REDIRECTS
MARSHALL B. BELDEN, JR'S
GIBBS CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION
MARSHALL B. BELDEN, JR'S
GIBBS CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION
TO
CHILD & ADOLESCENT HEALTH OF STARK COUNTY!
One never knows what one will discover when doing research for a political blog such as The Stark County Political Report (SCPR, The Report).
As regular readers of the SCPR know, this blogger goes over campaign finance reports with a "fine-tooth-comb" in order to be able to report to the Stark County public whom is contributing to candidates for state and federal office.
On October 15th, the latest Federal Election Commision reports were published.
And here is what The Report found on the matter of Stark Countians listed as contributing to Republican incumbent Bob Gibbs' 7th Congressional District campaign since January 1, 2017.
This blogger thought nothing of the list including Marshall B. Belden's appearance on Gibbs' contributor list except that compared to challenging Democrat Ken Harbaugh's listing, Gibbs' CFR is a "Who's Who" listing of some of Stark County's richest and powerful.
Because most of the Stark County Gibbs' contributors have considerable wealth, Gibbs outraised Harbaugh in Stark County though Harbaugh has outraised Gibbs' over the range of the entire 7th District.
With the publication of the forgoing list, the SCPR received this e-mail:
Accused Kiddie Porn Watcher Donated to Gibbs
... @aol.com Oct 17 at 12:34 AM
To: tramols@att.net
On you list of contributors to Congressman Gibbs is Marshall B. Belden, Jr. who was arrested and is awaiting trial on allegations of viewing child pornography.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndoh/pr/marshall-belden-canton-indicted-child-pornography-charges
For the SCPR, the e-mail was an "Aha!" moment.
Connection made.
One of the reasons the SCPR is so well read by Stark Countians who want to know "the inside story" of Stark County government and politics, is that The Report is fearless in bringing to the light of day the transgressions of Stark County connected political/governmental personages no matter how powerful and no matter that a given person may be a highly "successful" person in terms of winning elections, in government power status and in personal wealth.
Other Stark County media outlets to appear to be very much "respecters of persons" and accordingly much goes on within the bowels of Stark County politics and government.
The Report is always grateful to citizens who step forward with information that the public ought to know in deciding whether or not to support this candidate or that candidate.
Though appreciated, the SCPR works very hard to confirm and verify all "tips" sent to this blogger before one word is written. If a given tip does not stand up to scrutiny, it is quickly jettisoned.
And the Belden, Jr. matter is no exception on the thoroughness score.
One of the reasons the SCPR is so well read by Stark Countians who want to know "the inside story" of Stark County government and politics, is that The Report is fearless in bringing to the light of day the transgressions of Stark County connected political/governmental personages no matter how powerful and no matter that a given person may be a highly "successful" person in terms of winning elections, in government power status and in personal wealth.
Other Stark County media outlets to appear to be very much "respecters of persons" and accordingly much goes on within the bowels of Stark County politics and government.
The Report is always grateful to citizens who step forward with information that the public ought to know in deciding whether or not to support this candidate or that candidate.
Though appreciated, the SCPR works very hard to confirm and verify all "tips" sent to this blogger before one word is written. If a given tip does not stand up to scrutiny, it is quickly jettisoned.
And the Belden, Jr. matter is no exception on the thoroughness score.
Of course, among candidates' worst fear is that someone with Marshall B. Belden Jr's history will show up on the candidates' campaign finance report.
One might sympathize with campaigns have to deal with such vulnerabilities.
However, political campaign staffs at the congressional level have persons on payroll to detect the Belden, Jr. situations and not have to be made aware of same by the likes of the SCPR.
One might sympathize with campaigns have to deal with such vulnerabilities.
However, political campaign staffs at the congressional level have persons on payroll to detect the Belden, Jr. situations and not have to be made aware of same by the likes of the SCPR.
In this case, Marshall B. Belden, Jr. was indicted on March 1, 2017.
The date of the Marshall Belden, Jr contribution to the Gibbs' campaign?
About, as the SCPR can determine, August 30, 2017.
Well after the March 1, 2017 indictment.
Apparently, those who staff the Gibbs' campaign do not read The Canton Repository and thereafter vigilantly comb campaign contributions to ascertain whether or not to keep the contributions.
Soon Stark County philanthropist Marshall B. Belden, Jr. (philanthropist, according to one Stark County elected official as Belden, Jr was described to the SCPR by that official) will be sentenced by U.S. District Court (Northern District of Ohio) Judge Donald C. Nugent will (if he accepts a plea bargain recommended by his magistrate).
As the SCPR calculates Belden Jr's age, he must be 70 years of age, more or less.
The Stark County elected official cited by the SCPR above observed that given his age the official thinks Belden, Jr's sentence will be such that he will never make it out of prison.
We shall see soon. No sentencing date has been set but it appears that Judge Nugent will be coming to a conclusion on the fate of Marshall B. Belden, Jr within the very near future.
In writing this blog, this blogger waited in publishing this blog until an opportunity was provided to the Gibbs' campaign and the Harbaugh campaign to weigh-in on the matter.
To date, the Harbaugh campaign has not responded to a SCPR request for a comment.
But it was quite a different story for the Gibbs' Campaign, to wit:
The SCPR e-mail to the Gibbs' campaign.
(NOTE: HERETOFORE THE GIBBS' CAMPAIGN HAS IGNORED THE SCPR'S QUESTIONS AND REQUESTS TO COVER WITH VIDEO CAMERA GIBBS' CAMPAIGN EVENTS WHICH THE SCPR TAKES AS HIGH DISRESPECT FOR THE EVEN HANDEDNESS OF THE SCPR BLOG. NEVERTHELESS, THIS BLOGGER DID NOT JUST GO OFF "WILLY-NILLY" AND WRITE A BLOG. READERS CAN BE SURE THAT THE REPORT WOULD HAVE, IF PERMITTED, PUT THE GIBBS THROUGH THE SCPR ACID TEST THAT THIS BLOG PUTS ALL CANDIDATES THROUGH. IT APPEARS THAT THE GIBBS FOLKS DO NOT THINK THEIR CANDIDATE CAN HANDLE 'UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL" SCRUTINY OF THIS BLOGGER)
Campaign Finance Report showing Marshall Belden Jr as donor to Gibbs campaign
Martin Olson <tramols@att.net> Today at 8:31 AM
To: info@bobgibbsforcongress.com
Attn: Gibbs for Congress Campaign Manager, Campaign Finance Director and Candidate Gibbs
Recently received this e-mail from a citizen.
On you list of contributors to Congressman Gibbs is Marshall B. Belden, Jr. who was arrested and is awaiting trial on allegations of viewing child pornography.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndoh/pr/marshall-belden-canton-indicted-child-pornography-charges
See attachments for verification of donation to Gibbs campaign on or about 08/30/2017 allegedly the same person as listed donor to Gibbs' FEC campaign finance report.
Question: Has the Gibbs' campaign taken measures to identify whether or not the Marshall B. Belden, Jr. isted on the Gibbs' FEC campaign finance report is the same person as listed in the criminal indictment/recommended acceptance of guilty plea regarding Count 1 of the charges recited in United States Department of Justice communique of March 1, 2017 (LINK).
If the Gibbs' campaign has verified the allegation of Marshall B. Belden being one and the same person as contributed on or about 08/30/2017 to the Gibbs for Congress campaign, what if any steps has the campaign taken to return the donation or divert to a charitable cause to an organization dedicated to protecting children from persons indicted/pleading guilty to child pornography charges.
If verification has not been done, does the Gibbs' campaign plan to check into the aforementioned matter.? If so, will the Gibbs campaign when will the checking take place?
If verified, will the Gibbs' campaign be acting to return to Marshall B. Belden his donation to the campaign or redirecting to an organization as generally described above.
The SCPR will wait 24 hours for a Gibbs' campaign response.
If not forthcoming with said 24 hours, then the SCPR will take the silence as being a refusal to comment.
Of course, if the Gibbs' campaign neglects to respond prior to the 24 hour window, the SCPR nonetheless, plans to publish said response in full.
Thank you,
Martin Olson
Stark County Political Report
tramols@att.net
330 499 0465i
It was no time at all (a little over four hours) after the SCPR e-mail was sent for the heretofore pretty much inaccessible to the SCPR Gibbs' campaign to respond.
Jake Altman <jake@bobgibbsforcongress.com> Today at 12:41 PM
To: tramols@att.net
Mr. Olson,
Regarding your inquiry: obviously, the campaign was completely unaware of this individual’s disgusting criminal history.
Thank you for bringing this abhorrent and inexcusable behavior to our attention.
The campaign is making a donation to the Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health in Stark County. (emphasis added)
Thank you for bringing this abhorrent and inexcusable behavior to our attention.
The campaign is making a donation to the Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health in Stark County. (emphasis added)
-Jake Altman
Gibbs for Congress
The relative quick Gibbs' campaign response is strong evidence that when campaigns think it is in the campaign's and the candidate's political interest in terms of continued viability, then, the likes of the SCPR can get a response.
Voters ought to note what it takes to get Bob Gibbs' and his campaign to respond. He is not generally accessible to to the general public and even more so to the media especially the likes of the SCPR which is known for its incisive questioning. Earlier this year, the SCPR was denied access to what was called a Town Hall meeting in Shelby, Ohio (some 80 miles from this blogger's home) though local media was allowed in and covered the event.
In contrast to Gibbs, his Democratic opponent Ken Harbaugh has been highly accessible. However, to be fair, a couple of SCPR inquiries on sensitive topics have gone unresponded to. One must never forget that a person running for office is a "politician"
The Report thinks well of Harbaugh's "Country Over Party" campaign theme but the "proof will be in the pudding" if he gets elected. And, of course, the SCPR will be scrutinizing Ken Harbaugh in office to ascertain whether or not his work as a congressman matches the political rhetoric.
Last Friday, Harbaugh held an event outside the Stark County Office Building (the home of many if not most countywide agencies of government) but also the home of Gibbs' Canton office.
The video of the Harbaugh Friday event in front of Gibbs' office located at the Stark County Office Building:
In contrast to Gibbs, his Democratic opponent Ken Harbaugh has been highly accessible. However, to be fair, a couple of SCPR inquiries on sensitive topics have gone unresponded to. One must never forget that a person running for office is a "politician"
The Report thinks well of Harbaugh's "Country Over Party" campaign theme but the "proof will be in the pudding" if he gets elected. And, of course, the SCPR will be scrutinizing Ken Harbaugh in office to ascertain whether or not his work as a congressman matches the political rhetoric.
Last Friday, Harbaugh held an event outside the Stark County Office Building (the home of many if not most countywide agencies of government) but also the home of Gibbs' Canton office.
The video of the Harbaugh Friday event in front of Gibbs' office located at the Stark County Office Building:
It is interesting that it takes something like the "undetected" by the Gibbs campaign regarding Belden, Jr. to get the campaign to respond to SCRP'S inquiries over the course of the campaign.
To repeat, the Belden, Jr matter changed that in a hurry!
If voters of the 7th Congressional District re-elect Bob Gibbs, then one would not want to hear: "my congressman will not return my call, answer my letter, et cetera."
7th Congressional District voters now "are on notice" that Bob Gibbs seems contemptuous to all except to the well connected like those on his Stark County contributors' list as set forth above.
Only about 17% of voters nationally approve of the way Congresspersons handle themselves.
And we in Stark County have a prime example in Bob Gibbs that he fits very neatly into 83% who merit a disapproval rating.
Bob Gibbs makes it abundantly clear to everyday folk and scrutinizing media that they can take a hike!
To repeat, the Belden, Jr matter changed that in a hurry!
If voters of the 7th Congressional District re-elect Bob Gibbs, then one would not want to hear: "my congressman will not return my call, answer my letter, et cetera."
7th Congressional District voters now "are on notice" that Bob Gibbs seems contemptuous to all except to the well connected like those on his Stark County contributors' list as set forth above.
Only about 17% of voters nationally approve of the way Congresspersons handle themselves.
And we in Stark County have a prime example in Bob Gibbs that he fits very neatly into 83% who merit a disapproval rating.
Bob Gibbs makes it abundantly clear to everyday folk and scrutinizing media that they can take a hike!
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