Siegfreid Fundraiser Invites Special Interest Money

Siegfreid Fundraiser Invites Special Interest Money to Pour In

$150 Per Plate Lunch Held Outside District With Only Special Interests Invited

OLATHE, KANSAS -- October 12, 2008 -- State Representative Arlen Siegfreid's campaign has invited lobbyists to a luncheon with him and U.S. Senator Sam Brownback at a privately owned golf club outside District 15 in Olathe, the district Siegfried represents.

The luncheon's location and venue leave Siegfreid's constituents to wonder when and where they will be allowed to voice concerns about his leadership in the Kansas House of Representatives. The event is Oct. 16 at Shadow Glen Golf Club, in northwest Olathe south of Kansas Highway 10.

Sean Tevis spokesperson Andrew Blobaum questions any event held outside the district that is restricted from public access.

"Mr. Siegfreid has once again made a decision that Topeka lobbyists' interests come before his constituents' interests," Blobaum said. "His lobbyist-first agenda has only hurt the people of the 15th District, and his first major public event of the campaign is a fundraiser that excludes his constituents from attendance without a large contribution."

Blobaum noted the Tevis campaign's commitment to the voters of the 15th District.

"As we move forward toward election day, Sean Tevis holds a public town hall meeting every Thursday at the Pizza Shoppe in his district where any citizen is welcome to come ask Sean the tough questions. We are not afraid to talk with voters and hear their concerns because we have taken no special interest money."

Blobaum also noted a discrepancy in the flier sent out to lobbyists.

"Representative Siegfreid's claim that he has accepted no 'out of state special interest money' is absolutely false. Unless our state has changed its borders since January 1, 2007, Mr. Siegfreid has accepted $5,675 from out-of-state special interest groups according to his campaign finance report filings."

The public is invited to voice concerns with Siegfreid's fundraising at Tevis' free public forum at 7 p.m. every Thursday at Pizza Shoppe, 736 W. Park St., Olathe.

About Sean Tevis

Sean Tevis received national media attention by asking 3,000 people to donate $8.34 each to his campaign so that he would not have to accept lobbyist's money. He set the Kansas State record for the must number of individual donors to a State Representative campaign with more than 6,200 donors.

He has been named one of five of Kansas City's "Top Innovators of the Year" by 435 South Magazine (November 2008 issue) and has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, and NPR's Morning Edition.

Sean Tevis was raised in Johnson County, Kansas, and is running for State Representative in District 15. He loves Olathe.

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Contact: Andrew Blobaum
Telephone: 913-752-7573
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