Background on key GOP endorsement raises interesting facts
Whitehead also confirmed that a key participant in selecting the slate of 396 Mississippi statewide and legislative candidates endorsed by the group and “the real backbone of our organization” is Scott Fischbach.
Whitehead said Fischbach is a member of the board of Mississippi Right to Life. Fischbach is also the leader of Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life and lives in Paynesville, Minn. He is the husband of Republican Minnesota state Sen. Michelle Fischbach of Payneville, Minn.
In 2002, Campaigns and Elections Magazine named Fischbach a “rising star” in politics and in 2005 Minnesota Law and Politics dubbed Fischbach and his wife “king and queen of the red” in reference to their GOP influence.
Also in 2001-2002, Fischbach’s political consulting firm, Coalition Productions, Inc., of Payneville, Minn., received $22,000 in payments from the Ronnie Shows for Congress campaign in his Democratic congressional race against eventual winner Republican U.S. Rep. Chip Pickering.
Earlier this month, the Ross campaign reported $7,261 in total payments of Fischbach’s Coalition Productions, Inc., firm. Ross said he hired Fischbach because “he’s worked in the past for Haley Barbour, Amy Tuck, Kirk Fordice and a lot of other successful Republican candidates.”
Ross said he was not aware that Fischbach was on the board of Mississippi Right to Life when he hired him prior to getting the group’s endorsement.
“I hired him because he gets results and is effective,” said Ross. “There was no quid pro quo.”
Sid Salter
Clarion Ledger
7/18/7
Magnolia Tribune
