What's In It For Me?

In the recently released hardback book, What's In It For Me?, published by HarperCollins, Joseph Stedino recounts his undercover activity as "Tony Vincent" and the surreptitious recordings that "expose the greed, jealousy, and lust that drive Arizona politics." The events, as told to author Dary Matera of Chandler, Arizona, give reference to chiropractic's involvement in general and the involvement of Drs. Rondberg and Immerman.

The introduction of the book really says it all:

"The following chapters contain quotes and conversations gleaned from the "Desert Sting" undercover police transcripts. They involve politicians and political insiders accusing one another of criminal acts, immoral and unethical behavior, hidden sexual persuasions, peccadillos, and/or perversions, and myriad antisocial activities. None of these accusations should be taken as fact on their face: They are included here to illustrate how American politics is fueled by gossip, extortion, coercion, blackmail, smear campaigns, espionage, threats, and the art of holding a 'hammer' over a political enemy."

The issues involving Drs. Rondberg and Immerman surround a technique described in the book as "bundling." In Arizona, a person is only allowed to donate a maximum of $220 to any one political candidate. One way to circumvent the cap on campaign contribution was described by the author, Joseph Stedino:

"Particularly interesting was the way they got around the $220 limit that an individual could give as a campaign contribution to a state legislator. The technique was called "bundling" and involved various ways of filtering the money into individual $220 checks made out from long lists of bogus contributors."

The involvement of Drs. Immerman and Rondberg in "AzScam" has unfortunately been translated to mean the chiropractic profession's involvement, as the now defunct Arizona Chiropractic Alliance was their organization during the time of the "sting."

Drs. Immerman and Rondberg also founded the World Chiropractic Alliance which has an almost identical structure as the Arizona Alliance, including some of the same principles, and a "no election" policy for their officers and directors. The involvement of the Arizona Chiropractic Alliance in the AzScam raises serious questions about the World Chiropractic Alliance's activities in national politics.

The Arizona Alliance's political lobbyist was a man named Rich Scheffel, who is mentioned a great deal in the book. In the police transcripts, he is described by former Arizona Representative Bobby Raymond (who later pleaded guilty of five felony counts):

"If you look at Scheffel, he represents everything that's considered sleaze, ..."

Representative Raymond discussed how the "chiropractors" had made other donations. The reference to the "450 chiropractors" does not relate to the number of chiropractors in Arizona, but does match the approximate number of members the Arizona Chiropractic Alliance was boasting at the time. Again, the entire chiropractic profession in Arizona was painted by the actions of a few:

"Finance committees. He'll be on everybody's finance committee... For Instance, the chiropractors, he had a $100,000 budget for 'em in campaign donations. I mean his organization is a flat 450 chiropractors. They had $100,000 and he directed every dime of it...this race, that race, and other races."

This statement causes Stedino to wonder:

"That was an intriguing revelation. If Rich gave everybody in the legislature a legitimate $220 from the chiropractors, that would total only $19,800. If they bundled checks with the chiropractors' husbands and wives, that's still only $39,600. The chiropractors must have done some serious legislative manipulation."

Stedino describes how the Alliance lobbyist went about coordinating the bundling:

"To clean the checks designated as contributions, Scheffel jumped on my phone and began a series of calls asking people to let him use their names. Included were some of his chiropractor friends. Although it was illegal to allow ones name to be used to cloak someone else's political contributions, Scheffel didn't receive a single turndown. The Arizona system had been greased right down to the local shoemaker."

A few pages later, is a police transcript of a phone call:

"Scheffel grabbed the phone to canvass for more names. This call was one smooth hustle, a textbook example of a master political bundler in action: 'Hey, Terry, how you doing? Well, I'm doin' great. Hey, you remember what a great American you were when we needed some help with (ex-Representative) Burton Barr? And we had to make some extra contributions? I gotta make some extra contributions now to the state Democratic party and to about five or six legislators. Would you and Cindy be kind enough to allow me to use your names on those contributions? Well, I'll tell you what, they're goin' to the party and how they use those is beyond me. So, yeah. How, what I'm gonna do is you don't have to pay anything. Yeah. A thousand from each, you and your wife, to the state Democratic party...Here's what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna tell ya who these people are just so you're at your comfort lever...' "

The lawsuit later filed by the state of Arizona against the various legislators and others implicated by the "sting" concurs with the list of politicians who received checks with not only the names of Drs. Rondberg and Immerman, but also their wives. In addition, of all the names used on all of the checks admitted to be fraudulent, the only "Terry" and "Cindy" belonged to Dr. and Mrs. Rondberg.

The book further supports the involvement of Drs. Rondberg and Immerman as the police transcripts relate comments made by lobbyist Scheffel and "Tony Vincent" (Stedino):

Scheffel: "I got two clients on there, you know, and these are people who wheel and deal in the legislature. Chiropractors, they get nailed with that they're dead meat ... (Terry) Rondberg and (Alan) Immerman. They did it (lent) their names to bundled checks) as a favor...We gotta close the loop of information...We hafta control the information..."

Stedino: "...Those people you gave me the names of, they're existing people..." I asked, thinking we were in the clear. "You called them all and told them up-front...that they were givin' 220 or whatever."

Scheffel: "Oh yeah, they know they gave the money."

Stedino: "So, we don't have a problem."

Scheffel: "Well, Tony, how is it that 12 people who don't know each other, all went down to the bank and bought 40 money orders in consecutive series and sent them to legislators?"

Other comments in the transcripts made by Alliance Lobbyist Scheffel revealed additional issues:

"The chatter sank from politically conscious felines to Arizona's chiropractors."

Scheffel: "...(The) two guys that went out and raised all this money for the chiros...they save a little back for themselves..." Scheffel said. "You know who they gave all their money to this year? (U.S. Senator Paul) Simon and some of those..."

Mr. Stedino sums up the involvement of all involved in the AzScam in a passage from the last chapter:

"After the screaming died down, most of the accused quietly gulped their medicine and negotiated pleas."

This was also true for Drs. Rondberg and Immerman. In agreements made with the Maricopa County attorney's office, both Terry Rondberg and Alan Immerman admitted to civil charges of illegal contributions. In the agreements, they paid fines of approximately $11,160 and $6,840 respectively (please see "WCA President Admits to Violating Arizona Campaign Contribution Laws" in the November 22, 1991 issue).

Drs. Immerman and Rondberg Comment on Book

"DC": Are you aware of the book What's In It For Me? that recounts the undercover activities of ("Tony Vincent") Joseph Stedino in Arizona?

Dr. Immerman: Yes, I am.

"DC": Are you aware that you are mentioned in the book?

Dr. Immerman: I've seen my name in the book once.

"DC": What is your response to the suggestions by the police transcripts that you allowed your name to be used on campaign contribution checks that we're not from you personally?

Dr. Immerman: The public record in Arizona shows that our lobbyist at the time asked both myself and Dr. Rondberg if we would let our names be used. The record also shows that he assured us as our legal advisor that it would be legal for use to offer our names. We both have clearly admitted that based on his advice we unknowingly violated campaign law, which is a civil violation in Arizona.

"DC": One of the references suggests that you and Dr. Rondberg withheld some of the funds for yourself. The quote from Mr. Scheffel is: "The two guys that went out and raised all the money for the chiros, they saved a little back for themselves." How would you respond to that?

Dr. Immerman: That is completely false from my perspective. No authority has made that allegation to us.

"DC": Do you know if Dr. Rondberg is aware of this book?

Dr. Immerman: I haven't spoken to him directly about it, but I imagine that he is.

"DC": Would you like to add anything?

Dr. Immerman: It was an unfortunate experience for our lobbyist in the chiropractic profession to get involved in what he saw as gambling interests. From our perspective, the legislature is clearly aware that it was a violation of law by the lobbyist and really not something by the chiropractic profession. We fortunately have continued with our good track record in Arizona of getting laws enacted. In fact, one month after the AzScam story broke, our insurance equality law passed the Senate by a vote of 25-5. So the state legislature really was able to separate between Rich Scheffel and his illegal acts and the chiropractic profession on the other side.

When asked by "DC" to be interviewed on the contents of What's In It For Me?, Dr. Rondberg replied: "Sorry I can't help you with your article, but I have never heard of the book you mentioned (What's In It For Me?), and since I haven't seen it, I can't comment about its subject."

Because of the importance of providing the opportunity for Dr. Rondberg to respond to the statements made in the police transcripts as quoted in Stedino's book, Dynamic Chiropractic has purchased a copy of "What's In It For Me" and is mailing it to Dr. Rondberg. After Dr. Rondberg has had the opportunity to review the book, it is hoped that he will consent to an interview.