Jeff Anderson, a Duluth At Large city councilor and Democratic candidate for Congress, received $800 in contributions from the owner of the Last Place on Earth, a downtown Duluth head shop that has been in the eye of controversy for the past year as a retailer of synthetic drugs.
Two $400 contributions from Jim Carlson were recorded by the campaign, one on June 30 and the other on Sept. 20, public finance records show.
Anderson said he returned the contributions in the past week --"In light of the situation with Jim," he said, referring to recent media coverage of synthetic drug sales at the Last Place on Earth.
"He's been a long-time client of mine at the radio station," said Anderson, who sells advertising for Duluth-based Red Rock Radio. "He did support the campaign personally with a contribution, but I think in light of the product that he's selling, even though its legality is certainly questionable, I felt more comfortable returning the money."
When asked why he
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didn't return the June 30 contribution from Carlson until recently, Anderson responded: "I would just say, again, in light of the situation, the news, the controversy surrounding him, I just think it's best to return that money. I'm not going to comment on the timeline."
Carlson's business was raided by Duluth police on Sept. 21 after it was found that he was selling synthetic drugs with chemical compounds banned by state and federal law, according to police records.
Four synthetic drug products recently purchased from the Last Place on Earth by the News Tribune and analyzed by Minneapolis-based MedTox Laboratories found they contained analogs, which are also banned by state law. Carlson is challenging that ban in court.
Anderson said he believes sale of synthetic drugs should "be made illegal."
"I personally would prefer it's not sold in our community, because I think it's a harmful substance," he said.
Carlson said Anderson told him Wednesday morning that he was returning the business owner's contribution. Despite that, Carlson said, he still supports Anderson and will vote for him.
When votes pertaining to the Last Place on Earth's sale of synthetic drugs came before the Duluth City Council in August 2010, Anderson abstained from voting because of his business relationship with Carlson.
