Commercial real estate mogul Joseph Canizaro has been a fixture of Louisiana politics for decades, having raised money for candidates as far back as 1986. One recipient of his largesse, former state representative W. Henson Moore, said Canizaro appears to like raising money for candidates. "He never asked for anything," Moore told the National Journal. "He just put his money where his mouth is."
Whether Canizaro asked or not, critics have accused him of abusing his political influence. In 1997, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development chided Canizaro for heading a local housing authority that ignored lower bids and awarded a contract to a board member of First Bank and Trust, where Canizaro happens to be chairman.
Canizaro also happens to be the president of the Urban Land Institute, a real estate research group based in Washington, D.C. The nonprofit organization holds forums on land-use issues and advocates public policies. The Urban Land Institute also receives HUD research grants.
Columbus Properties, Canizaro's commercial real estate firm, posted more than $222 million in revenue in 1997. Canizaro claims to have developed more than 10 million square feet of hotels, office buildings, housing, and industrial centers throughout the South.
In February 2000, Canizaro contributed $240,000 to the Republican National Committee. He offered reporters a succinct explanation for his generosity: "You have to participate in this government if you want to get something." Six months later he gave another $250,000.
-- Michael Scherer
