Affidavits filed by more than half of the 23 candidates from Michigan's mysterious Tea Party were notarized by the political director of the Oakland County Democratic Party, elections records show, providing more fuel for suspicions that Democrats organized the new party to hurt Republican chances in the November election. The party, which most of the tea party movement's visible leaders in Michigan disavow, also is represented by a Lansing attorney with long ties to state Democrats. And the California-based petition firm hired to collect signatures to qualify the new party for the November ballot was used by Michigan Democrats for another stealth petition drive two years.
State Democratic Party officials have denied any ties to the effort, a position reiterated Wednesday by spokesman John Tramontana.
He said he was unaware of the involvement of Oakland County's Jason Bauer in the Tea Party affidavits. Bauer is the county party's operations director and, according to his Facebook page, a committed Democrat.
His name appeared on affidavits for 12 of 23 candidates nominated by the Tea Party in a convention quietly convened Saturday in Saginaw. Bauer couldn't be reached for comment.
Oakland County Democratic Party Chairman Mike McGuinness said Wednesday that he was unaware of Bauer's involvement and that the county party did not direct or coordinate his efforts, nor contribute resources to it.
Tea Party Chairman Mark Steffek, a retired autoworker and UAW steward who spoke to the Free Press earlier this month but has since declined to be interviewed, would not disclose the source of funding for the petition drive, estimated in excess of $120,000, but said it was not the state Democratic Party or the UAW.
Poster Comment:
I have no knowledge of these nefarious activities. Nope, none at all... {{{chuckle}}}
