Tom Foley volunteered for the state’s public financing program, requiring him to accept no more than $100 in individual contributions. Of course, thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court, unlimited contributions can find their way into state elections, particularly this year’s gubernatorial match-up between Gov. Dan Malloy and Tom Foley, the Greenwich businessman still looking for his first elective office.
The State Elections Enforcement Commission reported this weekend that independent expenditures of $2,500 from a PAC associated with Gov. Dannel P. Malloy. The $2,500 was given to Michael J. Belmont of Canterbury, a political consultant who happens to be the PAC’s treasurer.
On the other side, a PAC called Grow Connecticut Inc. spent $193,000 for TV ads in opposition to Malloy. On Thursday, the Republican Governors Association wrote a $250,000 check for Grow Connecticut, which will use the money to attack Malloy. Foley, a big Republican fundraiser, will be the indirect beneficiary of Grow Connecticut’s targeted expenditure. State law prohibits coordination between the PAC and Foley’s campaign. The PAC’s treasurer is Elizabeth Kuranto of Marne Avenue in Fairfield. Target Enterprises, LLC of Sherman Oaks, Calif, has been contracted to create TV ads for Grow Connecticut. In 2010, the RGA contributed about $1.5 million to the Connecticut governor’s race, so they’re on schedule. Target Enterprises does a lot of work for the RGA, according to the company’s website, which says that Adam Stoll, company president, worked as senior advisor to the Republican National Convention in 2004 and 2008.
In a related check written to Grow Connecticut from a Greenwich Post Office Box, Craig R. Stapleton (above, photo:Greenwich Time), who lists himself as “self employed,” sent along a tidy $25,000. His Wikipedia bio includes Harvard undergrad and MBA. Wife Dorothy Walker Stapleton, is a first cousin of President George H.W. Bush. Stapleton also co-owned the Texas Rangers baseball team with George W. Bush. Under the first President Bush, Stapleton served as ambassador to the Czech Republic. Under the second President Bush, Stapleton was ambassador to France. Foley, as a reward for raising big Republican bucks after serving in the civilian authority in Baghdad, was named by the younger President Bush to be ambassador to Ireland.
Stapleton is a senior advisor to Stone Point Capital, of Greenwich and New York City and a director of Abercrombie and Fitch, Carlile Bancshares, and Flamel Technologies.