Dear Editor,
By now you should be familiar with the Sheri Few story that is unfolding. If not, please familiarize yourself with the details contained in the links of this letter.
S.C. Superintendent of Education candidate Sheri Few has illegally used her non-profit’s name, resources, social media pages, mail permit, finances and volunteers for her own personal gain. She has done it over and over again. No one should be able to get by with this, yet the media continues to look the other way.
There is no disputing this, because the evidence speaks for itself.
This story shows that she is using her non-profit, South Carolina Parents Involved in Education (SCPIE) for her own financial gain.
When asked about it, instead of being a true leader and accepting responsibility – she denied it and claimed it was an “innocent mistake” and blamed someone who she labeled a volunteer.
There is evidence to suggest Sheri Few has been doing this exact same thing since her first losing run for office in 2004 (ten years ago) and that this so-called volunteer is her upstate director, Johnnelle Raines. Johnnelle has been publicly trashing other candidates on Sheri Few’s campaign pages – including a fellow candidate who was nearly killed in an accident while campaigning.
No one has removed these posts.
Instead of talking about Sheri Few’s activities, Sheri and Company (self-described tea partiers) are desperately deflecting, and Sheri Few claims as long as people aren’t on the payroll, it is perfectly legal. That is not true.
This document shows that Sheri’s non-profit has been promoting her candidacy since 2004 (it also shows that she used her non-profit mailing permit). There is no “innocent mistake.” This was not a “volunteer.”
The Republican Party is well aware of the Few campaign’s illegal activity, and they are aware of Few winning a primary before, then losing to an unfunded democrat (in a conservative district no less!), but they refused to disqualify her. Yes, they had the opportunity to disqualify her from the ballot earlier this month. They chose not to.
Sheri Few claims somehow, all these pages were accidentally linked together. Not true. She does not have volunteers running her websites, she uses a web design firm – at least two of them in fact! I found this out from a simple web search, as they list her as a client. You can also find this out from Whois records for the websites.
Few’s SCPIE non-profit website has linked to the Stop Common Core Facebook page for a very long time. It is the official Facebook page of SCPIE, the non-profit, which has endorsed Sheri Few for ten years. How convenient. And how convenient that the non-profit holds non-profit events and then promotes her candidacy at these events. Do Republicans approve of this? We know the Republican Party does. Matthew Moore, where are you?
Sheri and her allies are trashing one of the black candidates in the race – Charmeka Childs – all over social media, claiming that current S.C. Superintendent of Education Mick Zais only changed his mind about Common Core “as an attempt to bolster her candidacy.” Yes, that’s right, the Common Core lady – who should have been praising this action – is instead trying to manipulate it into something against another candidate.
It gets even better. Just last week, Sheri received an endorsement from none other than another non-profit, The Laurens County Tea Party. Yes, a registered non-profit. What makes this so scandalous? The endorsement not only came under the name of the non-profit, but it was facilitated by Dianne Belsom.
Who is Dianne Belsom? You’ll want to sit down for this one! Dianne spoke in front of Congress recently about the IRS “targeting” her non-profit for political activities, but of course, she perjured herself in front of Congress, claiming “Poor little me, I’m so innocent”…sound familiar?
All of this can be confirmed on her campaign website.
(And here is more information).
Sheri Few lies and uses fear tactics and God’s name to beg for money. God would not approve of Sheri Few.
In this link, she claims she has completed graduate work. But, she has no degree whatsoever, from anywhere. Where is the media on this? Sherri is an arrogant, self centered perennial candidate who believes she is above the law.
Sheri claims to be a fiscally responsible conservative, yet, she takes government grants, then uses that money for her own gain. Sheri Few has a spotty financial background, details of which can be found on various websites.
The S.C. Superintendent is responsible for the state’s public education budget, on this alone, she is not qualified. Has anyone seen her non-profit financials? She has, at the very least, taken hundreds of thousands of dollars in government grants (taxpayer money!) that is public information. What is she doing with this money? She should release those documents to the media right away, or drop out of the race.
In this interview, Few admits to “authoring and administering” over four million dollars in grant money. Guess where that money comes from? The government (taxpayer money). We know this because the IRS says that her non-profit is primarily funded by government grants.
Further financial oddities were found in her campaign financials that were recently made public. Senator Larry Grooms donated $1,000.00 to her campaign, however, not only did Sheri list a wrong name, Larry Groms, but she did not mention he is a Senator, instead she listed him as a “business person”. Had she done just one or the other, it might have been a believable accident, but misspelling his name and not documenting who he really is, is very suspect. Sheri’s largest donors are from out of state, because she can’t seem to raise much money here in South Carolina.
It is obvious that she is using her candidacy and her non-profit to bolster each other. Win or lose, Sheri gets a big payday.
With all the people running for this position who are better qualified, it is obvious Few is in way over her head and lacks the qualifications needed for this important seat.
Sheri Few, please step down before it is too late.
Sincerely,
R.E. Lantow
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58 comments
It’s pretty easy to report someone to the postal inspector for using a nonprofit permit for campaign mailings. They take a very dim view of this and the fines are enormous. Much worse than anything the ethics commission can do to a candidate.
Aren’t you a nasty little plotter. I like it.
Prison time Capone style.
Hit ’em where it hurts, the wallet.
She should run as a Democrat. This kind of stuff enhances their reputations.
Sherri is a good Republican and would make a great edition to the Republican “team” led by our fine Governor(whom a good straight ticker Republican like you will vote for).
I’d rather vote for T-Rav or Sanford, the finest Republicans in SC.
Your fine Governor has cost the state close a billion in SC tax money, do you even know that?
Oh well keep the Rassputian money rolling in, comercials, whatever, Nikki is worthless and you know it!
If you don’t follow Poe’s Law, people might miss the sarcasm. ;-)
You’re full of shit. You know that, right?
Said that from day 1.
Total damned fraud.
So, what’s new a fraudulent politician! They are a dime a dozen, with many dozens FOR SALE!
Precisely. Find me one that is pure as the white driven snow and I’ll pay you $1 million dollars.
That’s a bet I’ll never ever lose.
Hey folks, Nikki sold our ports for 15k and a RNC top spot. Wanted to give her 12 yr old a job in the state, and what did she do for SC?
Well, lets look at the SC Childrens Trust. They took in 4 million last year, 1 million from SC taxpayers in the form of a grant. Total wages and salaries are 11564011156401.00
Is it me or could DSS better use 1 million taxpayer dollars to hire caseworkers to really prevent childrens deaths in abusive homes?
Any illegal political donation must be remitted to the Children’s Trust Fund.
And what was the purpose of those federal grants to SCPIE? To promote abstinence as a form of sex education in the public schools.
R.E. Lantow needs to understand he is liable for spreading false statements about me. I am a volunteer…have NEVER received any funds from SC Parents Involved in Education for my own personal finances period. I noticed he did not post any proof of my receiving income from SCPIE but yet wants to claim, “this so-called volunteer is her upstate director, Johnnelle Raines. ” Also R.E. Lantow needs to understand he is liable for making statements that I “trash” other candidates. I have only posted articles from newsources about the other candidates and posted my belief in Sheri Few being the best candidate. Facts are not trash. I am the administrator of the facebook page Stop Common Core in South Carolina…I do NOT have a twitter account. Sheri fullly explained the mistake made by a volunteer for SCPIE and it WAS NOT ME! I suggest R.E. Lantow get his facts straight and retract his statements about me as I will contact my lawyer for statements he has made that are blatantly false and liable.
So you came to FITSNews looking for truth, clarity and understanding? Hahahahaha….
No …I didn’t ….I came because a friend told me someone was trashing my name…I am not a fan of FITS news…they seem more like the tabloids in the grocery line to me.
You and the rest of your crazy Pickins County teabaggers are just one big fucking joke.
When people result to name calling it speaks volumes.
Truth hurts sweetie pie. Keep writing, because we could not make you look as stupid as you do yourself.
Takes one to know one… na na na na na boo boo…since you want to act like a child…
Libel. Not “liable.” It was not I. Not “it was not me.” Maybe Sheri needs a better edumacated “volunteer.”
But Johnelle, don’t you have a master’s degree, and 29 years experience? Glad you’re not teaching anymore. Get back to servicing Scary Sheri.
With a first rate team like this, that crazy old bat will be lucky to come in 6th.
We shall see come June won’t we?
I am glad I am not teaching anymore too…if I were I would resign due to child abusive Common Core Standards.
li·a·ble [lahy-uh-buhl] Show IPA
adjective
1.
legally responsible: You are liable for the damage caused by your action.
2.
subject or susceptible: to be liable to heart disease.
3.
likely or apt: He’s liable to get angry.
Lantow needs to get his facts straight. Laurens County Tea Party applied for 501c4 status in July of 2010. To date, the IRS has not answered us one way or another. We filed as a C4 so we could endorse candidates. Donations to us are NOT tax deductible, and we receive no tax payer money. We have been publicly endorsing candidates since we started. Also, that’s slander to put in quotes something I never said and act like I did. Since you can’t get that right, it brings into question the rest of your rant. Dianne Belsom, President, Laurens County Tea Party
You can’t endorse as a 501c4, that’s part of your problem. You can use some of your time for politics, but most of it should be spent doing education. Further, if you ever hope to get the tax exempt status, you should operate as one to begin with. Poor little you.
Yes, you can endorse as a 501c4. However, if we can’t, why hasn’t the IRS just said so and told us we don’t qualify? We’ve been waiting for an answer for more than 3 years and 9 months.
If you haven’t gotten advice from a CPA or lawyer, you’re making a big mistake on the endorsement issue. If you applied for the status, did you look into what you could or could not do? Did you get a follow up questionnaire from the IRS? If so, did you follow up or did you just expect the publicity to take care of the problem for you?
I currently have a lawyer and he said 501c4’s can endorse. Also, I wasn’t expecting ANY publicity on the issue. It just happened. Whether you agree with me or not, it seems like Americans should ALL be able to agree that the IRS has behaved wrongly. As I said, if we don’t meet the criteria, just tell us. No need to drag it out for almost 4 years.
Diane, your website says you are a non-profit. Which government entity gave you non-profit status? You said it isn’t the IRS. The state can not call you a non-profit, only the IRS can do that.
http://www.laurensteaparty.org/getting-involved/
Welcome to the Laurens County Tea Party. We are a nonprofit organization made up of everyday Americans who are concerned about the direction that our country has been headed for the last few years.
You aren’t going to say that a “volunteer” made a mistake on your website, are you? At least be creative and say you were “hacked” and didn’t notice for 4 years, that’s what most liberals say.
I have to ask, why did you NEED to organize as a 501c4? Whoever gave you that advice is an idiot. There’s not one reason that any organization the size of yours would need to do that.
You claimed to the whole country that the IRS unfairly targeted you when in fact, they did not. Just taking 5 minutes to do some basic research on you, it is obvious that the ONLY thing you engage in is political activity!! You are not a social welfare organization, you don’t do community service and you ARE a partisan organization!! You are NOT allowed to be partisan at all! I think you’re a tax evader and fraud just like your BFF Sheri Few!
I think whoever made the IRS complaint about Sheri Few needs to fill out a lot more complaints! This is the most corrupt crap I’ve ever seen, and everyone is playing stupid. I WON’T VOTE FOR STUPID! You and your act, and Johnelle’s complete lack of grammatical prowess is just crazy! You probably NEED common core!!
Please stop with the little miss innocent routine! You can’t possibly be this ignorant and if you are, then please stop blaming the IRS! ANYONE can google information about a C4 and if you’re not capable of basic research, then that shows why an endorsement from you is completely comical.
How many other candidates of BOTH parties did you interview before arriving at the conclusion of endorsing Sheri Few? I think we already know the answer. I can call every other candidate running and ask them myself!
You guys are in deep $hit with the IRS and Sheri Few will probably go to jail over this and then what? Let me guess, blame Barack Obama, right?
Since we have applied for 501c4 status and have been filing a yearly tax return as such, we have been acting “as if.” It’s not our fault that the IRS hasn’t given us an answer one way or another. If we REALLY don’t qualify, why didn’t they just say so from the beginning so we could all move on? As far as why we filed to begin with, when I got into the tea party movement, I was a home-school mom and had no idea about any of this stuff. I was told by some other tea party activists that we should file as a c4 if we wanted to endorse candidates. Most of what we do is have speakers in at monthly meetings to discuss and educate us on various issues. In reality, EVERYTHING we do is guaranteed us under the 1st Amendment. Has anyone actually questioned the insanity and constitutional infringement that our government has passed laws trying to stifle our free speech to start with? If a group of citizens want to get together, have speakers, vet candidates, make endorsements on who best represents our values, hold candidate forums, etc., ISN’T THAT OUR RIGHT? Like I said, donations to us are not tax deductible nor do we get any tax payer money. And we have no paid positions. The IRS shouldn’t be involved, anyway. As far as not blaming the IRS, I can’t believe you are defending them. A quick google search will bring to light the MASSIVE corruption that is going on and how the IRS has targeted my group and many others. Like I KEEP saying, but you don’t seem to be comprehending, do you REALLY think it is acceptable that the IRS hasn’t answered us in nearly 4 years? Lol– I am not losing any sleep over being in deep “$hit” with the IRS– I haven’t done anything wrong, and THEY are the ones who are in trouble! Everything we do as a group is out front and in the public eye. (However, you’re right that our website should state “pending” non-profit with an explanation of the IRS’ perfidy. I’ll go make that correction.)
It makes me mad when people like you go out of your way to seek special status with the IRS, for whatever reason, and then rant and rave that the IRS is in the wrong. Yes you have constitutional rights BUT IF YOU WANT SPECIAL STATUS, PLAY BY THE RULES! The IRS is ONLY involved because YOU involved them. Duh! I don’t feel sorry for you at all!
It doesn’t matter if you raise money or not or pay people or not! What matters is the level of involvement in politics and things that you are not allowed to do! Why would anyone seek the endorsement of a group of people who have NO CLUE!
“not allowed to do.” Wow. I have a 1st amendment right for EVERYTHING I am doing.
But YOU aren’t doing anything! The Laurens County Tea Party is!! Are you that dense?
The fact that she stayed around so long answering questions from anonymous posters should tell you that she really is that dense.
That’s great, because I don’t want or need your pity. I don’t feel sorry for myself, either. I was just trying to do what I thought was required by law. I don’t understand why you are so angry– at least at me. Aren’t you at all concerned about the way the IRS has behaved? It’s a crime to target people based on their political speech. That’s not what our government is supposed to be doing. As I keep saying, which doesn’t seem to be sinking in, there’s no excuse for the IRS not giving an answer in almost four years.
What you are required by law to do is have formal organization for your group if there is a bank account and tax id number, but it need not be tax exempt status. Since you don’t take in a lot of money and wanted to endorse candidates, you should have sought appropriate status. I am very concerned about how the IRS has behaved, because there are legitimate groups that are being targeted and they have observed the letter of the law. You might take a look at the First Amendment again:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” Those rights have not been impinged.
“Why should a group of citizens who get together, have speakers, charge dues to cover our expenses, and are involved with our political process be taxed? That is INSANE! We have an INCOME TAX for personal income– we don’t make any money! This is fundamentally wrong.” Well there’s that little thing called rule of law that some of us actually believe in. You can’t just follow that principle when it’s convenient and works in your favor. We call those people liberals.
AND WHY ARE YOU ENDORSING ANYONE WHO TOOK MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF TAXPAYER MONEY?? THAT IS NOT TEA PARTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are a fake and you are not credible!!!!!!!
Sheri came and spoke to our group. Her message of stopping Common Core (and the tireless efforts she has already made to that end), school choice and vouchers, and setting up a task force to identify bias in the textbooks resonated with our group. We voted to endorse her, unanimously, I might add. As far as the allegations about taxpayer money, that’s the first I’ve heard of it and don’t know if it’s even true. I don’t consider that this website provides factual information, so I take anything I read here with a grain of salt. Either way, our goal is not to endorse PERFECT candidates, because they don’t exist, but the BEST ones we can find. I hope you are a follower of Jesus Christ, because He is the only perfect person out there who will measure up to your exacting standards.
There is a link to a video WITH SHERI IN IT with her own voice and bragging about 4 million dollars! Scroll up! Google it. You didn’t do due diligence. I have personally called three other candidates today who all said you never interviewed them and they ALL stand for roughly the same thing. You gave a partisan endorsement to a friend of yours and that is not allowed if you want to be a non-profit. A legitimate tea party would never endorse someone of Sherri’s ill repute. If you didn’t know, it is because you chose not to know. From what I can see, there are links to everything in this very story. Keep playing little miss innocent. Birds of a feather. You invited the IRS into your life, they didn’t come knocking down your door.
“If a group of citizens want to get together, have speakers, vet candidates, make endorsements on who best represents our values, hold candidate forums, etc., ISN’T THAT OUR RIGHT?” ———- Did you READ the rules of the IRS before you decided to pay them money and apply for a STATUS you did not WANT?? This is a sham!!!!
See above response. I only did it because I thought that’s what we were legally required to do– as did hundreds of other newly formed tea party and patriot groups!
How are they targeting CONSERVATIVE groups when 501C4s are not political??
http://foxnewsinsider.com/2014/03/10/dianne-belsom-laurens-county-tea-party-president-tells-intense-irs-scrutiny-congressional
Your own words are on the record and they incriminate you badly. You should just stop talking and call that super smart lawyer of yours. Please list these “hundreds” of other political groups that organized as C4s instead of political groups.
Ironically, if you didn’t endorse such a freak, you’d have never been on the radar. Maybe that’ll teach you a lesson.
It’s not your fault? Did you pursue this further with the IRS? Did you receive a follow up questionnaire? Did you fill it out and send it in? Did you do any homework on this or just listen to what you were told? Yes, we are guaranteed rights to free speech under the 1st Amendment, but we aren’t guaranteed a right to tax exempt status for an organization if we don’t adhere to the statutes. You keep changing the subject every time you’re questioned so maybe you should run for office as a Democrat.
Uncle Albert, we applied for 501c4 status with the IRS in July of 2010. (As did hundreds of other newly formed tea party and patriot groups.) I only filed because that’s what I thought we were legally required to do since we have a bank account and charge dues. The IRS sent a letter stating that if more info was needed, we would be contacted within 90 days. A year later, I had heard nothing, so I called them and was told our case was “pending.” They finally sent a follow-up questionnaire in the fall of 2012. Since I already knew tea party groups were being targeted, I contacted the ACLJ, and they are currently representing me. We submitted the information that the IRS asked for, then they wanted more info, which we also submitted. That was done on March 5, 2013. Nothing further has been heard from the IRS. If we don’t qualify for tax-exemption, why haven’t they just told us? It’s not secret from them or anyone else that we have been endorsing candidates since the 2010 election. Meantime, the IRS has made rules that abridge our 1st Amendment rights. You need to re-read your sentence and really think about the implications here: “Yes, we are guaranteed rights to free speech under the 1st Amendment, but we aren’t guaranteed a right to tax exempt status for an organization if we don’t adhere to the statutes.” Why should a group of citizens who get together, have speakers, charge dues to cover our expenses, and are involved with our political process be taxed? That is INSANE! We have an INCOME TAX for personal income– we don’t make any money! This is fundamentally wrong.
HOW ARE YOU TAXED IF THERE IS NO MONEY??? WHY DIDN’T YOU ORGANIZE AS A POLITICAL GROUP INSTEAD OF A FREAKIN CHARITY? YOU ARE NO CHARITY! STOP PLAYING STUPID OR I WILL FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST YOU MYSELF!
It took 5 seconds on Google to find this on the IRS website! You have a lot of nerve lady!
The regulations under IRC 501(c)(4) provide that promotion of social welfare does not include participation or intervention in political campaigns.
Reg. 1.501(c)(4)-1(a)(2)(ii).
(IRC=Internal Revenue Code)
http://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/IRS-Offers-New-Streamlined-Option-to-Certain-501c4-Groups-Caught-in-Application-Backlog
This was from June 2013. I guess you were not paying attention. No matter, you don’t qualify anyway!
“This “safe-harbor” option will provide certain groups an approved determination letter granting them 501(c)(4) status within two weeks if they certify they devote 60 percent or more of both their spending and time on activities that promote social welfare as defined by Section 501(c)(4). At the same time, they must certify that political campaign intervention involves less than 40 percent of both their spending and time. These thresholds apply for past, current and future years of operation. Solely for the purpose of determining eligibility for the expedited procedure, an organization must count, among other things, any public communication identifying a candidate that occurred within 60 days prior to a general election or 30 days prior to a primary as political campaign intervention.”
Do yourself a favor, don’t perjure yourself again. You don’t qualify. You have been partisanly political in every election cycle and within the 30/60 days. Period.
being required to teach, It’s goal is not only to destroys our children’s dreams of success Please learn the truth~~ Investigate yourselves ~You will find that this is nothing but a ploy. Go to Sheri Few’s website http://www.sherifew.com . Sheri Few is a Mom that is standing up to these educrats and will put the children’s welfare as top priority.Because of her dedication of alerting the public about Common Core and its destruction of our children’s mind is how I learned about Common Core. I have meet her 2 times, and both times she was very cordial and knowledgeable on everything about Common Core. Sheri has not attacked any candidate. She has revealed documented candidate information of which we all should have access. Just as a jury deserves to hear documented evidence in a case, We as parents need to be afforded the same. Look at the proven and confirmed documentation, not the hearsay and word twisting analogy. Be Smart~~Investigate~ hear and read both sides~ Make your own informed decision.`That is exactly what I have done and I am convinced Sheri Few is the best candidate. Common Core must be stopped. Lennin once said~~Give me four years of a child’s life and I will have him forever!!. That is SCARY but unfortunately it is true. Join in the fight to stop common core and the dumbing down, the indoctrination, the abusive ways teachers are but also, to destroy our loving, caring, innovative teachers~~ they are being conformed to Teach to the Test!! Save our gifted teachers and children.
Have you seen Few’s new video? As always, it’s all about Sheri!! Oh how I have sacrificed by totally ignoring my children so I could run my political organization!! She admits she sold out her own kids instead of being a good mother and home schooling them. She’s one sick puppy. She scares me. Her disciples scare me. If she wins the primary, the dems will come out in full force to make sure we lose, and Nikki too!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GudUlFTjhE