Campaign finances are tricky to understand. They’re not particularly straight forward, they never give you the whole picture, and usually when you want them, only a few of the records are available. But what you do get, can tell you a lot if you look close enough. The key word is “trends;” patterns that can expose the political and financial interests supporting a candidate, and what groups, individuals or demographic the candidate is most likely to represent based on this information. Although, proving an observed trend may take more digging, it can certainly give you a good starting point for getting to know your candidates.
In Clark County you’ll see a lot of trends. Republicans have more money. The Republican and Democratic parties appear to have very different strategies behind how they support their candidates financially. The Two parties also appear to have very different demographic that supports them. What does all this mean? And, will money determine election outcomes in Clark County?
You Decide!
The following information and graphs were taken from followthemoney.org on October 8th 2008 and feature candidates running for State Office representing the Clark County Area. For Federal Seats visit the Federal Election Commission at fec.gov. For County and Local Officials, you’ll have to work harder!
10th Senate District, Ohio
WIDENER, CHRIS Republican
Ohio 10th Senate District
$324,137 out of 729 Records (3/7)
Top 20 Contributors
|
Contributor |
Amount | % of Total | Sector | |
| OHIO REPUBLICAN PARTY | $30,162 | 9.31% | Party |
|
| MATHILE, CLAY L | $10,000 | 3.09% | Agriculture |
|
| OHIO ASSOC OF REALTORS/REALTORS PAC | $10,000 | 3.09% | Finance, Insurance & Real Estate |
|
| DEWINE, CITIZENS FOR | $10,000 | 3.09% | Party |
|
| AT&T | $7,500 | 2.31% | Communications & Electronics |
|
| MATHILE, MARY A | $6,000 | 1.85% | Finance, Insurance & Real Estate |
|
| COMMUNITY BANKERS ASSOC OF OHIO | $5,700 | 1.76% | Finance, Insurance & Real Estate |
|
| BAKER, JANE J | $5,000 | 1.54% | Uncoded |
|
| WINE, RON | $5,000 | 1.54% | Uncoded |
|
| CHERNESKY, RICHARD J | $5,000 | 1.54% | Lawyers & Lobbyists |
|
| BAKER, LARRY J | $5,000 | 1.54% | Uncoded |
|
| LEE, MIN CHA | $5,000 | 1.54% | Uncoded |
|
| KEYCORP | $4,550 | 1.40% | Finance, Insurance & Real Estate |
|
| OHIO CREDIT UNION LEAGUE | $3,800 | 1.17% | Finance, Insurance & Real Estate |
|
| NATIONAL CITY CORP | $3,700 | 1.14% | Finance, Insurance & Real Estate |
|
| HSBC NORTH AMERICA | $3,500 | 1.08% | Finance, Insurance & Real Estate |
|
| MECHANICAL CONTRACTORS ASSOC | $3,500 | 1.08% | Construction |
|
| OHIO JUSTICE FUND | $3,350 | 1.03% | Lawyers & Lobbyists |
|
| OHIO CONTRACTORS ASSOC | $3,100 | 0.96% | Construction |
|
| HUNTINGTON BANCSHARES | $3,000 | 0.93% | Finance, Insurance & Real Estate |
|
TACKETT, ROGER Democrat
Ohio’s 10th Senate District
$4,954 out of 53 Records (3/7)
Top 20 Contributors
|
Contributor |
Amount |
% of Total |
Sector |
|
|
| TEAMSTERS LOCAL 957 |
$1,000 |
20.19% |
Uncoded |
|
|
| UNITED FOOD & COMMERCIAL WORKERS INTERNATIONAL UNION CLC |
$500 |
10.09% |
Uncoded |
|
|
| GREENE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY |
$500 |
10.09% |
Uncoded |
|
|
| GARDNER, MICHAEL J |
$500 |
10.09% |
Uncoded |
|
|
| ROBERTS, FRIENDS OF TOM |
$300 |
6.06% |
Party |
|
|
| IRONWORKERS LOCAL 290, |
$250 |
5.05% |
Uncoded |
|
|
| BEST, CARL C |
$100 |
2.02% |
Uncoded |
|
|
| GERARD, ANNE L |
$100 |
2.02% |
Uncoded |
|
|
| SPANGLER, JOYCE T |
$50 |
1.01% |
Uncoded |
|
|
| KEYES, RALPH |
$50 |
1.01% |
Uncoded |
|
|
| BARLOW, JASON L , BARLOW, JASON L |
$50 |
1.01% |
Uncoded |
|
|
| BARR, DAVID L |
$50 |
1.01% |
Uncoded |
|
|
| HYDE, CARL D |
$50 |
1.01% |
Uncoded |
|
|
| PETERS, OSCAR J |
$50 |
Uncoded |
|
|
|
| GRAF, JOSEPH C |
$50 |
1.01% |
Uncoded |
|
|
| GARDNER, MICHAEL J |
$50 |
1.01% |
Uncoded |
|
|
| MOORE, DAVID A |
$50 |
1.01% |
Uncoded |
|
|
| CHAMPNEY, MARGARET P |
$50 |
1.01% |
Uncoded |
|
|
| TROLANDER, HARDY W |
$50 |
1.01% |
Uncoded |
|
|
| RHINE, RONALD V |
$50 |
1.01% |
Uncoded |
|
|
FIGURE A: Sector Breakdown
FIGURE B: Contributor Type Breakdown
84th District, Ohio House
HACKETT, ROBERT Republican
Ohio 84th House District
$22,890 out of 211 Records (1/7)
Top 20 Contributors
|
Contributor |
Amount |
% of Total |
Sector |
| BLOCK, MACY | $2,000 | 8.74% | Uncoded |
| WHEELER, LARRY | $2,000 | 8.74% | Uncoded |
| RUMA, CHARLES J | $1,000 | 4.37% | Uncoded |
| HACKETT SR, JAMES P | $1,000 | 4.37% | Uncoded |
| MADISON CTY REPUBLICAN CENTRAL COM | $750 | 3.28% | Uncoded |
| OHIO ASSOC OF INSURANCE & FINANCIAL ADVISORS | $500 | 2.18% | Finance, Insurance & Real Estate |
| BISSONNETTE, ROLAND | $500 | 2.18% | Uncoded |
| DOUGLASS, GRANT | $500 | 2.18% | Uncoded |
| MCADOW, SAM | $500 | 2.18% | Uncoded |
| JORDAN, ROBERT P | $500 | 2.18% | Uncoded |
| STEVE AUSTRIA FOR CONGRESS | $500 | 2.18% | Uncoded |
| ALCOTT, JERRY M | $500 | 2.18% | Uncoded |
| HERMAN, DON | $250 | 1.09% | Uncoded |
| MULLIGAN, RICHARD | $250 | 1.09% | Uncoded |
| JORDAN, PHILLIP P | $250 | 1.09% | Uncoded |
| UNION CENTRAL LIFE INSURANCE PAC | $250 | 1.09% | Uncoded |
| MITCHETLL, JOHN T | $250 | 1.09% | Uncoded |
| BACON MD, JAMES P | $250 | 1.09% | Uncoded |
| BRICKER & ECKLER | $250 | 1.09% | Lawyers & Lobbyists |
| SHAFER, JOHN R | $250 | 1.09% | Uncoded |
FIGURE A: Sector Breakdown
FIGURE B: Contributor Type Breakdown
CROCKETT, CONNIE Democrat
Ohio 84th House District
$5,437 out of 73 Records (3/7)
Top 20 Contributors
|
Contributor |
Amount |
% of Total |
Sector |
| TROLANDER, HARDY |
$800 |
14.71% |
Uncoded |
| LAPEDES, RICHARD |
$500 |
9.20% |
Uncoded |
| GREENE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY |
$500 |
9.20% |
Uncoded |
| HOOPER, JEFF |
$400 |
7.36% |
Uncoded |
| GARDNER, MICHAEL J |
$250 |
4.60% |
Uncoded |
| WILLIAMS, LOWELL F |
$200 |
3.68% |
Uncoded |
| CHAMPNEY, KENNETH |
$200 |
3.68% |
Uncoded |
| TROLANDER, HARDY |
$200 |
3.68% |
Uncoded |
| PAGET, VIRGINIA |
$110 |
2.02% |
Uncoded |
| HARPER, AMY |
$100 |
1.84% |
Uncoded |
| CULTICE, DAVID L |
$100 |
1.84% |
Uncoded |
| MCHUGH, SANDRA |
$100 |
1.84% |
Uncoded |
| KALAMAS, MADELEINE C |
$100 |
1.84% |
Uncoded |
| HOWARD, BRENDA |
$100 |
1.84% |
Uncoded |
| BALDWIN, ROBERT F |
$100 |
1.84% |
Uncoded |
| WILLIAMS, JUDY |
$100 |
1.84% |
Uncoded |
| PAIGE, RUTH |
$100 |
1.84% |
Uncoded |
| NEUHARDT, SHAREN SWARTZ |
$50 |
0.92% |
Lawyers & Lobbyists |
| TEBBETTS, ILSE |
$50 |
0.92% |
Uncoded |
| CARGAN, LEONARD |
$50 |
0.92% |
Other/Retiree/Civil Servants |
FIGURE A: Sector Breakdown
FIGURE B: Contributor Type Breakdown
72nd District, Ohio House
MCGREGOR, ROSS Republican
Ohio 72nd House District Incumbent
$212,135 out of 617 Records (3/7)
Top 20 Contributors
|
Contributor |
Amount | % of Total | Sector | |||
| MATHILE, CLAY L | $10,000 | 4.71% |
Finance, Insurance & Real Estate |
|||
| MCCONNELL, JOHN H | $10,000 | 4.71% |
Energy & Natural Resources |
|||
| MATHILE, MARY A | $7,000 | 3.30% |
Finance, Insurance & Real Estate |
|||
| CHERNESKY, RICHARD J | $6,000 | 2.83% |
Uncoded |
|||
| OHIO ACADEMY OF NURSING HOMES/GERIPAC | $5,300 | 2.50% |
Health |
|||
| OHIO DENTAL ASSOC | $5,200 | 2.45% |
Health |
|||
| FIRSTENERGY CORP | $5,000 | 2.36% |
Energy & Natural Resources |
|||
| OHIO OIL & GAS ASSOC | $3,000 | 1.41% |
Energy & Natural Resources |
|||
| PIONEER PAC | $2,600 | 1.23% |
Uncoded |
|||
| MORGAN, SAMUEL T | $2,500 | 1.18% |
Uncoded |
|||
| WINE, RONALD D | $2,500 | 1.18% |
Uncoded |
|||
| WHOLESALE BEER & WINE ASSOC OF OHIO | $2,500 | 1.18% |
General Business |
|||
| OHIO MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION PAC | $2,500 | 1.18% |
Uncoded |
|||
| MILLS JR, ROBERT W | $2,500 | 1.18% |
Construction |
|||
| DANIS, JOHN S | $2,000 | 0.94% |
Uncoded |
|||
| LANDESS, JOHN T | $2,000 | 0.94% |
Uncoded |
|||
| OHIO HOME BUILDERS ASSOC | $1,850 | 0.87% |
Construction |
|||
| OHIO AUTOMOBILE DEALERS ASSOC/DEALERS INVESTMENT GROUP | $1,800 | 0.85% |
Transportation |
|||
| BERRY JR, JOHN W | $1,500 | 0.71% |
Uncoded |
|||
| NATIONWIDE | $1,500 | 0.71% |
Finance, Insurance & Real Estate |
|||
FIGURE A: Sector Breakdown
FIGURE B: Contributor Type Breakdown
SPANGLER, RICHARD Democrat
Ohio’s 72 House District
$5,900 out of 37 Records (3/7)
Top 20 Contributor
|
|
|||
|
Contributor |
Amount |
% of Total |
Sector |
| SPANGLER, RICHARD G |
$4,995 |
84.66% |
Candidate Contributions |
| FARRELL, DAVID M |
$100 |
1.69% |
Other/Retiree/Civil Servants |
| DUNCAN, KAREN B |
$100 |
1.69% |
Uncoded |
| VANGUNDY, MARGARET D |
$50 |
0.85% |
Uncoded |
| SPANGLER, HANNAH E |
$50 |
0.85% |
Uncoded |
| SPANGLER, ZOE E |
$50 |
0.85% |
Uncoded |
| SPANGLER, HANNAH E |
$50 |
0.85% |
Uncoded |
| HARTLEY, VICKI L |
$50 |
0.85% |
Uncoded |
| SPANGLER, ZOE E |
$50 |
0.85% |
Uncoded |
| SPANGLER, JOYCE T |
$50 |
0.85% |
Uncoded |
| VANGUNDY, CYNTHIA B |
$50 |
0.85% |
Uncoded |
| SPANGLER, JOYCE T |
$50 |
0.85% |
Uncoded |
| MORGAN, ROSALIE G |
$50 |
0.85% |
Uncoded |
| HARTLEY, DAVID L |
$50 |
0.85% |
Uncoded |
| DETRICH, JANET D |
$35 |
0.59% |
Uncoded |
| TREMPE, THOMAS E |
$25 |
0.42% |
Uncoded |
| WALSH, WILLIAM R |
$25 |
0.42% |
Uncoded |
| ALLEN, SUE D |
$25 |
0.42% |
Uncoded |
| WARREN JR, JOHN H |
$25 |
0.42% |
Uncoded |
| TAYLOR, ORPHUS B |
$20 |
0.34% |
Uncoded |
FIGURE A: Sector Breakdown
FIGURE B: Contributor Type Breakdown
