Looking for a leadership post?
Inside Liberty Watch Today - Jan. 18, 2006

What's the motive behind Assemblywoman Valerie Weber's push to have Republican candidates to use Democrat consultant Billy Rogers for a voter ID program? It seems Weber has once again fallen under the spell her former boyfriend Steve Wark, who has teamed up with the Democrat consultant in this "grassroots" scheme. Maybe Wark promised Weber a leadership post if she gets him clients?

For those of you who don't remember Wark, he's the guy who claims to be a grassroots guru. He's the genius who whizzed away $215,000 of Earlene Forsythe's money in her 2002 race against a novice candidate whose war chest was a mere twenty-two thousand bucks. Wark lost Forsythe's money and her campaign. But adding insult to injury, he married Forsythe's daughter afterwards. Oh, the humanity!

"In Assembly District 17, Wark predicted Democratic incumbent Bob Price will lose to primary challenger Kelvin Atkinson. He said Republican Luis Valera will win in the Nov. 5 general election because he has the fund-raising and organizational advantage and the Democrats will consume their resources in the Sept. 3 primary." - Las Vegas Review-Journal, 5/28/02

Oops, Wark lost that one too.

Then Wark lost a promising newcomer's race, Dr. Jon Petrick, against unknown and under-funded Anthony Bandiero in last election cycle. Campaign reports show Wark was paid over $30,000 for that crash-and-burn. I met with Dr. Petrick and his wife after the election, and to say they were disappointed would be a gross understatement. Dr. Petrick told me that in the last two months of the campaign, Wark wouldn't even return his phone calls. What's sad is that that wasn't the first time I've been told that. 

Now, if you don't remember Wark's partner, Democrat Billy Rogers, he's famous for running the initiative to legalize marijuana. The initiative failed, but not because of lack of signatures. The potheads forgot to turn in a few boxes of petitions left in the office. Bummer, dude.

And let's not forget that prior to the last election cycle, Rogers walked against Republicans to elect Democrats. But these days Rogers is on the outs with Harry Reid, so presto, he's helping Republicans. And aren't we lucky? Word is he and Wark are charging $60,000 for that “grassroots” voter ID program per assembly race, and over $100,000 for a state senate race. And you won't believe this: Some Republicans are thinking of signing up with these two.

In summary, Wark's no genius. Look at the examples above. Rogers, he's a Democrat. A leopard doesn't change its stripes. Enough said. So if any Republican candidate is thinking of using this firm, please remember I can't be held responsible for any mail pieces going into your Republican donors letting them know how their contributions are being spent.

And to Assemblywoman Weber wake up!

George Harris, Editor