MLS Related Political Contributions, Part 2

Found through opensecrets.org. ILLIG, CLIFF LEAWOOD,KS 66211 CERNER/VICE CHAIRMAN Thoughts: Donated money to various Missouri Republicans including Kit Bond, Jim Talent, and John Ashcroft. Also made one donation to Missouri Democratic congressman Ike Skelton. MADAY, GREG SHAWNEE MISSION,KS 66208 PRIVATE EQUITY INVESTOR/EXECUTIVE Thoughts: Made two donations to Jim Talent and one to 2004 Kansas Congressional candidate Kris Kobach, also a member of the GOP. HEINEMAN, ROBB SIOUX FALLS,SD 57101 INVESTMENT BANKER 9/1/1998 $377 Schmidt, Ronald Gene Thoughts: Only donation listed for him. Schmidt was a losing Republican candidate in 1998 against Tom Daschle in South Dakota. CHANG, WILLIAM H ATHERTON,CA 94027 WESTLAKE DEVELOPMENT LLC/CEO Thoughts: He's made a lot of donations to Democrats, including a $2,000 check to DC's Eleanor Holmes Norton like MacFarlene. If you're going to do business in DC, that makes sense. Also given to a few times to Dianne Feinstein, and to Dick Gephardt during his presidential run. WOLFF, LEWIS LOS ANGELES,CA 90025 WOLFF & DINAPOLI/CEO Thoughts: Interestingly, Wolff and Alan Rothenberg were both on the board of directors at 1st Century Bank. Wolff has given more to Democrats, including $8,000 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign in 2000. However he's given to people on both sides of the aisle. He gave to Bob Dole, Lamar Alexander, and Arlen Spector in the 1990s, and also to both Al Gore and George W. Bush during that campaign. Gave to John Edwards in 2004, and to Chris Dodd recently. KRAFT, ROBERT FOXBORO,MA 02035 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS/OWNER Thoughts: He's given out a lot of money, and apparently does it without taking into account ideology. He gave $20,000 to the Massachusetts GOP a couple years ago, and $100,000 to the DNC in 2000. Recently gave big money to Lieberman. Probably giving out money to local politicians to have an "in" with them. This article say that he belongs to "one of the wealthiest and most influential Conservative synagogues in New England." Jonathan Kraft, meanwhile, recently gave the max to Mitt Romney. Summary In summary, it appears that you can clearly place the owners of several MLS teams on either side of the political spectrum: Anschutz, Kroenke, C.Hunt, and Ongoal on the Republican side, while Andrew Hauptman and DC's ownership group are on the Democratic side. I would say from this info that Lew Wolff, Dave Checketts, and Robert Kraft aren't fully on either side, as their donations have more to do with their location and business dealings it seems. Although I would certainly peg them as leaning one way or another. The owners of Chivas, New York, and Toronto aren't Americans.