or the $30,000 more he put up on Oct. 28 (or the $10,000 he gave on Nov. 22, after the election was over). Or the $40,000 Calvin Fayard himself gave on Oct. 28.
In other words, Fayard, his family and his direct cronies gave over $605,000 to the state Democrat Party at the same time the party was lavishing funds on his daughter’s campaign for Lt. Governor.
The state Board of Ethics is charged with investigating questions of campaign finance violations. It has some work to do in this case, because it seems quite clear that the Fayards and DEMOPAC attempted to game the system so as to finance a campaign which would not have otherwise been remotely competitive in a statewide race.
And that the state party didn’t disclose these records while the campaign was going on is both legally suspect and grossly dishonest – had it been known that Caroline Fayard’s father was directing the better part of a million dollars to her campaign from his personal and business accounts and those of his cronies through the state Democrat Party, the aura of Caroline as a big fundraiser with lots of support all over the state would never have emerged in the first place. It was an unmitigated fraud from the start.
This is a scandal of significant magnitude. The question now is whether anyone will do anything about it.
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