Invitations have gone out this week to a reception in support of County Mayor Jim Coppinger scheduled for 5-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 6, at the prestigious Mountain City Club in downtown Chattanooga.
He is seeking re-election to a new four-year term in the upcoming election.
More than three weeks before the reception, the invitations indicated, over $160,000 had already been raised.
Cost to attend is at least “$1,000 per person/couple,” the invitations indicate. “RSVP to Kim Kaegi or Sumner Dalrymple.”
Ms. Kaegi, a fundraising consultant, served as campaign finance director for Senator Bob Corker.
She was in the news in 2010 after an offended recipient contacted the news magazine Politico about emails Ms.
Kaegi sent to lobbyists offering them the opportunity to meet with the senator in either New York or Chicago in return for financial donations. The emails were featured in a Politico article, entitled “Corker pitch: $10k dinner, $5k meeting.”
“During the Easter recess, Sen. Corker will be in Chicago and New York, and we have a few openings in the schedule,” wrote Corker fundraiser Kim Kaegi in an e-mail to potential donors,” the Politico article noted.
“We are hoping for $10,000 for meal events or $5,000 for small meetings . . . Please let us know if you have any members or clients who might be able to fill the open times with a small fundraising opportunity,’ ” Ms. Kaegi invited recipients of the emails.
The sister of Bryan Kaegi, a prominent Republican fundraiser and founder of Kaegi Resources, she was among “The Influencers 500” named in an article by Votenet Solutions Inc. published last year.
“(Tennessee) Republicans can't run statewide - and win - without her,” it reported.
In Chattanooga, anyone interested in joining the leadership of Feb. 6’s event supporting County Mayor Coppinger can do so, the invitations noted. There are three levels of leaders, invitees were told: “Co-chairs – $6,000 (give/raise); Hosts – $3,000 (give/raise); Friends – $1,500 (give/raise).”
The invitations also included the names of those who had contributed enough by Jan. 15 to qualify for one of those positions.
They included:
Co-Chairs
Ronnie Barnes, Sally and Gary Chazen, Savit and Vijay Chaudhari, Tracy Cooke, Rachel and Joe Decosimo, Kurt Faires, John Foy, Lisa and Bob Franklin, Judy and John Germ, Ellen and Ken Hays, Lisa and Donnie Hutcherson, Cheryl and Dicky Hutsell, Jon Kinsey, Nancy and Pat Neuhoff, Susan and Ben Probasco, Jan and Claude Ramsey, Emerson Russell, Carlene and Greg Vital, Amy and Mike Walden, Barby and Tom Edd Wilson.
Hosts
Bob Bullard, Becky and Lewis Card, Sheila and Dane Boyington, Julie and Zan Guerry, Margaret Ann and Jim Haley, Bob McKamey, Janet and Chris McKee, Angie and Mike McKee, Betty and Scotty Probasco, Lynda and Jim Sattler, Phyllis and Grady Williams.
Friends
Rex Allen, Kathy and Danny Daniel, Keith Helton, Becky and Frank Kinser, Betty and Charles Lebovitz, Parul and Mitch Patel, Rebecca and Vance Travis, Bonnie and Trey White.