$972,579.07
The final campaign finance reports from the recent City of Portland primary elections are being posted on the city elections website tonight. The big spender: Commissioner Jim Francesconi, who dropped $972,579.07 to come in second in his bid for mayor, nearly 8 percentage points behind new frontrunner and former police chief Tom Potter. Potter spent a grand total of $87,820.87.
Additional shocking, obscene numbers come from the Nick Fish-Sam Adams race: the Fishmeister shelled out $367,874.58; Adams spent $435,933.18.
You math majors out there will note that that's more than $800,000 spent on a primary in a Portland City Council race! Folks, this has gotten way out of hand. The Sten-Blackmer campaign finance reform plan looks better than ever in light of these numbers.
| Posted at 11:13 PM | Permalink |
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Comments (6)
Campaign finance reform won't stop the sillyness. It will only create urgency for folks to find a work around.
And why/how would anyone feel that being mayor is worth a million dollars? Even with things like pride and ambition taken into account - there must a lot of money to be gained after becoming mayor.
Posted by Scott-in-Japan | June 17, 2004 11:32 PM
Plus, it's a great way to meet high school chicks.
Posted by Jack Bog | June 17, 2004 11:42 PM
I humbly bow to the Master....
Posted by Scott-in-Japan | June 18, 2004 1:46 AM
Jack,
In my view the results of the Francesconi/Potter spending might indicate that campaign finance reform is not necessary. It seems you can't buy an election in Portland after all.
Posted by Dave Lister | June 18, 2004 7:37 AM
Holy goat cheese, I thought the periods had been put in the wrong place.
Thay hadn't.
No wonder little peoples do not count in this town (unless there is some utility to using a portion of them to set up some agency camp.)
Posted by Sally | June 18, 2004 11:22 AM
Prof. Jack,
Correct me if I'm wrong, but all of these were voluntary donations, right?
How will making taxpayers foot the bill for this any better? The politicians will still jack up the "public pay" rates to meet this level within a few short years.
Posted by Rogue | June 18, 2004 3:34 PM