Imagine spending about $10,000 trying to get a job that pays $15,000 a year.
That's a plan that doesn't seem to make much sense, except when the job is that of mayor of Fort Dodge.
Councilman Matt Bemrich, who won the mayor's office in Tuesday's election, spent $9,448.76 on his campaign, according to reports filed with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board on Oct. 29.
His opponent, Councilwoman Cindy Litwiller, spent $11,709.40, according to documents filed with the board.
Both candidates said they have paid some bills since the reports were due Oct. 29. Those reports are the most recent available.
''Nobody runs for office to try to make a windfall off the salary,'' Bemrich said. ''Generally, you're doing it because you have a vision or a plan as to the direction you think the city should take.''
''Spending money to get elected is just part of our system,'' he added.
Litwiller said she figured she would have to spend nearly the equivalent of the mayor's annual salary in order to win the office.
''It is not cheap to fund a campaign,'' she said. ''I would say the $11,000 was on the low side.''
She loaned her campaign $6,000. Litwiller was the only candidate to report making such a loan.
In 2005, Mayor Terry Lutz spent $18,985.50 on his successful campaign, according to information on file with the ethics board.
His opponent, former Mayor Will Patterson, spent $2,928.14, according to the state records.
Several candidates for the City Council also filed reports with the state revealing that they spent thousands of dollars on their campaigns.
Kelly Hindman, who won the 4th Ward seat, led all council candidates in spending with outlays totaling $3,973.28 as of Oct. 29.
Other candidate expenditures included:
Margy Halverson-Collins (3rd Ward) - $2,240.38
Robert ''Barney'' Patterson (at large) - $1,330.61
Rita Carlson (2nd Ward) - $1,115.39
Dennis O'Farrell ( at large) - $1,098.88
Candidates did not have to file a report with the state if they didn't spend or receive $750 or more. Council candidates Andy Fritz (at large), Eugene Newsome (at large), Councilman Don Wilson (2nd Ward) and Richard Higgins (3rd Ward) did not file reports.
Tom Hemann, who ran in the 4th Ward, filed a report even though he spent less than $750.
Most of the candidates' expenditures were with local businesses. However, Litwiller and Patterson purchased signs from Bush Signs LLC of Montgomery, Ala.
Litwiller said she sought bids for her largest signs and the Alabama company submitted the lowest price.
''There was no other company that compared with that cost,'' she said.
Contact Bill Shea at (515) 573-2141 or bshea@messengernews.net