How much does it cost to buy a seat on Carlsbad’s city council? If you’re Keith Blackburn, it comes to $100,932 in donations from supporters, plus another $11,875 in loans he gave his own campaign, according to the city clerk’s office. That’s a record for city council campaigns, coming to about six dollars a vote.
It pays to be an incumbent. Anne Kulchin spent only $32,411, or $1.58 per vote, to retain her seat on the council.
Farrah Douglas missed capturing a seat by coming in third. She spent $83,787, or $4.38 a vote. She left another $1,462 remaining in her campaign chest, vowing to keep her options open for future elections. She lost to Blackburn by only 1,321 votes. Makes you wonder if she’d be on the council now if she’d spent the money she saved.
What this all means is that Carlsbad has entered the big leagues in campaign spending. Mayor Bud Lewis’s $65,000 campaign in 2006 set a record. That seems a paltry sum compared with the 2008 big spenders. And history shows political corruption grows when it’s generously irrigated by big money. Illinois’ impeached ex-governor Rod Blagojevich’s attempt to sell President Obama’s senate seat is the latest example.
The two city council candidates who spent the least on their campaigns got the fewest votes. Glenn Bernard and Evan Delaney Rodgers didn’t have to report campaign donations, since they collected less than $1,000. Rodgers refused donations on principle. But unlike Bernard, Rodgers showed she really wanted to win, launching an impressive website to outline her positions on a wide range of issues to promote her campaign theme: A Clean Carlsbad. She finished last in the race.
Is Carlsbad in danger of becoming the Chicago of San Diego County politics? Probably not. But Rodgers could learn something from the Obama campaign that she could use in future campaigns. I suspect we’ll hear more from her. I hope we do. But instead of refusing all contributions to avoid even the appearance of being corrupted by big donors, she might welcome donations of a limited amount. Obama used the internet to solicit contributions of as little as $5. He wound up raising a huge amount of money, and, most importantly, a huge number of supporters, without being beholden to a few fat cats.
It’s pretty clear that non-incumbents are at a big disadvantage in any election. And Carlsbad’s latest city council race also shows how the size of a candidate’s war chest separates the winners from the also-rans. Reform candidates like Rodgers will be able to level the playing field only if they find a way to raise the money required without compromising their principles.
Richard Riehl writes from Carlsbad. Contact him at rj4riehl@yahoo.com
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
“And history shows political corruption grows when it’s generously irrigated by big money.” So very true. While I don’t think Blackburn is corrupt, I would worry about future candidates and their attempts to “buy” Calrsbad. Similarly to how people have bought judgeships in the past, now people are trying to buy their way into office. Look at OC — lots of crooks in local city council elections and regular people are not able to get in. Learn from Blog-o folks!
Rodgers got over 4800 votes and only spent about $200 on her entire campaign. That’s less than a nickel per vote!
Pretty impressive bang-for-the-buck and no plastic sign ugliness.
Yes, that is impressive. But it didn’t win her a seat on the council. The cost for that will make it increasingly harder for good candidates like her who refuse to accept donations from supporters.
The youth of Rodgers hinted at wholehearted innocence, something local and national government could benefit from…
After one of the rotary debates, she turned down my offer of a campaign contribution with her explanation that people are much happier as citizens than as consumers. It seemed strange at the time but has grown on me, especially with the recession in the six months since then.
She didn’t say it outright but maybe her refusal to raise and spend money on signs and mailers is a statement in that vein. (viewed the voters as citizens rather than consumers who needed to be advertised to aggressively) I sure hope she or people like her in 2010 will take your advice and our money so they can win.
When can candidates start raising money for 2010?