SEDC Paid Catfish Club $3,000

Published: Thursday, August 7, 2008 6:42 PM PDT

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Last year, the Southeastern Economic Development Corp. made a payment of $3,000 to the Catfish Club, a civic forum run by The Rev. George Walker Smith, who is the father of Carolyn Y. Smith, who was recently fired as the president of SEDC after being embroiled in a scandal over hidden bonuses she paid herself and her staff.

Corporate memberships at the Catfish Club are $1,000 a year according to the organization's website. Individual memberships are $400 a year. Luncheons at the club, which are held every week, cost $20 for non-members, according to the website.

The payment is listed in documents SEDC released earlier this week in response to queries from the Mayor's Office. The documents show a check was paid to the Catfish Club on Oct. 19, 2007 in the amount of $3,000.

I put in a call to Herman Collins, who works as a consultant for SEDC and also helps to organize the Catfish Club. He passed on my message to Rev. Smith.

Herman Collins faxed me a message from Rev. Smith this afternoon. It reads:

Your inquiry relates to documents you are reviewing that involve the Southeastern Economic Development Corporation (SEDC). As SEDC is the focus of your inquiry, I believe it is appropriate that you obtain any and all information regarding SEDC directly from SEDC.

I have sent SEDC a letter asking for an explanation (Smith no longer returns my calls).