Buildergate - Dino and the BIAW - Too close for comfort?

September 30, 12:55 PMSnohomish County Progressive ExaminerChad Shue

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In light of what I have just written about the Dino Rossi and his surrogates’ attempts at smearing Chris Gregoire with the “graft and corruption brush” I am a bit reluctant to go too far down this next path. Unfortunately, given the potential for real criminality here, it would be irresponsible to turn away from the emerging story being referred to as “Buildergate.”  From the folks at Fuse Washington:

“New evidence released today clearly proves that Dino Rossi was an active participant in the illegal BIAW fundraising campaign now being prosecuted by the Attorney General. In fact Rossi was the only collaborator the illegal fundraising scheme who was not a senior officer of the Building and Industry Association of Washington (BIAW).

“Buildergate is a major scandal for Dino Rossi – he was undeniably directly involved in an illegal fundraising campaign orchestrated by an ultraconservative trade association of powerful developers,” said Aaron Ostrom, Executive Director of Fuse. “And this may just be the tip of the iceberg.”
 

Dino Rossi's "Buildergate"

At the heart of this story is the recent lawsuit filed by the Washington State Attorney General against the BIAW Member Services Organization  – a subsidiary of the BIAW and the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish County, Dino Rossi’s major financial backer in his bid to unseat Chris Gregoire. The BIAW is accused of violating PDC rules with regard to proper disclosure of their funding and expenditures for their “Fund for Rossi.” The story at Fuse (now also being reported at Horsesass.org) refers to information uncovered by attorney Knoll Lowney during the discovery phase of the lawsuit:

“The MBA was one of the groups solicited for a donation. On April 30, 2007, BIAW President Daimon Doyle attended the MBA’s Board meeting to solicit a donation to BIAW’s campaign fund, which was considered a “Fund for Rossi,” according to Sam Anderson, the MBA Executive Director. Based upon a formula, MBA was targeted for a donation of over $570,000! The Board decided to table the request until the next meeting three weeks later, expressing concern that most MBA members were democrats and may not appreciate the donation and also about other pressing MBA expenses including building repairs.

When MBA leadership met next on May 21, 2007 at a “Chair Officers Meeting,” the discussion turned to BIAW’s pending request for campaign funds. While discussing the request, all three of the MBA’s top officers reported that they had received calls from Dino Rossi. The one call for which additional detail is provided clearly confirms that Rossi called to support a MBA contribution to the BIAW’s governor’s race war chest. The minutes leave no question that Dino Rossi spoke to this officer about whether and when MBA would give to the BIAW’s governor campaign fund. The officers receiving calls from Rossi were then-MBA President Doug Barnes, First Vice President Joe Schwab, and Second Vice President John Day.”

If the information here is correct (and Lowney’s information is specifically attributed), “would be governor” Dino Rossi should, at the very least, be asked to answer certain key questions as to his direct coordination between the BIAW and his election campaign – something specifically disallowed by the PDC rules.

Stay tuned…

Peace,
Chad Shue