527 contributions

Thursday, Aug. 22 — Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero received nearly $14,000 between Jan. 1 and June 30 this year for his city administrative, or “527,” account. Almost half of that came from local developers or development firms, according to the latest IRS filing.

Of the $13,750 raised in the first half of 2013, $6,800 came from local developers or development firms, including Pat Gillespie ($800); Stadium District property owner Lewis Douglas Johns ($2,000); Leo Jerome ($2,000), who owns two old car dealerships next to the old Red Cedar Golf Course and is involved with that site’s redevelopment; Eyde Central Development ($1,000); and Red Cedar Investments ($1,000), whose resident agent is DTN Investment Co.

Other contributors include the political action committee of construction company Christman Co. ($2,000), attorney Jack Davis ($500), architectural firm DLZ Michigan ($2,000) and AT&T ($2,000).

Nearly $16,000 in expenditures includes meals, travel, donations to various organizations and auto leases and insurance.

The 527 account is so named after an IRS tax code provision that allows political entities to have an organization into which unlimited donations can be made. It was set up in 2005 to cover the costs of Bernero’s inauguration and has since raised more than $300,000.

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