Backers Return Donations From David Duke Supporter

The Proposition 209 campaign is returning $2,300 in donations to a San Fernando Valley man who also gave political contributions to former klansman David Duke.

“I just don’t want the message that a David Duke supporter might bring to any cause I champion,” Ward Connerly, a leader of the Proposition 209 initiative campaign, said Friday.

The contributions came to light this week after Connerly said in a Sacramento debate that he would take money from anyone but Duke or those like him.

The anti-Proposition 209 campaign, which had researched the contribution reports of Duke and the Proposition 209 campaign, issued a press release revealing a $612 donation to the initiative effort by a Duke supporter identified as Robert Thum of Van Nuys.

Connerly said his staff found that Thum had sent 27 checks totaling about $2,300 over a two-year period to the initiative campaign, which seeks to end state and local government affirmative programs for women and minorities.

“I called him last night to say . . . I cannot accept your contribution. . . . I hope I haven’t offended you,” Connerly said, adding that Thum seemed disappointed. “I’m not suggesting he is a bigot or klansman, but I don’t want there to be any doubt on what our campaign is standing for.”

Connerly said Thum, who could not be reached for comment, apparently recently contributed $500 to Duke, an ex-grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan who just lost a U.S. Senate primary bid in Louisiana.

Opponents have seized on Duke’s support of Proposition 209 since he participated last month in a highly publicized debate on affirmative action at Cal State Northridge. Proponents in turn have repeatedly distanced themselves from Duke, calling him a racist in no way connected to the initiative.