Out-of-State Gambling Interests, Trial Lawyers Fund Last-Minute Attack on Incumbent GOP Delegates

Yesterday and today, numerous radio stations began running political ads targeting several incumbent Republican delegates funded by a group called West Virginians for a Brighter Future.

WVBF is a creation of former state Democratic Chairman Chuck Smith, who is listed with the Secretary of State as the group's treasurer, and has been funded primarily by out-of-state gambling interests and trial lawyers.

Today's electioneering communication disclosure shows numerous $1,000 donations, including 3 from 3 different women who are all listed as homemakers with an address of 40 Fountain Plaza, Buffalo, New York. Boston Bruins (NHL) Executive Vice President Charles Jacbos also lists this address. My research shows this is the address of the law firm of Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC, which is listed in the Martindale-Hubbell directory as focusing on employment law. Another donor to WVBF was Herbert Tyner, President of the Hazel Park Harness Raceway in Michigan.

Because of the urgency of disseminating this information, details about other donors to WVBF is unavailable at this time.

So apparently, West Virginia is for sale as long as the buyer is an out-of-state plaintiff's lawyer or gambling operator.