politics

Trying to avoid politics at the State Fair? Watch out where you buy your mini-doughnuts.

Grandstand Mini Donuts, located just blocks from the Midway, is a hot attraction for fairgoers seeking a bag of fried dough on a summer afternoon. But beyond the empty calories, few patrons realize their purchase is actually a contribution to a local DFL political action committee.

None of this is disclosed to customers at the booth, and its volunteers are instructed not to wear political attire. State law does not require disclosure.

"You have no idea that you're not just paying for doughnuts," said state Rep. Laura Brod, a Republican from New Prague, who authored legislation this spring that would require political committees selling goods or services to disclose that proceeds will go to a campaign committee. The amendment failed on a tie vote.

Booth manager and committee treasurer John Treadwell said they do not disclose the connection because "it's not required." He argued that vendors across the fair are free to give their proceeds to whomever they like and that there's a public record of the doughnut profits going to politics.

"We don't allow any kind of political attire in the booth because we don't feel like it's appropriate, not because it would expose that we're DFL," he said. "It's not our intent here to sell politics. It's our intent to make doughnuts and sell the doughnuts."

He said the volunteers disclose who they're working for if asked.

Campaign finance documents show the political committee than runs the stand, Tenth Ward & Rural Ramsey DFL Donut Booth, has doled out about $50,000 a year to local senate and house districts in northern Ramsey County - which then support local candidates. Income from the stand is listed on the forms as "contributions" to the committee. The stand has operated for years as a political committee.

In a newsletter last fall, Democrats in Senate District 54 thanked volunteers at the booth who "helped refill the SD54 war chest which will support our candidates, senate district, and DFL party in the forthcoming elections." Treadwell said some districts do not have to hold fundraisers because of the doughnut booth funds.

"This booth?" customers replied, when asked Thursday about their doughnut money going to political campaigns. Many people, regardless of their political leanings, said they would have liked some disclosure at the stand.

"I ... want to know where my money is going," said Karen Grosland.

Cody Swede, a Republican, said he wouldn't have bought the doughnuts had he known where the money was going.

"I really have no problem with them setting up a doughnut booth, but I at least wish they would have told me ahead of time," Swede said.

Other businesses at the fair support local causes. A fair spokeswoman was not aware of another political organization that solicited for donations where the destination of the funds was not obvious.

While the fair doesn't require businesses to disclose where their profits are going, some do so on their own.

"Chinatown Minnesota Supports Camp Omega -- A Lutheran Camp in Waterville, MN," reads a sign at the Chinatown restaurant in the Food Building, which is owned by the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. Manager Jonathan Griebel said all proceeds go to the camp.

Eric Roper • 612-673-1732