The bi-partisan Ohio Elections Commission ruled 6-1 today that Clocktower Collaborative was an illegal Political Action Committee (PAC).
Former Hudson City Manager Jane Howington and former City Councilmen Bill Wooldredge and George Roth operated Clocktower Collaborative to circumvent campaign finance laws. This was also done to shield donors like State Senator Casey Weinstein from the transparency that campaign finance laws demand in order to assist Patricia Goetz and Mike Bird winning seats on Hudson City Council.
Howington’s co-horts left her alone to take the heat. The former City Manager claimed naivete to campaigns and campaign finance laws. Democrats and Republicans on the OEC did not fall for Howington’s false self-portrayal. During deliberation, Commissioners stated that Clocktower Collaborative was “deliberate” in its attempt to skirt campaign finance laws. It was not an accident and done intentionally.
In a July 2023 email soliciting for Clocktower Collaborative, Howington detailed the scheme for using a non-profit as what is now known as an illegal PAC. “One benefit to the 501(c)4 designation is that donations are not limited and the dnor (sic – donor) names are not published or reported.” They all knew what they were doing.
While Clocktower Files doesn’t have the donor list yet, it should be public record soon. We will publish that information as soon as it is available.
From Weinstein, Bird, and Goetz’s campaign finance reports, we can report now on an important item. Casey Weinstein and his wife Amanda (who is running this year for Hudson Council) both maxed out their contributions to Bird and Goetz. Casey Weinstein added to that by writing a check to Clocktower Collaborative from his campaign account. Weinstein often rails against PACs. In typical hypocritical fashion, we now can say he helped fund an illegal one.
Weinstein, Bird, Goetz, and failed candidate Madeline Leipidi-Carino all were included in Clocktower Collaborative planning emails, which you can read in the link below.
Much more to come…..
