Money may mean votes
NWI Times
Jul 22, 2007
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/money-may-mean-votes/article_4b3f62f9-316a-5bef-8d85-9315e42d33fa.html
PORTAGE | Candidates might not be able to literally buy votes, but both of those aiming to win the Portage mayor's seat this November know that money can make or break their campaign.
What the money does buy is name recognition in the way of yard signs, campaign literature, advertising and establishing a headquarters.
Republican candidate James Snyder has set a goal of raising $50,000.
Democrat candidate Olga Velazquez said her goal is to raise $30,000.
If voter turnout for the November election runs true to course as in past years and somewhere between 4,000 and 5,000 voters turn out at the polls, each vote will cost the candidate nearly $200.
Fundraising, the candidates say, is a necessary evil.
"It is going to cost a little bit more for me. I got into it late in the game," said Snyder, who announced his intentions earlier this month. "I also don't have the same political trough to go to in Portage as my opponent."
"I don't have a problem asking. I believe I have the right vision for the city," said Snyder, adding that those who believe in his vision will contribute to his campaign. "I have to make calls personally and lay out my vision. What I'm doing right now is a little different. I'm asking the people of Portage what they want to be done, and I'm asking for money."
Velazquez said asking for money is a "reality of running for office."
"I'm the first one to advocate for campaign finance reform on the local level, but to advocate for other causes, I must be elected first," Velazquez said.
She said she does believe she has an advantage over Snyder in raising money because "I made the commitment in December and I've been working hard."
She said she also tries to be frugal and will be using campaign literature left over from the May primary campaign to keep costs down. Velazquez said she also plans on running a "grass-roots campaign" like she did in the primary.
"During the primary we didn't feel we wanted to spend the money for a headquarters. I knocked on 5,000 doors," she said.
This time both candidates plan on opening a headquarters.
Velazquez raised more than $42,000 for the primary. She said she has about $4,000 left over.
"The majority of the money came from family members and friends who believed in my goal to be mayor," she said. "It is not all about money. It is about the relationships you build with voters. We have to set priorities and spend those resources wisely. There will be a lot of face-to-face campaigning."
Both candidates have sent letters to the business community and others seeking financial support. Snyder is sponsoring a fundraising golf outing July 27, with a cost of $150 for an individual golfer or $50 for the reception only. Velazquez is sponsoring an event Aug. 23 at $100 per person.
Both said there will be other, smaller fundraisers along the way.
Past contests
Snyder's and Velazquez's fundraising goals, while a lot of money to most, might be on the low side.
In the Valparaiso mayoral race four years ago, Republican Jon Costas outspent then-Mayor Democrat David Butterfield $76,733 to $27,814 to win the seat, their 2003 year-end financial reports indicate. Neither had opponents in the primary.
The last hard-hitting contest for mayor in Portage was the 1999 primary in which Mayor Doug Olson defeated three-term Mayor Sammie Maletta. Olson was uncontested in the November election that year.
Olson recalled he spent some $50,000 to $55,000 and said his opponent spent upwards of $80,000. Financial records for that year are no longer available through the county's voter registration office.
"Campaigns are expensive," Olson said. "That's (raising money) is the hardest thing, but you have to do it. The big thing is name recognition."
Four years ago, Olson won the primary against Joe Blackwell and was again unopposed in the municipal election. Still, he said, he raised some $80,000 that was used to assist other candidates in a variety of races.
