The 8-Day Campaign Finance Reports were due last night. Today, I will be analyzing them and updating you on the latest information. Besides the standard analysis of where the money comes from and where it is going, I am also looking to answer a few pending questions about expenditures made by a few candidates, especially as it relates to the Forma Group.

The first is Peter Svarzbein’s advertising spot on Jaime Abeytia’s blog. As you likely remember, Svarzbein initially gave a check to the Forma Group and then received a refund. The city candidates advertising on Jaime Abeytia’s blog are all using the Forma Group as political consultants. Peter Svarzbein does not appear to be using the Forma Group, yet he has an advertisement on Abeytia’s blog. The problem is that there is no corresponding expense item on Svarzbein’s financial campaign reports begging the question, was Jaime Abeytia paid for the advertisement? If so, by whom?

If Abeytia was not paid for the advertising then is the advertisement a contribution by Jaime Abeytia to Svarzbein? Even then, the expense value is required on Svarzbein’s report. I’ll be looking for the corresponding expense on Svarzbein’s latest report.

My feeling is that the Forma Group contracted the advertisement with Jaime Abeytia before refunding Peter Svarzbien his fees and they forget to cancel the advertisement on Abeytia’s blog. On the other hand, if Peter Svarzbein paid Abeytia directly then why is the expense being reported late? Either way, someone needs to take ownership for the advertisement.

The other item I am looking for is Albert Weisenberger’s latest financial disclosure report. There are indications that Weisenberger is using the Forma Group as political consultants. I’ll be looking for confirmation in the 8-Day report.

If the Forma Group appears on his 8-Day report then there will be questions about why they did not appear on the initial reports. Besides the question of whether the Forma Group was paid for work prior to the initial reporting period, although they do not appear on the report, is what other expenses has Weisenberger expended without reporting them on his initial report.

From what I have seen about his campaign does not correspond to what he reported in his 30-Day report. Although highly unlikely, it is possible that Weisenberger contracted the services but did not pay for them during the 30-Day reporting period. It has been my experience that providers providing services to political candidates demand payment in advance or at the time of delivery.

Yet it appears that Albert Weisenberger was provided some services without an apparent payment, at least according to the financial disclosure form he has filed.

I know there has been at least one set of mailers delivered to households that appear to have been created, and thus money spent on them, during the first reporting cycle. Yet, there is no corresponding expense listed on Weisenberger’s report. They follow the look-and-feel of Forma Group mailers.

Is Albert Weisenberger attempting to hide his connection to the Forma Group?

I hope that the 8-Day reports will provide us some answers.

I will review the financial reports this weekend and bring you an analysis on Monday.