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Jul

29

Bush’s Gates Mills’ host loves NEOhio GOP candidates


The love isn’t all that new (you can see Umberto Fedeli’s political donations at the website of the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office) or that broad (he seems to stick to Jon Husted, candidates in my state house (Josh Mandel and Jim Trakas before him in the 17th) and state senate (the term-limited Bob Spada and the term-limited now seeking the open seat candidate Tom Patton in the 24th) districts, other Ohio GA seats in the NE and other statewide races like Mary Taylor for auditor and Greg Hartmann’s run against current SOS Jennifer Brunner but having President Bush dining so close to me?

Traveling 15 minutes southeast of Euclid, his motorcade pulled into the Gates Mills home of insurance executive and big Republican fund-raiser Umberto Fedeli. The home, guarded by gates and large shrubs, includes a trattoria that seats about 100 people and features a brick oven, professional stove and bar. The private event benefits Congressional Trust 2008, an effort to bolster GOP efforts in Congress. Proceeds will also be shared with the GOP Victory Fund, which helps Republican Presidential candidate John McCain.

Tickets cost $10,000 for general schmoozing and $25,000 for up-close schmoozing. The event topped out at about 110 people.

The press were barred from the event and sent instead to the home of Chef Carl Quagliata, who owns Giovanni’s Ristorante in Beachwood, Ohio. Quagliata himself was cooking for the president and is regular at Fedeli events.

I hope the rush hour traffic wasn’t affected – I’d hate for Bush’s visit to cause a big(ger) waste of gas.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 6:05 pm July 29th, 2008 in Campaigning, Cleveland+, George Bush, Government, OH17, OH24th, Ohio, Pepper Pike, Politics, Republicans, Statehouse, WH2008 

Comments

4 Responses to “Bush’s Gates Mills’ host loves NEOhio GOP candidates”

  1. 1 Greg Helms on July 30th, 2008 8:52 am

    Granted, it’s not on the same scale, but Fedeli has also donated to Dems like Frank Celebrezze, Dean Depiero, Peter Lawson Jones (when he was a state rep), Jim Cracian, Ed Jerse, and Pat Sweeney.

    Really, what it boils down to with whom Fedeli will help is those who are 1) pro-life and/or 2) Italian (e.g., he’s a supporter of Judge Mary Kaye Bozza of Lyndhurst Muni Court because she’s Italian).

    Also, it’s interesting that Fedeli will be hosting a fundraiser for Frank Jackson tonight (remember that he’s half Italian).

  2. 2 Jill Miller Zimon on July 30th, 2008 9:16 am

    Greg – this is why I really enjoy having you hang around. :) Thank you, sincerely. I just wouldn’t really know that I don’t think any other way – even from the other blogs I read. And I did look back at Fedeli’s SOS records to the mid 1990s – didn’t see any of those.

    Interesting about Frank Jackson. I bet they’re going to have a great conversation about the county raids!

    Thanks for spreading the knowledge.

  3. 3 joe on July 30th, 2008 10:58 am

    indeed, spreading is good.

  4. 4 Ben K on July 30th, 2008 1:50 pm

    I thought it was nice when the motorcade stopped by to wish that 91 yr old woman happy birthday.

    Press is always banned from these types of events, so that isnt really a big deal.

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