Heard on the Tom/Toms
Stephen Frank, Exclusive to the California Political News and Views, 11/11/23 www.capoliticalnewsandviews.com
LAGOP Confusion With Fund Raiser Featuring John Eastman
It is hard for an event to lose money when you have a national figure like John Eastman as your speaker. It is even harder to lose money when you are in Los Angeles County, home of the largest GOP registration in the nation. Yet, a few months ago they went all out for a program—raised $45,000—great! But it cost them $35,000. In the end they made NO money, since the “profit” mostly went to pay off one person, the former Executive Director—who is still owned thousands of dollars.
So, this fund raiser was to pay off the remaining debt to her. LAGOP Chair Tim O’Reilly arranged to have John Eastman as the Speaker. They were holding the event at the Torrance Doubletree Hotel. To make sure they had raised lots of money, they charged $85 per ticket–$125 for a VIP ticket. Based on estimated actual ticket sales—and cost of event—unless they had sponsor money, which was not apparent, the best they could do is make about $1,000 on the event. They may have even lost money.
How did it work out? They had 50 people attend.
It was estimated only about half were paying guests, again based on the email below. The food was a buffet of Hors d’oeuvres (shrimp, meat on a stick – beef and chicken; bacon wrapped asparagus, mini egg quiches, vegetarian pizza and fruit, with coffee and tea).
The three VIP tables were basically empty with the center table occupied by Eastman and the LAGOP Executive Board (Tim O’Reilly, Chairman; Keith Cascio, Treasurer; Karen Siegemund, Assistant Treasurer (event chair); Matt Funicello, Sergeant-At-Arms; Julie Haff (event committee member) and her two free friends). Another was empty and the final had three occupants. It is doubted any of them paid. The estimate was they sold five (5) VIP tickets based on the drink tickets that were seen and the table occupants. Not all sat at the VIP tables.
Here is the shocker. The day before the event the assistant LAGOP Treasurer, Karen Siegemund, sent out an email. In part it read:
“Registration will begin at 6:30, and Dr. Eastman will begin about 7:30.
Food will be served, buffet-style, and there will be a cash bar
VIP attendees will be provided with drink tickets, as well as preferred seating.
We would also like to offer you the opportunity to bring a friend to this important event, complimentary, on us. Sort of a BOGO offering!
We will be lowering the ticket prices in a last-minute push to bring in as many people as we can to hear this national treasure, but for those of you who already bought tickets, we urge you to find someone you can bring as your guest.”
Why this extensive explanation? Because on November 14, the LAGOP will be holding its monthly meeting. At the meeting you would expect the Treasurer—Keith Cascio or the Assistant Treasurer, Karen Siegemund, would give an accounting of the event—profit/loss, attendance, etc.
That will not happen. They NEVER give a full, complete financial report—like how much is owed, to whom, a real budget, costs of proposed projects, etc. They meet, they talk, they do not answer questions. No explanation for the lack of candidates on the 2020 and 2022 ballots, lack of voter registration. Lack of LAGOP created precinct operation.
Until the largest GOP by registration County in the nation becomes an operating Committee, we will fail in L.A. and fail in California. Maybe on Tuesday they will give a full and complete report on the Eastman event—and a full and complete financial report on the status of the LAGOP. If they do not, I will report on that as well. Tim, Keith, Karen, do the right thing.
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(Periodically the California Political News and Views will publish tidbits of political news, to keep you in the loop of what the pooh bahs know. The phrase “tom/tom’s” comes from my mentor, Lorelei Kinder who never passed a rumor, just called to tell me what she heard on the “TomTom’s”. This column is named in her honor.)
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Very kind of John Eastman to speak to help them raise money for someone else. He needs money to pay for his legal fees to defend the false accusations by the lying Biden crew. Also, I do successful fundraisers in the best venues, none of them cost $35,000 — and the attendees are served delicious sit down dinners.
The LAGOP took advantage of Eastman–and even at that could not make money. Pitiful.