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Health & Fitness

Is Real-Estate Money Trying To Buy The Belmont City Council?

Is Real Estate Money Trying To Buy The  Belmont City Council?

Upon perusing the City of Belmont website 

http://www.belmont.gov/SubContent.asp?CatId=240002596&C_ID=240005392 


I came across the following:

"2013 CANDIDATE INFORMATION

Below is the information for the qualified candidates, list by date qualified.  The contact information below has been approved for release by each candidate.

Form 496 Independent Expenditure Report (filed 10/08/2013 by National Association of Realtors Fund) - Click here

Form 496 Independent Expenditure Report (filed 10/16/2013 by National Association of Realtors Fund) - Click here

Form 496 Independent Expenditure Report (filed 10/21/2013 by National Association of Realtors Fund) - Click here

Form 461 Major Donor and Independent Expenditure Committee Campaign Statement (from Adele Della Santina) - Click here

Form 465 Supplemental Independent Expenditure Report (filed 10/25/2013 by National Association of Realtors Fund) -- Click here"

These information disclosures by the candidates for the Belmont City Council show the National Association of Realtors Fund in Chicago made contributions to one candidate totaling $12,800.16, and a local real estate agent contributed $3,449.19 to send mailers to Belmont residents recommending Charles Stone, Eric Reed, Warren Lieberman, and giving a lukewarm endorsement of Mike Verdone.

I believe we voters need a clarification of the reasons, both stated and ulterior, that these rather large real estate contributions were made to these four candidates. Are these contributions made to try to change: Belmont's zoning laws; open spaces, restricted development; or rules? If so, a full disclosure to the electorate by the realtors is in order, outlining the changes they envision by the candidates they endorse and support financially. This information will be important for all Belmont voters.  

A glance at campaign contributions for the six candidates for the City Council is alarming:

41% of the total contributions of $40,115.50 to candidates Stone, Lieberman, Reed and Verdone comes from real estate sources. The other candidates, Mercer and d'Souza, received NO real-estate money.

The realtor-financed mailer sent to the Belmont residents states, "Join me in helping  to change the course of Belmont and to increase our property values." The question is: Will the change benefit the realtor$ interest$ or the common good of all the citizens of Belmont?


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