54th Spending Tops $225,000
From the Oshkosh Northwestern
Posted February 4, 2007
Campaign spending tops $225K in 54th district
By Bethany K. Warner of The Northwestern
More than $350,000 was spent this fall in the race to represent Oshkosh in the state Assembly, a number that was three times that of the next most expensive contest for the 54th Assembly District and likely offers a preview of things to come in 2008.
The candidates, Rep. Gordon Hintz, D-Oshkosh, and Republican challenger Julie Pung Leschke spent more than $225,000, combined, in their election efforts, according to campaign finance reports filed with the state last week.
That amount doesn't include a barrage of advertisements and mailings by Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, All Children Matter and other third party groups. Based on how much it cost him to do direct mail to voters, Hintz estimates that third party spending on Pung Leschke's behalf was close to $150,000, bringing the total cost of the campaign to nearly $375,000.
Third party groups that advertise on behalf of a candidate without endorsing the candidate — often in the form of attack ads — are not required to publicly disclose how much they spent on state races or how they are funded.
In 2004, when Hintz made an unsuccessful bid for the seat against Republican incumbent Gregg Underheim, spending in the race was just under $70,000 between the two of them. Green Party candidate Tony Palmeri spent just $1,285 that year.
The key force driving the increased spending by both the candidates and the outside groups was that the district, which represents most of Oshkosh, was one of only a few open seats in the state, said Mike McCabe, executive director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, and because spending increases are a trend in politics.
"Political campaigns have an inflation rate all of their own. Whatever the inflation rate is for the rest of our economy, that bears no relationship to the inflation in politics," McCabe said. "We have a political arms race that's completely out of control. It's a very vivid illustration that shows why we need campaign finance reform."
Both Hintz and McCabe have advocated for full disclosure of who is paying for the third-party independent expenditures as one reform.
The amount of spending in the race wasn't surprising to University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh political science professor Jim Simmons.
"I think this is just a long-term trend where parties raise and spend money and micro-target races," Simmons said.
McCabe, Simmons and Hintz agree that spending could be a big factor in the 2008 election as well.
"After an open seat, the second in line for a lot of resources who is someone defending their seat for the first time. The other side's probably going to throw a lot of money at it," Hintz said.
Additionally, Simmons said since 2008 is a presidential election year and the Fox Valley region will be contested, it could lead to more money being spent in this region as both parties try to propel their candidates to the statehouse and the White House.
Bethany K. Warner: (920) 426-6668 or bwarner@thenorthwestern.com.
Posted February 4, 2007
Campaign spending tops $225K in 54th district
By Bethany K. Warner of The Northwestern
More than $350,000 was spent this fall in the race to represent Oshkosh in the state Assembly, a number that was three times that of the next most expensive contest for the 54th Assembly District and likely offers a preview of things to come in 2008.
The candidates, Rep. Gordon Hintz, D-Oshkosh, and Republican challenger Julie Pung Leschke spent more than $225,000, combined, in their election efforts, according to campaign finance reports filed with the state last week.
That amount doesn't include a barrage of advertisements and mailings by Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, All Children Matter and other third party groups. Based on how much it cost him to do direct mail to voters, Hintz estimates that third party spending on Pung Leschke's behalf was close to $150,000, bringing the total cost of the campaign to nearly $375,000.
Third party groups that advertise on behalf of a candidate without endorsing the candidate — often in the form of attack ads — are not required to publicly disclose how much they spent on state races or how they are funded.
In 2004, when Hintz made an unsuccessful bid for the seat against Republican incumbent Gregg Underheim, spending in the race was just under $70,000 between the two of them. Green Party candidate Tony Palmeri spent just $1,285 that year.
The key force driving the increased spending by both the candidates and the outside groups was that the district, which represents most of Oshkosh, was one of only a few open seats in the state, said Mike McCabe, executive director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, and because spending increases are a trend in politics.
"Political campaigns have an inflation rate all of their own. Whatever the inflation rate is for the rest of our economy, that bears no relationship to the inflation in politics," McCabe said. "We have a political arms race that's completely out of control. It's a very vivid illustration that shows why we need campaign finance reform."
Both Hintz and McCabe have advocated for full disclosure of who is paying for the third-party independent expenditures as one reform.
The amount of spending in the race wasn't surprising to University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh political science professor Jim Simmons.
"I think this is just a long-term trend where parties raise and spend money and micro-target races," Simmons said.
McCabe, Simmons and Hintz agree that spending could be a big factor in the 2008 election as well.
"After an open seat, the second in line for a lot of resources who is someone defending their seat for the first time. The other side's probably going to throw a lot of money at it," Hintz said.
Additionally, Simmons said since 2008 is a presidential election year and the Fox Valley region will be contested, it could lead to more money being spent in this region as both parties try to propel their candidates to the statehouse and the White House.
Bethany K. Warner: (920) 426-6668 or bwarner@thenorthwestern.com.
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