Council Election Finance 2014: Charts, Maps
According to reports filed with the Washtenaw County clerk’s office, seven Ann Arbor city council candidates in three contested Democratic primary races on Aug. 5, 2014 have raised a total of $57,877 in itemized cash contributions.
Contributions made to candidates in Ward 1, Ward 2 and Ward 3 council races are plotted based on the address of the contributor. (Image links to sets of dynamic maps by broken down by candidate.)
That’s about $100,000 less than the amount raised by four candidates in the mayoral primary. The filing deadline for pre-primary reports was July 25.
In Ward 4, incumbent Democrat Margie Teall is not seeking re-election and only one candidate is running – Graydon Krapohl. So he did not need to file campaign finance reports. In Ward 5, Leon Bryson announced several weeks ago that he was withdrawing from his challenge of first-term incumbent Chuck Warpehoski. Even though both Ward 5 candidates filed campaign finance reports, this article does not analyze them.
Accounting for more than half of the total amount raised in the other three wards were the two candidates in Ward 2: Kirk Westphal and Nancy Kaplan. Kaplan’s $16,314 was easily more than any other candidate. By way of comparison to recent Ward 2 races, for the pre-primary campaign period in 2011 and 2013 Jane Lumm raised about $19,000 and $20,000 in those respective years. Westphal raised $12,420 this year, which is about $2,000 more than he raised during the comparable period in his unsuccessful 2013 campaign against Lumm. Westphal and Kaplan are competing for the Ward 2 seat currently held by Sally Petersen. She decided to run for mayor instead of seeking re-election to the Ward 2 seat.
This year’s Ward 3 contest features Julie Grand, Bob Dascola and Samuel McMullen, who are all competing for the seat that Christopher Taylor is leaving in order to run for mayor. Among the three, Dascola raised the most money with $7,385 in contributions compared to $6,595 for Grand and $5,248 for McMullen. (McMullen’s campaign reported a total of $5,315 in itemized contributions, but The Chronicle’s calculation was for $67 less than that, based on the documents.) Grand’s total this year is significantly less than the $10,825 she raised in the comparable period in 2013 for her unsuccessful campaign against Stephen Kunselman.
The Ward 1 race features one-term incumbent Sumi Kailasapathy and Don Adams. Kailasapathy raised $5,345 compared to $4,570 for Adams. Kailasapathy’s amount this year is about $1,000 more than what she raised during the pre-primary period for the 2012 primary, which she won against Eric Sturgis.
While the raw totals provide some insight into how the campaigns are being financed, there’s more to it than that.
Here’s a read-only link to the Google spreadsheet used by The Chronicle to generate charts and maps: [2014 Council Campaign Finance: Ann Arbor] For readers who’d like full-sized versions of the maps embedded below, here’s a link to the Google Fusion tables: [2014 Council Campaign Finance Maps]
Below we present charts and maps to illustrate the distribution of donations by amount and geography.
Charts
Below are frequency distributions of donations grouped by size of the donation. In the last few years, winning campaigns for city council races have been characterized by distributions that skewed toward smaller donations.
Charts: Ward 3
McMullen raised a total of $5,248 from 88 contributions for a mean contribution of $59. The median contribution was $25.
Grand raised a total of $6,595 from 45 contributions for a mean contribution of $146. The median contribution was $100.
Dascola raised a total of $7,385 from 75 contributions for a mean contribution of $98. The median contribution was $50.
Charts: Ward 2
Westphal raised a total of $12,420 from 95 contributions for a mean contribution of $130. The median contribution was $100.
Kaplan raised a total of $16,314 from 132 contributions for a mean contribution of $123. The median contribution was $50.
Charts: Ward 1
Kailasapathy raised a total of $5,345 from 51 contributions for a mean contribution of $104. The median contribution was $50
Adams raised a total of $4,570 from 31 contributions for a mean contribution of $147. The median contribution was $100.
Maps
Maps are plotted by location of the person making the contribution.
Ward 3 Maps: McMullen
Contributions to Samuel McMullen’s campaign are plotted in red. Several contributions came from the area south of Washtenaw Avenue in Ward 3 – from the ward’s tip in the pie-shaped wedge to the farther reaches of the ward. But those Ward 3 contributions do not form an obvious concentration in Ward 3. Several of McMullen’s contributions – 35 of 88 contributions –were made by residents outside the city, in other parts of the country. Many of those appear to have been made by family members.
Ward 3 Maps: Grand
Contributions to Julie Grand’s campaign are plotted in yellow. They show a clear clustering toward the tip of Ward 3′s pie-shaped wedge near the center of the city.
Ward 3 Maps: Dascola
Contributions to Bob Dascola’s campaign are plotted in green. Many of Dascola’s contributions come from south of Washtenaw Avenue in Ward 3. But he’s received many contributions from across the city. He received several contributions from north of Washtenaw Avenue, in Ward 2. He also received several contributions from the central western part of the city in Ward 5 as well as the northwest corner of Ward 4.
Ward 2 Maps: Westphal
Contributions to Kirk Westphal’s campaign are plotted in green. The majority of Westphal’s contributions come from Ward 2 – north of Washtenaw Avenue and in the Glazier Way area in the central eastern part of the city. There’s a sprinkling of contributions from other parts of the city as well.
Ward 2 Maps: Kaplan
Contributions to Nancy Kaplan’s campaign are plotted in yellow. Kaplan’s contributions show a heavy concentration in the southern part of Ward 2 – in the Huron Hills area north of Washtenaw Avenue. The central western part of the city (Ward 5) shows a fairly high concentration of contributions as well.
Ward 1 Maps: Kailasapathy
Contributions to Sumi Kailasapathy’s campaign are plotted in blue. Kailasapathy’s contributions are mostly from Ward 1 in the northern part of the city. But she’s also received contributions from the central western part of town (Ward 5).
Ward 1 Maps: Adams
Contributions to Don Adams’ campaign are plotted in purple. Adams received contributions from the Northside area along Pontiac Trail. He also received a sprinkling of contributions from the Burns Park area.
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I have a concern. I was looking at the forms filed by the ward candidates. Each one filed a ‘Candidate Committee Cover Page’. However, Don Adams filed an ‘Independent/Political Committee Cover page’. I don’t know enough about politics, but did he fill out the wrong form? If so, then he’s clearly not ready for the rigors of city council and he’s especially not ready for providing good governance, positive business practices and transparency in government.
If you look at his form, it’s different than all the other forms: [link]
On CM Kailasapathy’s campaign finances I see $492.90 for yard signs. On Adam’s campaign finances I see only one page for expenses, as he got stamps, voter cards, labels and shirts and fruit.
Did Adam’s not get or use any yard signs? If so, why are they excluded from the form?
That seems fiscally irresponsible if he got some signs, but they’re not listed on the form.
Re: (2) Mr. Adams has had yard signs on display for a few weeks. It seems clear that he incurred the cost of yard signs during the reporting period covered by the May 25 campaign finance report.
There a couple of other omissions from Mr. Adams’ campaign finance report. Thee is no mention of the $250 ad his campaign took out in the May 5, 2014 Ann Arbor Democratic Party’s Chili Cook Off fund raising program. There is also no expenditure listed for the glossy campaign literature he distributes at events and when walking door to door.
Signs, ads and literature are the fundamental components of a campaign and the failure to report these expenses seems sloppy. Campaign finance reports are based on accrual accounting principles, meaning that when the cost is incurred, it is reportable. For example, when a campaign orders yard signs, the obligation to pay for them accrues when the contract with the printer is formed. Cash basis accounting allows for reporting an expense when the invoice arrives, but that is not the proper method of accounting for campaign finance reports.
Yes, Adams used the wrong forms – a unique error in my recollection!
He filed his original “statement of organization” correctly, establishing a “candidate committee”. But somehow he picked the wrong set of forms to file his pre-primary campaign finance statement. I expect the County’s elections people just decided to go ahead and accept these forms anyway, since he did submit the financial info.
Except – he did not file a form (easily available) showing his committee’s debt to the Ann Arbor Democratic Party of $250.00 for advertising in its Chili Cookoff program book.
This incorrect and incomplete filing shows me that he is not ready for prime time.
But the Mayor is ‘impressed’ with Adams and strongly supports him. I guess the outgoing Mayor has a very low ceiling of standards when it comes to Council endorsements. But this one takes the cake.
Election season (or, more accurately, campaign season), when the generosity level drops even in the Chronicle comment section. On the bright side, most of it will be over in little more than a week, given the lack of contested races for the general election.
For those of us first ward residents who have “Sumi fatigue”, we are willing to overlook the minor discrepancies of Mr Adams’ first campaign ever.
Re (6) I don’t think “Sumi fatigue” is the appropriate label. As I recall, you opposed Sumi when she ran against Sandi Smith and again when she ran against Eric Sturgis (who now supports Sumi). Yet again, you have expressed your opposition to Sumi this year. I think a better description than “Sumi fatigue” would be “persistent opposition to Sumi”.
We’re suffering from “Eaton fatigue” as well. I opposed Sumi because she endorsed, like you did, Pat Lesko, who keeps trying to punish Ann Arbor for overwhelmingly rejecting her.
On Monday, July 28, 2014, the Adams campaign filed an amended campaign finance report with the County Clerk. It appears to be the correct form, with the correct campaign number and includes details of his in-kind expenditures for literature and yard signs. There are a couple of debts “owed to or by” the candidate for $250 each, either of which might be for the A2 Dems fundraiser program ad.
Question. Speaking of campaign ethics and the fact the Chronicle doesn’t endorse anyone for elected office. If a candidate quoted the Chronicle in a campaign mailing: ” Sabra Briere is asking voters to notice that she has an accurate knowledge of the issues: If you want a mayor who is willing to work down in the weeds on policy questions, and get something done based on an analysis of the policy questions, vote for Briere. -The Ann Arbor Chronicle. Would that be accurate or would it be dishonest campaigning?
@8. Mr Eaton, The reasons I persistently do not support Ms Kailasapathy are because I did not agree with her endorsement of Pat Lesko when she ran for Mayor, and I also find I do not agree with her on many positions she takes on Council, all while she claims “the community” has “public art fatigue” and “construction fatigue”. Sumi only shows up in my community when she is seeking our votes, and unlike my other city CM Sabra Briere, never has asked for my, or my family’s opinions on any matter. I am very dissatisfied with Sumi and am willing to give Mr Don Adams a chance. Your side seems to want to strangle the baby in the crib. Pardon me while I express some “Eaton fatigue”.
@Jack Eaton and @David Cahill – Neither of you are in the position to criticize a newbie candidate on a campaign finance mistake.
Mr. Eaton was fined $2000 for failing to file a late contribution report in 2013 along with having multiple errors on his pre-election report. Keep in mind this was not even during his first campaign but in his THIRD.
[link]
[link]
Mr. Cahill, who was treasurer for his wife’s council campaign, did not even know the contribution limit for candidates running for council and took a donation at twice the limit. Again not during her first campaign but during her second. I guess that makes her not ready for prime time, huh David.
[link]
I guess mistakes are only justified when they happen to you.
Ouch. If you’re going to take someone to task over their campaign finance reports, don’t be an offender yourself.
Re (13 & (14) It is true that I was fined $2,000 for failing to report a late loan to my own campaign as a late contribution. I accepted responsibility for that error and paid the fine from my own funds, not from contributions.
I think the distinction between my reporting error and the various errors made by Mr. Adams is that he is running against a CPA and his campaign is implying that his experience, such as “overseeing a $22 million dollar budget”, demonstrates financial skills that are somehow equivalent to the incumbent’s skill set. I have never argued or implied that I have accounting skills that are equivalent to a CPA.
But neither you or Mr. Cahill made that distinction. Perhaps more fact-based comments and fewer snide comments that come off looking foolish when your own transgressions are revealed would serve you and Mr. Cahill better.
@Luis, if you feel punished, perhaps you’ve been a bad boy. ;-) Relax, man. It only local politics. You keep sweating the little stuff and you’re gonna end up giving yourself a heart attack. Better yet, please run for local office. I’m not sure Ward 1 could elect a Republican, but heck you never know until you try, right?
Another reason why I am supporting Don Adams in this primary is because he received the endorsement of the UAW, the union of which I am still a member. And yes, Pat, I have often contemplated running for office, and even threatened to run as a Republican, even though I am a staunch Independent. Fortunately it will have to wait until I retire from my day job.
@11: After receiving a second piece from the Briere campaign that presented that quote from the Chronicle out of context, I think the answer to your question is, yes, it’s dishonest, and therefore misleading. The baffling thing about it is that it could have been presented honestly and still presented a positive message. Someone (Sabra being the ultimate one) wasn’t thinking clearly.
“Another reason why I am supporting Don Adams in this primary is because he received the endorsement of the UAW, the union of which I am still a member.”
It’s such a hoot….if true–the UAW supporting a candidate backed by…the wing of the party with Repbublican values wearing the masks of Democrats. Believe be, Walter Reuther would be rolling over in his grave at the idea Don Adams is a Democrat. Or those who are pulling his strings vis a vis this ‘clarification’ of his equal rights views.
@20: Chalk another one up to the irony of American politics. Even Walter Reuther participated in the purge of communists and other so-called “left-wing radicals” from the UAW’s ranks in the 1950s. There is actually a very wide political spectrum that exists today, and has existed for a long time within all unions, reflecting the diversity of opinions in an inclusive organizations. Can’t say the same for the Republican party.
Not sure how Mr Adams’ personal views on abortion, same sex marriage or LGBT issues will affect the City overall in terms of policy. My guess is that there will be no effect at all, and I doubt there will be much discussion of this at Council in upcoming years. Mr Adams may also modify his own viewpoints over the years, which is something humans do often during their lifetimes.
By the way, your CPA has had 2 whole years to pore over the city’s books, how much longer is needed to identify earth-shaking scandals and fiscal malfeasance? I’m sure if there were any, your CPA would have brought them to light by now. Perhaps there are none to find…
“Mr Adams may also modify his own viewpoints over the years, which is something humans do often during their lifetimes.”
Or worried politicians…over several hours…
Re (21) “Not sure how Mr Adams’ personal views on abortion, same sex marriage or LGBT issues will affect the City overall in terms of policy. My guess is that there will be no effect at all, and I doubt there will be much discussion of this at Council in upcoming years.”
Currently, the City’s Human Rights Commission is working on revisions to our human rights ordinance. An area of particular interest is protections for the full spectrum of sexual identity. These changes may be adopted before new Council members are sworn in, but it is also possible that the revised ordinance will be presented to Council after new members are seated. Either way, the ordinance will likely need to be reviewed and tweaked after a year or two to make sure the protections are working.
So, in fact, the Council will discuss issues of gender and sexual identity in the foreseeable future. If you care about LGBT issues, this is an important election.
I’m concerned that Adams may be part of a “stealth” effort by anti-choice folks to gain representation in local government. This has happened elsewhere.
A decisive victory for Kailasapathy on August 5 will definitely be in the public interest.
I have no settled opinion on Adams yet, but Sabra B should know how much David Cahill undermines voters for her with these posts. Wow.