I don’t know, John - the amount is so small as to be nominal. Pretty cheap to be what you imply it is.

My vote is no foul. Further, IMHO this is too trivial to mention, even to make some petty election-time hay.

I’d rather see some useful information - like how come internet service costs twice as much in Bellingham as in Blaine? This is a regulated monopoly - has it been put out to bid by Verizon, for example, to validate and hopefully reduce Comcast’s prices?

Is the City really doing a good job regulating this monopoly and how could they do better?

This would be a rational, policy-based concern about the mayoral race - not a petty smear.

I don’t think the amount is the issue, although it does put Comcast in one of his top 15 donors. I think John was just saying that the timing of the donation is suspicious. Right after the draft agreement comes out, the donation comes in. I don’t think it is damning, just suspect.

Could the City require “Net Neutrality’ in the franchise area?  If so, did they?

Yeah, I’m with you John!  Some guy who will sell out Bellingham for a measly $500 has got to go.

We need to get a real wheeler-dealer in there who knows how to butter her bread!  I was really impressed the way she worked the BIAW for that water legislation that turned two-bit developers into municipalities to circumvent the law.

They sure showed their appreciation for her politics the other night at the BIAWC forum, didn’t they?  And how about that Tony Larson endorsing her. 

And speaking of “smell tests” what do you think it means when that model of progressivism, environmental concern, and reasonably planned growth, Joe Wilson (aka AFY) flips her the maximum allowable contribution.

Hey, hey!  You’re runnin’ with the big dogs now, John!

In my business ethics class that one thing that I teach is that in order to be viewed as ethical you need to avoid the appearance of impropriety.  A company can be doing everything right, but if they engage in behavior that has even the appearance of impropriety then they should not be surprised that people view them as unethical.  I hold my tongue every time we have that conversation to not bring up politics as the classical example of this rule.  Pike may be completely above board, but it mostly certainly has the appearance of being unethical.

I am more curious about Kelli getting $800 from Wise Enterprises. Same as Doug Ericson.
If you want to see some big money moves look at the 2003 Mayors race between Assmunson vs Bonner. all kinds of corp.money.