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Mayor-elect spent $31,000 in race
Published Thursday, June 5, 2008
NATCHEZ — Running for a city position is not cheap, and the Natchez city election candidate’s final financial reports prove it.
Mayor-elect Jake Middleton grossed $45,735 in donations and disbursed $31,238.
During the final weeks of the race — May 11 to May 31 — Middleton’s reports show that he spent much of his campaign money on media advertisements and mail outs — nearly $10,000. Other costs included printing and space rentals.
“We figured to do this campaign and do it right we would spend somewhere between $40,000 and $50,000,” Middleton said.
He said raising and spending that kind of money was new to him. The last two times he ran for alderman he was unopposed.
“I didn’t have any expenditures or donations, I was zero, zero, zero,” he said. “It was a whole different type of ball game here.”
Most of his funds came from people calling and mailing in checks or cash.
“We had a couple of fundraisers through the campaign like most people do,” he said.
Chick Graning received $48,046 in campaign donations and spent $28,526 of that total.
Graning, in the same time period as Middleton, spent roughly $9,000 on ads.
“It would appear from my donations that I would garner more votes,” Graning said.
He received many small donations through the course of his campaign.
Most of the contributions came from hand-ins and mail-ins, he said.
Both candidates have money left over from the contributions, which will dwindle some due to outstanding bills.
Middleton said he’s not sure how the remainder of the campaign money will be spent.
Graning said he’s undecided as of right now, as well.
“There are a lot of options,” he said. “We’ll just check what the rules are and go by the rules.”
City attorney Everett Sanders could not be reached for an exact interpretation of the law regarding remaining campaign donations.
In the final two alderman races, considerably less money was spent.
Ward 3 candidate Gwen Ball spent $1,213. Most of Ball’s funds were funneled into radio and print advertisements.
Bob Pollard, re-elected Ward 3 alderman, received a total of $7,150 in contributions and spent $4,522.
He spent $355 on yard signs and $1,448 in print advertisements, the rest was spent on campaign labor.
The labor mainly consisted of family members. City Clerk Donnie Holloway said paying family for their time on the campaign is normal practice.
Ward 5 alderman-elect Mark Fortenbery received a total of $8,450 in campaign contributions and disbursed nearly all of it, $7,284.
The majority of his money was spent on radio and print advertisements.
Fortenbery’s opponent Charlez Zucarro had not turned in a campaign finance report Wednesday.
Comments
Posted by BOBCAT1974 (anonymous) on June 5, 2008 at 12:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
All those contributions!If you want, how about helping some of our elderly people or someone in need with what's left over!
Posted by generoberts (anonymous) on June 5, 2008 at 2:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You keep that money Jake. You worked for it.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on June 5, 2008 at 6:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I voted for Jake but I certainly don't agree he should just "pocket" the remaining money!
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on June 5, 2008 at 6:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What did you think he was going to do with the funds?
Posted by bossman (anonymous) on June 5, 2008 at 6:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree, you keep the money Jake, you earned it. I guess the person saying you should use the money left over to help the elderly doesn't realize the time and money you spent campaigning.
Posted by adamstanton (anonymous) on June 5, 2008 at 7:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
He should if possible put the money in an escrow account if he runs again the money will be there. Maybe use some of the money to help accomplish some of the things you ran on in your campaign.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on June 5, 2008 at 7:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sheeeez! Save it for when you fix something you promised tio fix so you won't need to do another "fundraiser" for THAT project!
Posted by speakeasy (anonymous) on June 5, 2008 at 8 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I say both Middleton and Pollard return the $8000 (Middleton) and $4000 (Pollard) to their wealthy contributor, Ed Worley, so the taxpayers are assured that our elected officials are not beholden to wealthy outsiders.
Posted by southernbelle (anonymous) on June 5, 2008 at 8:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good morning ya'll , Just go by the rules and do the right thing with the money . Show the people that voted for you that their vote was not in vain .
Posted by NatchezEnema (anonymous) on June 5, 2008 at 9:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How much of the money was spent and how much was left over and what they are going to do with the left over money goes a long way to show the integrity of the candidates. Do the right thing, give the left over money to the childrens home or elderly center. You people ran for office not a profit.
Posted by neveragain (anonymous) on June 5, 2008 at 9:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Both should get to keep that money. Think about all the time they were campaigning, that was there job for how long??? They worked hard for it and had nothing else coming in.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on June 5, 2008 at 9:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
good point!
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on June 5, 2008 at 9:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
sorry but my last post was to NatchezEnema.
Posted by reader (anonymous) on June 5, 2008 at 9:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
By law, if the money is used for ANY personal use, then it is taxable. I personally hate to lose an election and have money left over that could have been spent on adverting, mail etc.
Posted by lambchop (anonymous) on June 5, 2008 at 10:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I really waited to the last moment to decide on whom to vote for and it turned out the questions asked during the Democrats polling of Jake and Chick made up my mind. The simple thing was who would answer the questions as directly and honestly as could be answered. I know that no one actually knows what they may do for any particular subject but don't dance around and I found that Graning danced around the questions while Middleton gave a distinct answer. I have followed Jake's career lightly (meaning not as closely as I should have) and really did not have the confidence that he would be the candidate of choice.
As far as the money that is left over goes, whatever the law says is the correct way to handle it, then abide by that. Some of you said "they" should keep the left over money because they earned it. That is not my opinion because they did this because they wanted the position. If you want something bad enough you work for it but until you get the position, you don't necessarily earn the "donations". If the law permits, the left over money should (a) be put aside for another campaign or (b) used for a charitable cause which could be decided by his campaign workers. I don't believe either should just pocket contributions made to ensure that candidacy was won.
If I received these donations and kept the money or paid myself the money, most of you who respond on these blogs would be out to crucify me. No, I don't believe they earned the right to keep the excess, but I don't know the law to know how it should be handled.
Glad both won and am happy with the results.
Posted by c_8512 (anonymous) on June 5, 2008 at 10:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
He could use the money well to pay for a complete audit of the mayor's office books before he takes over. There is no telling what kind of mess, if any, the current mayor has waiting for his replacement.
Posted by BOBCAT1974 (anonymous) on June 5, 2008 at 10:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
bossman all i'm saying, is take it if it's legal, and do something positive with what's left over.Jake makes a good living and so do the other two.They choose to work hard for there campaign.Noones trying to take that away.People gave now it's time to give back,if they can and have the heart.I know elderly that are on a set income and there wondering how there gas bill is going to get paid.Yes,this saddens me.They also wonder how they will by groceries.It may not be alot of money left over but what ever it is even if you choose to help several people it could make a difference.And look at it this way it could have been someone who voted for you.Probably someone who had very little gas in their car,thought it was there duty to go and vote.Just keep an open mind!!!
Posted by andy (anonymous) on June 5, 2008 at 11:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
spend the money on a audit because with employees .like willie b you never know what went on in city hall
Posted by Coffey (anonymous) on June 5, 2008 at 4:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Who were some of the large donors for Jake and Chick? Did the candidates themselves spend money from their own pockets? That would be interesting to know, but I haven't taken the time to read their reports at the city clerk's office.
Middleton's victory marks the start of another transition for a new Natchez mayor. I can't remember for sure what year it started (1992?), but Natchez voters continue their recent habit of throwing out mayors: David Armstrong, Butch Brown, Hank Smith and now Philip West. Why? Bad mayors? Impatient, easily discontented voters eager for a leader to pull Natchez out of its decline?
Posted by waterbourne (anonymous) on June 5, 2008 at 4:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
speaksleazey, you are an idiot, all of the rich folks backed Graning and Ball. This just goes to show how completely uninformed you and you fellow morons are about politics.
Posted by justine (anonymous) on June 5, 2008 at 8:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
waterbourne, I wanted to find out for myself and sure enough, speak is right. Pollard got $7,150 in contributions and $4000 was from Worley. He got $350 from Worley's lawyer and $1000 from some Dozer, LLC. But, the poor dude didn't get any of it until the very end just before the last reporting period which was due on election day. Before that, on the two previous reporting periods, he hadn't spent any money and hadn't gotten any money from anybody. Now, Jake spent all the way through. He got $2000 from Worley early on and got the big Worley check just before the election which was for $6000. Go check it out. It's there for a free look.
Posted by justine (anonymous) on June 5, 2008 at 10:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Forgot to tell you, washedbourne, ball didn't have any big timers. All her money came in $100's and added up to $1400 or something like that. Granning got more, though. Anyway, just go check it out. They won't mind showing you. It's for the public to look at.
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on June 6, 2008 at 12:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
John Mott...Butch had two terms because he cut a deal with Bubber that he reneged on.
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on June 6, 2008 at 12:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
waterbourne...I'm not rich nor am I a moron, by virtue of one letter in my last name...LOL. I'm not stupid by virtue of a God given intellect and a hard won and paid for education. I also have a lifetime of experience, the mistakes we learn from...I supported Chick...seems to me the real idiots are the ones who call others idiots...particularly when you yourself don't know what you're talking about.
Posted by eagle1 (anonymous) on June 6, 2008 at 9:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Justine, Why does it matter how large the donations were? If I would have had the money, I'd have given Middleton $50,000. If I ever run for office, I hope Worley is on my side. Look at it this way. Middleton beat Graning by a 3-1 margin. Graning raised more money despite only having a 3rd of the support Middleton had. Amazing, tells you one thing, his small 3rd of supporters must have had some big big money. (what we've been saying all along)
What you have to ask yourself is why did Graning's campaign not spend more? He has more left over than Middleton, Pollard and Fortenberry combined. That's got to disgust someone who lost. Not quite sure I understand that, they've got to be having some regrets.
As for the Democrat, what a piece of lazy reporting. All it would have taken was one call to the attorney generals office to find out what candidates can do with this money. Guess what people, when it's all over, they can do whatever they want. It's their money to keep. And if you didn't donate the money yourself, quite frankly, it's none of your business what they do with it.
Posted by reader (anonymous) on June 6, 2008 at 9:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If I gave Graning money (which I did not) and he lost with money left, I would be furious. People don't give campaign contributions for nothing, they give it for the campaign. Who ran the campaign, and what were they thinking?
Posted by waterbourne (anonymous) on June 6, 2008 at 4:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well Sam, I guess you got exactly what you paid for, a losing canidate that never really had a legit shot at winning.
Posted by Peace007 (anonymous) on June 6, 2008 at 4:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
They should donate the money to the advertising Natchez fund.
Posted by Peace007 (anonymous) on June 6, 2008 at 5:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I always wondered what candidates did with left over donated campaign funds. Especially, those candidates that run continuously, ...some seem to make a career out of just running and receiving donations.
This article failed to mention how much Phillip West received in donations for his campaign. I know he wasn't on this last ballot, but he was on the primary ballot.
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on June 6, 2008 at 8 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Speaking of campaign money, have you all heard that Hillary is $30 million in debt (campaign money) and is going to ask Obama to help pay for it because he got so many more donations? I swear it's true - heard it of AFR today.
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on June 6, 2008 at 8:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My candidate may have lost, but did so with dignity...that makes me proud, while through your comments you've proved to be in possession of the idiocy you claimed for others.
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