Campaign Financing

Local campaigns are becoming more costly

Here is some interesting information about campaign donations locally. What was most fascinating to me was the comment that one of Doug Mell's campaign contributors is Joe Wineke, Chairman of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. Last year, when I was a candidate, Mr. Mell made a big deal about connections to partisan politics in local races. His Letter to the Editor is italicized below.

Mr. Mell was very concerned that "party bosses should keep their mitts off local elections" but he must not mind that party bosses (the HEAD OF THE PARTY!) puts his mitt of money into Mell's campaign account! If anybody can explain this change of tune I would love to hear about it! Maria

By Doug Mell

Once again it appears machine politics have infiltrated local elections in Eau Claire. While it is good for democracy that there are seven candidates for Eau Claire school board (forcing a primary for the first time in more than a decade) one or more candidates will run with the backing of a major political party.

Terri Stanley, who left her city council seat because of health reasons, was the treasurer for a Democratic Party state senate candidate. The last newsletter from the local Democratic Party told the faithful to “be sure to vote for” Maria Henly and Bob Schwartz in the February primary. There is little question the Democrats will work hard to get their anointed candidates elected to what is supposed to be a non-partisan office.

The framers of our state constitution understood that partisan politics had no place in local elections. Candidates should have to run on the quality of their ideas, the breadth of their experience, and their ability to stay in office, not their willingness to carry water for party bosses. Local officials should have to answer to their constituents, not the unelected leaders of political parties.

The only agenda a candidate for school board should have is a willingness to work hard to solve the tremendous problems facing the Eau Claire School District. It will be important for the media in Eau Claire to fully investigate the involvement of political parties in the school board race and give voters that information. It will then be up to the votes to send a strong message that party bosses should keep their mitts off local elections.


By Christena T. O'Brien
Leader-Telegram staff
Hoping to become Chippewa County's third circuit court judge, Julie Anderl and Steve Cray spent more than $15,200 in a six-week period, according to the latest campaign finance report filings.

Between Feb. 5 and March 17, the Chippewa Falls attorneys also raised close to $27,000 through individual contributions, with Cray raising $21,940 and Anderl raising $4,981.

Mike McCabe, executive director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, an independent Madison-based nonprofit group, has seen the cost of local elections creep up over the years.

"Clearly, local campaigns, I think, have been the last refuge of the true citizen politician," McCabe said. "But in local races in some of the bigger communities now, we're seeing an increase in advertising and more special interest involvement than before."

He also reported seeing more candidates self-financing their bids for election.

"As campaigning gets more expensive, it seems like candidates are put in the position of having to put their own money into their campaigns or turning to moneyed interests to run competitively."

In the Chippewa County Circuit Court race, the candidates were their campaigns' largest contributors, with Cray putting in $18,500 and Anderl $1,700 during the latest reporting period.

"It's difficult to raise money to run for office," said Anderl, making her second circuit court bid, "but my friends and family have been the linchpin in this whole thing. I'm blessed this way."

Tuesday's election will be the second time she and Cray square off for the bench. The pair were the top two vote-getters in the Feb. 19 primary, with Anderl receiving 6,537 votes; Cray, 4,206; and Bob Ferg, 2,916.

Going into both elections, "I knew I could not compete with (Cray) with respect to money," Anderl said. "But I've done tons of doors, gone to town board meetings. That's how I've made up for my lack of wealth."

Cray couldn't be reached for comment. However, after the primary, he said he intended "to make voters aware of me, my background and my experience."

Meanwhile, making their first election bids, Doug Mell and Adam Shiel are vying for two seats on the Eau Claire school board against incumbent Carol Craig and Robert G. Janke, a former school board member.

During the latest campaign finance reporting period, Mell raised $570 from individual contributors and Shiel raised $2,106, including $1,886 from himself.

"If I decide to do something, I try to do my best to make it on my own," said Shiel, an electrical engineer, who expected to contribute to his own campaign and used contributions to purchase yard signs, newspaper ads and fliers.

Mell, UW-Stout's director of communications, believes it's important for candidates to raise some funds.

"The important thing, I think, about raising money is that it shows that you're willing to go out and talk to people," he said. "And I think the degree that candidates are successful raising money shows a broad base of support."

For example, his contributors, he said, include Mark Faanes, former Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce board chairman; and Joe Wineke, Democratic Party of Wisconsin chairman.

Craig and Janke claimed exemptions. Candidates can claim exemptions if they agree not to accept any contribution in excess of $100 from a single source other than themselves, or their contributions or expenses would not exceed $1,000 in a calendar year.

In the Eau Claire City Council race, two of six candidates - Scott Gunem and Jackie Pavelski - claimed exemptions. The remaining four - Larry Balow, Brandon Buchanan, Kerry Kincaid and Thomas Vue - raised more than $9,500 among them during the reporting period, with Kincaid contributing all of the $617 she raised.

Kincaid, Buchanan and Balow also spent close to $3,800 during that same period, according to their campaign finance reports. Vue hadn't yet filed his expenditures for the reporting period as of Friday afternoon.

Vue, who raised the most of the four council candidates - $3,550 - has drawn much of his support from the Hmong in the Chippewa Valley. Vue, the fourth Hmong elected to the Eau Claire City Council, also has received contributions from other Hmong in Minnesota.

"To raise ... this much money is very difficult to me, but I do have some friends to help," he said via e-mail.

Eau Claire School Board

Doug Mell

$100: John Evans, 625 Shoreline Drive; Mark Faanes, 3527 Leslie Lane.

Adam Shiel

$100: Maria Henly, 121 Park Place; Bob Schwartz, 401 Lincoln Ave.

$1,886: Adam Shiel, 525 Lincoln Ave.

Carol Craig and Robert G. Janke also are vying for seats on the school board. Both candidates claimed an exemption.