FD candidates spent thousands on race
‘Nobody runs for office to make a windfall’By BILL SHEA, Messenger staff writer
Fact Box
FD candidates file finance reports
Here's a look at the campaign finances of Fort Dodge candidates this year, based on reports filed with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board on Oct. 29, the most recent date on which candidates had to submit information to the state.
MAYOR
Councilman Matt Bemrich
Contributions: $13,582
Expenditures: $9,448.76
Cash on hand as of Oct. 29: $4,133.24
Significant donors: Greg Bemrich, Fort Dodge, $1,000; Bob Bocken, Fort Dodge, $500; Nathan Gibson, Badger, $500; James Kesterson, Fort Dodge, $500.
Major expenditures: Advertising, $4,074; Double M Signs, Fort Dodge, $2,800; Postage, $1,760.
Councilwoman Cindy Litwiller
Contributions: $5,856.95
Loans from Litwiller to her campaign: $6,000
Expenditures: $11,709.40
Cash on hand as of Oct. 29: $208.44
Significant donors: Donald Decker, Fort Dodge, $250; Bill Ryan, Fort Dodge, $250; John Simpson, Fort Dodge, $200; Michael Carmody, Fort Dodge, $150; David and Susan Thompson, Fort Dodge, $100.
Major expenditures: Waitt Outdoor Advertising, Omaha, Neb., $3,025 (billboards); Hy-Vee Catering, Fort Dodge, $668.69; Choice Printing, Fort Dodge, $594.27; Bush Signs LLC, Montgomery, Ala., $472.08.
COUNCIL, AT LARGE
Andy Fritz
No report filed.
Eugene Newsome
No report filed.
Dennis O'Farrell
Contributions: $1,145
Expenditures: $1,098.88
Cash on hand as of Oct. 29: $46.12
Significant donors: William O'Farrell, Lower Gwynedd, Penn., $500; Dennis O'Farrell, Fort Dodge, $100; Diane Burch, Fort Dodge, $100; Fred Breen, Des Moines, $100.
Major expenditures: Advertising, $623.88; Choice Printing, Fort Dodge, $451.85.
Robert ''Barney''
Patterson
Contributions: $1,500
Expenditures: $1,330.61
Cash on hand as of Oct. 29: $169.39
Significant donors: Tracey Patterson, Fort Dodge, $500; Robert E. Patterson, Fort Dodge, $500; Judith A. Patterson, Fort Dodge, $500.
Major expenditures: Advertising, $644.04; Bush Signs LLC, Montgomery, Ala., $567.61; Jifi Print, Fort Dodge, $68.96.
COUNCIL, 2ND WARD
Rita Carlson
Contributions: $1,852
Expenditures: $1,115.39
Cash on hand as of Oct. 29: $786.61
Significant donors: Donald Decker, Fort Dodge, $250; Bob Bocken, Fort Dodge, $100; Shari Fitzgerald, Fort Dodge, $100; J.P. Mansfield, Fort Dodge, $100; state Rep. Helen Miller, D-Fort Dodge, $40.
Major expenditures: Jifi Print, Fort Dodge, $929.39; Barb Huisman Graphic Design, Fort Dodge, $150.
Councilman Don Wilson
No report filed.
COUNCIL, 3RD WARD
Margy Halverson-Collins
Contributions: $2,350
Expenditures: $2,240.38
Cash on hand as of Oct. 29: $109.62
Significant donors: John Clay, Fort Dodge; $300; Svana Lamb, Fort Dodge; $150; Jim Kesterson, Fort Dodge, $100;J.P. Mansfield, Fort Dodge, $100; Greg Bemrich, Fort Dodge, $100.
Major expenditures: Decker Truck Line Inc., Fort Dodge, $792.50 (materials for signs); advertising $675.72; Choice Printing, Fort Dodge, $292.11
Richard Higgins
No report filed.
COUNCIL, 4TH WARD
Tom Hemann
Contributions: $447
Expenditures: $447
Significant donors: Rhonda Ruby, Badger, $200.
Major expenditures: $323.26 to Tom Hemann as reimbursement for ads purchased; advertising, $123.74
Kelly Hindman
Contributions: $4,725.04
Expenditures: $3,973.28
Cash on hand as of Oct. 29: $751.76
Significant donors: Donald Decker, Fort Dodge, $200; Brian Fredericks, Fort Dodge, $200; Phil Gunderson, Fort Dodge, $150; Dave Cassens, Fort Dodge, $150; Assistant Police Chief Kevin Doty, $100.
Major expenditures: Double M Signs, Fort Dodge, $1,622; advertising, $1,172.48; Jifi Print, Fort Dodge, $671.40.
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
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BlandenFan
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11-08-09 10:57 AM
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There is another post-election reporting deadline upcoming. If a candidate achieved the $750 spending threshold and fails to report by that deadline, then they would be in non-compliance.
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jaybares
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11-08-09 7:59 AM
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Why can't I find the report on the State website for all candidates that is supposed to be filed when $750 is spent or raised? Did reporter miss the fact that all candidates did not comply with reporting deadlines? Or am I missing something?
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