Campaign fundraising figures in

Posted 9/9/10

Park County Commission

Among the 11 Republican candidates who vied for the three open slots on the general election ballot for the party, challenger Joe Tilden of the South Fork came in first in fundraising. Tilden finished third in voting to …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Campaign fundraising figures in

Posted

Campaign finance reports from Wyoming's Aug. 17 primary election were due on Friday, detailing the contributions and expenditures made to and spent by local candidates.The reports shows that generally, the top vote-getters also were the top fundraisers.

Park County Commission

Among the 11 Republican candidates who vied for the three open slots on the general election ballot for the party, challenger Joe Tilden of the South Fork came in first in fundraising. Tilden finished third in voting to advance to the November ballot.

According to reports filed with Park County Clerk's office, he raised more than $10,100, with 46 individuals — 40 of them from Cody — providing $7,450 in financial support. He chipped in $1,789 from his own pocket and received $869 in in-kind donations in the form of food and beverages.

Tilden spent $9,008 on signs, newspaper and radio ads, letters, event invitations, supplies and mailings and paid two individuals $100 each to hand out flyers.

Loren Grosskopf, the runner-up in the Republican primary, also was second in money raised and spent, raising $6,615 and spending all but $466. He spent that money on newspaper and radio ads, brochures, pens and other expenses. Of the money raised, $4,250 came from himself, $2,300 came from 31 individual donors (26 from Cody, five from Powell) and a $65 in in-kind donations of T-shirts and taxidermy work.

Leading vote-getter Tim French was fourth in fund-raising. He spent $3,915.78 on radio and newspaper ads, yard signs and campaign fans. Of that, $3,216 came from his own checkbook and $700 came from three donors in Cody.

Commissioner Jill Shockley Siggins spent $3,365 in her unsuccessful bid for re-election, buying newspaper ads, campaign cards and stamps for mailings. The bulk of that total came from 21 individuals from Cody, who donated $3,350 to Siggins' campaign; Siggins contributed just under $600 of her own money. She came in fifth place at the polls.

Vicki Gibson of Powell spent $2,679 on her primary campaign, buying newspaper ads in Powell, Cody and Meeteetse, radio ads, shirts, post cards, signs and design fees on her advertising materials. One individual gave $200 to Gibson, her immediate family contributed $1,100, and she spent $1,379 of her and her husband's money. That put Gibson, who came in seventh in voting, in fifth place in fundraising.

Hank Whitelock of Cody spent $2,374 in his bid for the commission, with $1,335 coming from his own wallet. Eight individuals, six from Cody and one each from Powell and Ralston, chipped in $840, while $200 came from anonymous contributors.

Whitelock used the money on campaign signs, shirts, facility rentals and materials for meet-and-greet gatherings, a fair booth and Facebook, advertising paper and radio ads.

Incumbent Bill Brewer, who finished fourth in the race, spent $1,264. He reported receiving one $500 donation. Brewer purchased signs and stakes, newspaper ads and sponsored three Demolition Derby drivers in the county fair.

Karla Dee Gitlitz raised $900, spending $777 on yard signs, newspaper advertising in Meeteetse and Cody and printer ink and paper. Three Meeteetse residents gave $700 and she contributed $200 of her own money.

Fred Reynolds purchased $368 worth of signs and advertising; Bill Yetter spent $359 of his own money on yard signs.

Ted Davey listed $100 worth of expenses from his own pocket — the filing fee and gas to get to Cody for candidate forums and an interview. Chad Miner, who withdrew, listed no receipts.

On the Democratic side, lone commission candidate Faith Wicks reported no expenditures or contributions outside of paying the $25 filing fee and receiving $150 worth of promotional photos as an in-kind donation.

As of Tuesday, there was no report filed for Libertarian commission candidate Penny Gail.

Other county races

Republican County Treasurer candidate Barbara Poley out-polled her rival Rebecca Winterowd almost four to one (78.6 percent to 21.7 percent), and outspent her by an even greater margin.

Poley raised $1,600 of her own funds, $450 donated by five individuals in Cody, and $100 donated by her immediate family.

She spent $2,078 on signs and newspaper ads in Powell and Cody.

Winterowd spent $378 on cards, yard signs, printing supplies and a domain name.

Democratic County Clerk Kelly Jensen and Republican write-in challenger Jerri Torczon of Powell reported no expenditures outside of the $25 filing fee.

Similarly, the unchallenged Republican incumbents — Clerk of District Court Joyce Boyer, County Attorney Bryan Skoric, Coroner Tim Power and Sheriff Scott Steward — reported no campaign expenditures outside of the fee.

Wyoming legislature

In the three-way Republican race for House District 25, incumbent Dave Bonner, R-Powell, led the way with $3,000 raised and 48.5 percent of the vote. Bonner, the publisher of the Powell Tribune, spent $1,116 on his campaign, all on advertisements in the Tribune. His funding came from 10 political action committees ($2,900) and an individual from Cheyenne ($100). Bonner advanced to the general election.

Gerry Parker came in second in both fundraising and the vote. Parker raised $2,530 and got 33.3 percent of the vote. The money come from 17 donations — including nine individuals and a business from Powell — who gave $1,380, and a $50 contribution from a political action committee. Parker contributed $900 of his own money and received $100 from his immediate family.

Parker used the money on radio ads, yard signs and other materials such as mailings and bought supplies and rented space for events, including a fair booth.

David Kellett came in third with 18 percent of the vote and $900, raised from five individuals, the reports say. Kellett spent $910 on printing campaign materials, radio advertising and food, travel and entertainment expenses.

Uncontested District 19 Senator Ray Peterson, R-Cowley, spent $466.20 on newspaper and event advertising. He listed a $100 donation from a political action committee as his only receipt. Peterson represents the Powell area along with northern Big Horn County.

Unchallenged House District 26 Representative Elaine Harvey, R-Lovell, who represents the Willwood area and northern Big Horn County, spent $800. She purchased newspaper and event advertising. She received $700 from four political action committees and had $1,219 on hand from the previous election cycle.

A notable exception to the trend of highest spenders faring the best was in Cody's House District 24, where three Republicans battled it out. Steve Simonton raised $22,506 and spent $16,746, but came in second with 30.4 percent of the vote.

Sam Krone raised just over $11,000, spending $9,608, and won the race comfortably with 51.1 percent of the vote.

Jason Whitman, who received 18.3 percent of the vote, raised and spent $6,839.

Powell City Council

In the Ward 3 council race, challenger Myron Heny led the three-candidate primary field with 46.2 percent of the vote, and also led the way in spending $720. With his own money, Heny purchased signs and newspaper ads.

Fellow challengers Tim Sapp and current councilman Rex Sanders each spent $100 on newspaper ads and their filings fees. Sapp, who received 35 percent of the vote, and Heny advanced to the general election ballot. Sanders, with 18.3 percent, was eliminated from contention.

In Ward 2, Councilman John Wetzel spent $216 on yard signs in his bid for re-election; challenger Mark Senn reported receiving and spending nothing.

Wetzel received 67 percent of the vote on primary election day to Senn's 32 percent. They'll battle again in the general election.

In Ward 1, sitting Councilman Steve Scott, who faced no opposition when Shea Reel withdrew, reported no expenditures.

Special purpose tax

Citizens for West Park Hospital, a group organized to campaign for a proposed $14.2 million sales tax for improvements to the Cody hospital, spent $5,155.

The money came from 16 individuals, almost entirely in Cody, with $2,350 coming from the action committee's two officers, the hospital's CEO and several hospital board members.

Expenses included ads on radio, in newsprint and in county movie theaters, along with posters, mailings and yard signs.

Citizens for Responsible Taxation, a group opposed to the sales tax, said in a pre-primary report it had spent $892.50, raising $1,250 from six Powell individuals and five Powell businesses. The group, which opposed a previous sales tax, reported having $120 on hand and $420 in anonymous contributions.

The West Park tax failed, with just 32.7 percent supporting it.

Comments