More money and politics in D.C.

The District’s political process is locked in the clutches of well-connected elected officials. Unless the money-flooded system is reformed, running for office in this city will remain a fool’s errand.

The problem centers on campaign contribution limits and the way they get skirted. On their face, contribution limits are straightforward: no person can contribute more than $2,000 in the race for mayor; $1,500 for D.C. Council chair; $1,000 for an at-large council seat; and $500 for a ward council seat. The contribution maximum applies to the primary and general elections combined.

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Colbert I. King

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But D.C. campaign finance laws differ sharply from federal election laws in two critical respects. The District allows contributions from corporations; federal law does not. (The Citizens United decision allowed corporations to spend on political campaigns but did not address the ban on contributing directly to candidates’ campaign funds.)

What’s more, federal law prohibits individuals or businesses that have U.S. government contracts from contributing to federal elections. In contrast, D.C. law allows contributions from individuals or companies doing business with the city government.

Such practices in D.C. politics, while lawful, emits strong odors.

Take Evans 2012, the political campaign committee of Ward 2 council member Jack Evans (D).

An audit by the D.C. Office of Campaign Finance shows that six checks in the amount of $500, each dated July 6, 2011, were written payable to Evans 2012. The contributors were 1699 31st LC, 3140 Dumbarton LC, Cecchi Investments Washington LC, IDI Residential LC, IDI Washington Holdings LC, and N Street Development LC.

The six companies have the same address and suite number of the IDI Group Cos., a major area builder and developer, located in Rosslyn. The president and chief executive of IDI Group , Giuseppe Cecchi, was not in when I visited the offices this week. I left copies of the checks along with a request to speak with him or another company official about the contributions.

In response, John Heller, an IDI consultant and self-described “gatekeeper” for contributions, said in a phone interview that the checks were written by managers of legally separate IDI projects. Heller said that IDI has done business in the District for years and has long been a supporter of Evans. I saw a plaque on the wall during my visit to IDI’s offices from then-Mayor Marion Barry citing Cecchi’s contribution to the city’s development.

The upshot? Suite 2020 sends $3,000 to Jack Evans’s campaign committee.

In a phone interview about the IDI contributions, Evans said that strict disclosure rules about contributors, which he carefully follows, are preferable to arbitrarily low contribution limits that only encourage efforts to circumvent the law.

Contributions from different entities using the same address is common in D.C. campaigns.

This week I also stopped by 2701 Tower Oaks Blvd. in Rockville. Suite 200 houses the Cohen Cos., a major player in the area’s commercial real estate industry.