Reader questions generosity of key Reynolds donor

In the campaign finance report of Gov. Kim Reynolds, there are three donations from H. Russell Taub, who is her only contributor from Rhode Island. He made two direct contributions totaling $26,000, and an in-kind contribution of $2,946.15. Presumably, the latter paid for the traveling accommodations of Reynolds, who decided to skip an economic development conference in New York to attend a GOP function in Rhode Island with Taub.

Taub was the Republican nominee for the 1st Congressional District of Rhode Island in 2016. In his LinkedIn profile, he claims he is the president of the Providence-based Taub, Feuer, and Associates.

However, no such entity is registered with the state of Rhode Island. Of greater concern, Taub also stated his PAC, known as KAIRC, raised over $1.5 million and placed nine support ads. Predictably, this organization is not registered with the Federal Elections Commission. There also is no record of an organization by this name making any contributions or disbursements.

On the federal level, Taub has personally been quite generous. Since 2017, he has given $409,923. However, according to his financial disclosure, he was only earning a salary of $15,500/year from the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council and had one financial asset that he valued at a range of $1,000 to $15,000.

Reynolds needs to explain why she chose to put the interests of Mr. Taub first.

Scott Roland

Cedar Rapids