This photo was sent to me within the hour by one of my blog readers. Take a good look. This afternoon these two gentlemen were seen putting up campaign signs and there are more in the bed of the truck. Do you see the logo on the truck? It is a Hope for Hunger truck. Hope for Hunger is a 501c3 non-profit corporation. It was started by and is run by Randy Rodriquez, a Glendale fire fighter. Make no mistake. It does good work in the community. It distributes food to thousands of people annually. It fills an extraordinary need.
So, what’s the problem? “Nonprofit corporations with a 501(c)(3) tax exemption cannot participate in or contribute money to political campaigns. If they do, the IRS can revoke their nonprofit status, and can assess a special excise tax against the organization and its managers.” (http://definitions.uslegal.com/n/non-profit-corporation/) In addition they cannot endorse candidates.
In other words, organizations described in section 501(c)(3) are prohibited from conducting political campaign activities to intervene in elections to public office. The Internal Revenue Service website elaborates upon this prohibition as follows:
Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made on behalf of the organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity. Violating this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes.
Let’s for a minute assume the two gentlemen putting up a fire endorsement sign for Barrel district candidate Bart Turner are in no way connected to the 501c3 nonprofit, Hope for Hunger. There still remains the issue of the use of a nonprofit’s equipment, in this case a truck, for a political campaign. It, instead of money, is an in-kind contribution. You can barely see but there are more campaign signs in the bed of the truck.
For years the Glendale fire union has been a major influence in political elections in Glendale. This time, someone may have crossed the line by using a nonprofit’s equipment for political purposes. That’s what’s wrong with this picture.
© Joyce Clark, 2014
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Operative word here, regardless of the 501c3 , is GLENDALE firefighter.
Unions think they are above the law…always have, always will. Unfortunately for these guys…they probably just weren’t thinking. Let’s hope they use better judgement when addressing a fire!
It is amazing that we are spending time on this issue. Yes Joyce you are correct that “Nonprofit corporations with a 501(c)(3) tax exemption cannot participate in or contribute money to political campaigns. If they do, the IRS can revoke their nonprofit status, and can assess a special excise tax against the organization and its managers.” (http://definitions.uslegal.com/n/non-profit-corporation/) In addition they cannot endorse candidates.”
However ALL of the dark money that has entered our local political arena is funded by “non profit” corporations. We are outraged that members of our community (Glendale) have become involved in local politics and now we want to call foul. I wish the picture that is posted had more information such as what did the sign have on it, who is the person putting up the sign and what was their motivation. If the sign is not endorsing any particular candidate or endorsing an initiative then I believe it is well with in the constraints of the law for them to be involved.
The Goldwater Institute is a non-profit 501c-3 organization and they have an incredible amount of political influence here in the valley. They prosper from each issue they fight. Americans for Prosperity is a non-profit 501c-3 company. They have nothing to do with Arizona however they have a huge influence locally. Almost every other political commercial on TV currently is funded by a non-profit. We must ask ourselves a couple of questions. Do they manage a food bank here in our community? Have they ever built and funded a Habitat for Humanity home here in Glendale? Are they actively involved in providing toys and presents for those in need during the Christmas holidays? Do they give back to the community more than the company or political entity you belong to? If your answer to any of those is NO then lets look to something more important. I know as a fact the firefighters have.
We ask that everyone in our community gets involved in what is happening here in Glendale. I applaud these individuals for their volunteer work each day at the food bank and I respect them even more for being politically active. Even if we don’t share the same political views we must respect them for what they do for those in need. If they are Glendale firefighters I am sure they were not on duty when they did this. If they are members of the dreaded union I am sure their first thought was not political gains and I am most certain that they are protected under some form of constitutional rights. I just recently saw the annual statement for Hope for Hunger and noticed the unbelievable amount of families from the west valley they have assisted and was amazed that when I looked at the expense column for wages it was $0. So this truly is a volunteer organization. It may have been founded by a Glendale Firefighter and may have huge ties to Glendale Firefighters but it is obvious that those individuals are not prospering from this in any way.
As a community we should be more concerned with the activities of those from outside this city than those who work and live within our community. Even if the individual is a Glendale firefighter he has not violated any law.
Joyce your blog provides good information. Most times it is very informative and unbiased and I appreciate that. I understand your history with the firefighters and how it applies to your viewpoints however on this issue I think it may be digging a bit deep. Our city has huge obstacles to overcome. We can not blame the past council for the troubles. We can not blame the past city management for the troubles. We can not blame the employees or business leaders for the troubles. We can only try to figure out how to emerge from this condition together. Blame is easy, solutions to the issues will require all of us to work together.
This sign was endorsing Bart Turner for City Council….Your words…..”If the sign is not endorsing any particular candidate or endorsing an initiative then I believe it is well with in the constraints of the law for them to be involved.”
You can plainly see Turner in the sign and if you saw any of the signs in person you would see they plainly say Bart Turner.