Spartanburg GOP Chairman’s Scandal Deepens

BELTRAM ACCUSED OF IMPROPERLY SELLING VOTER LISTS

FITSNews – April 23, 2008 – Spartanburg County GOP Chairman Rick Beltram – already in hot water for running a private consulting business out of his official party office – could be facing additional heat for violating an agreement with the S.C. Republican Party over a voter database known as “Voter Vault.”

According to multiple sources in Spartanburg, Beltram is selling ”Voter Vault” information to certain Republican candidates while refusing to provide it to others, which would be a violation of the agreement permitting him to access to the information free of charge for party-building purposes. 

According to the SCGOP’s “terms of usage” agreement with County Chairmen, they are given free access to the database in their official capacities but selling the list is expressly prohibited.  

“Under no circumstances will you use this information for commercial purposes,” the agreement states.

“Voter Vault” is a national database of GOP voters that is maintained by the Republican National Committee and provided at no cost to state parties. After each new primary election, however, the SCGOP incurs costs to update the list when it purchases voter files from the S.C. Election Commission.

The list has always been provided to County Chairmen as well as candidates for federal office by the SCGOP free of charge.

“(Beltram)’s people aren’t even being smart about it,” said one GOP activist in Spartanburg who spoke with FITSNews on the condition of anonymity. “They’re refusing to provide the list to candidates they don’t like, but they’re also screwing over the candidates they do like by making them pay for something they’re supposed to have free access to.”

Beltram’s associates may also be misleading candidates in an effort to hide their improper use of the database.

For example, Spartanburg GOP Vice-Chairman Paul Manly is reportedly telling prospective clients that Beltram’s firm has a special software program which provides Voter Vault data on a precinct-by-precinct basis, despite the fact that Voter Vault already offers precinct-specific information.

Beltram was criticized last week by SCGOP Chairman Katon Dawson, who called the County Chairman’s political consulting work “inappropriate.”

It remains to be seen how the latest accusations will play out, but early indications are that the Party is taking a dim view of his activities.  

“County Party Chairmen are granted the privilege of Voter Vault access for the specific purpose of building the party,” SCGOP spokesman Rob Godfrey told FITSNews. “Chairman Dawson views Voter Vault as a tool to strengthen our party and expand its base, and would hope that County Chairmen use it in that same vein.”

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