Getting Elected at What Dollar Cost?

Alice to the White Queen: So how much does it cost to get elected to office ?


























White Queen: My dear if you have to ask you can't afford it because it really depends on whether your frugal or smart, tacky or chic. It needn't cost a penny but often does and then many are required. And woe to he or she who is late. What matters most is what election we are talking about. Is it one to come or one ago or something in between  ?


Alice: Well I was just trying to get an idea...

White Queen: Of course you were and it is my duty to inform you that you have come to the right place.So let us begin....

The waiver

In Oakland County if you plan to raise or spend less than $1,000. The paper work and reporting are quite simple quite and minimal. Save your receipts to  prove (if asked) that you spent less than four figures. That is all. 

If you start with the waiver you may change your mind and spend more later but you will have to file more paper work and be subject to late fees. 

City of Bloomfield Hills City Commission Elections.

Running for office does not however require you to spend anything. According to Oakland County Elections records there is no indication that Commissioner Michael Zambricki while serving on City Commission, 1989 to present has ever spent a penny in a City Election. The same is true of Commissioner Pat Hardy. The two have never lost a City Commission election.

Commissioner Michael McCready who recently won the Republican nomination for State Representative in the 40th District guessed that he never spent more than $600 in a City Commission election.

To give the reader  an idea of current costs, a direct mail letter in envelop to the 3600 registered voters in the city costs around $1300. A small sized post card might be as inexpensive as $800 and leave little room if you were trying to stay within the waiver limits.

In 2012 the five candidates seeking a position on City Commission spent in excess of  $15,000.  If that were five candidates spending $3000 each you might say things were getting a little out of whack. Actually it is stranger than that.

Two candidates stayed with the waiver limit. One of those who finished last spent around $800 and drew compliments from many for not spending "anything" at all. The other waiver candidate finished a respectable third. The fourth place finisher spend around $1500. The top two finishers broke the bank. The top vote getter spent $5000 which included a $500 death penalty late fee from the county.Much of the winner's money was spent on mailings and paid by the candidate The second place finisher sought donations  got a few, spent $7000 his own money, and listed "design services" as major expenditure,

A candidate is free to spend an unlimited amount of one's own money. Unlimited donations from a spouse are also acceptable. They have to be recorded . Other donations are limited and amounts over $100 require additional information from the donor.

Bloomfield Hills School Board Elections 

Every community is different with different standards and mores. Fund raising for one's own candidacy which is a little tacky  in the City of Bloomfield Hills is a fact of life in the huge multi community Bloomfield Hills school district.

 Inquiring minds would be wise to pay attention to the 2010 campaign finance report of Board Member Mark Bank who was the top vote getter  with more than 10,0000 votes and spent around  $5000.

This year the School Board will have two elections on the November ballot. In the first candidates Howard Baron,  Ingrid Day, and W.F. Moigis are seeking a six year term. Residents will vote for no more than two of the above.

In the other election candidates Joan Berndt, Jenny Greenwell, and Robert Herner seek a two year term. Voters may vote for only one of the above.

Berndt, Greenwell, and Moigis has filed for the waiver. Baron  and Herner have not filed for the waiver and are expected to run campaigns with expenditures in excess of $1000. Ingrid Day has yet to file or it has not as yet appeared on the Oakland County Elections web site. It is expected, based on her campaign of 2007 that she will run a campaign similar to that of Baron and Herner.

In the City of Bloomfield Hills  a City of 3600 registered voters some candidates have won spending nothing.
Population and geographic size make the School District different but will money make a difference ?  

Mr. Moigis is a newcomer in seeking election and we have heard that he is a man of ideas. It will be interesting to hear what they are are. The other five candidates are well known.
Three are incumbent school board members and the other two are long time participants in school related issues. 

In the first race, it is expected that regardless of dollars spent, name recognition, and incumbency will trump a maiden voyage onto the high seas of local politics.

In the second race Berndt, Greenwell, and Herner are well known by the community whic is divided in who they like, like more, or don't like. Berndt and Herner are school board members. Greenwell is private citizen school board gadfly emeritus. The thought of losing two School Board members and gaining Greenwell has made many school board supporters nervous. It will be interesting to see how the money goes, which is a shame because this race and the three candidates look like the marquee matchup. Voters will find their thoughts and ideas more interesting than siren call of names on yard signs or tee shirts.

State representative 40th District

In the recent primary election four Republican candidates
covering roughly the same ground as the school board candidates (with addition of all West Bloomfield east of Farmington Road, and The City of Birmingham) spent over $150,000.  They spent their money on  the same things the candidates in smaller elections paid for with one big exception. Money paid to consultants  ranged from $47 to $70 thousand dollars in two of the four state rep campaigns. Other than that it was all handouts, mailing, yard signs, tee shirts, robocalls and the usual. There were no network television buys. Just cable  and all candidates made use of the free medium of You Tube. Because of the small geographic area radio was not used. Newspaper advertising was used on an larger level beyond that of the smaller elections.


Downtown Birmingham Bloomfield Magazine   in an article entitled Win or Lose, the cost to run for political office  in the current issue, lists expenses in 40th district campaign as $99,982 for David Potts, $47,704 for Michael McCready the eventual winner, $37,144 for David Wolkinson, and $20,855 for Robert Lawrence. As in many City and school board elections the candidates money was their own. The math provided Downtown Publications is most helpful because it gets tricky with candidates loaning their campaign money and then taking it back. The article also includes a detailed financial break down the August 7th Primary county races, and court races.

For continued detailed financial updates on county elections from results to finances go to 

http://www.oakgov.com/clerkrod/elections/campaign_finance.html

Bottom line ? What it costs to get elected is up to the candidate. City, Multi City, County, the bigger the electorate the more the cost. Keeping that in mind the amount of money spend is not often the determining factor in the outcome.

An E-Mail from Mitt Romey

Mark,

Tonight, Ann will address the convention here in Tampa. It marks an exciting milestone for the campaign, and I'm humbled by the support from across the country that has gotten us this far.

Two supporters will win the chance to join us here at the convention for Thursday's festivities, and it's sure to be an incredible celebration. I'm looking forward to accepting the nomination that night before a united and energized Republican Party.

Don't miss your chance to be here -- entries close tonight.

Donate $3 now to be automatically entered for your chance to join us in Tampa for the convention's biggest night.

I hope you'll be here with us.

Thanks,

Mitt Romney

Dear Mitt thank you for the invitation to participate.

 Regrettably  I  read your e-mail this morning after the deadline for entering had passed which may be for the best. If I won my wife who never gets time off from work on short notice would say, "you have to do
what ?" Then she would bring up a whole list of things that I "had to do" which interfered with what I  should be doing.

I suppose I could have taken  Uncle Mike who I was going to take to the rally you spoke at last Friday in Commerce Township. Unfortunately when we factored in the heat and the restrictions of liquids one could bring, the Mrs. decided the event would not be appropriate for Uncle Mike who is actually older than the City of Bloomfield Hills. Somehow (and I think I know exactly how)Uncle  Mike got the idea I was a biggie in the Republican Party which is not the case. Uncle Mike, who often hears what he wants  to hear may have thought I could arrange a private tete-a-tete with you or at least Veep Candidate Ryan. Michael's number one issue if you are curious is "free loaders" and their detrimental effect on economy and our country's well being. I would  be more specific  but Uncle Mike makes his assertions in dozens of different anecdotal ways. If the trip to Tampa included complementary Polo Shirts with the initial  RNC  and a cute little elephant on the front pocket, Uncle Mike would be looking for six more for family and friends. If the trip did not include complimentary wearing apparel, Uncle Mike would feel slighted and let it be known before concluding "Three dollars sure doesn't buy what it used to."

But enough about me. Congratulations on what will be one of the most memorable evenings in your life.

You probably have a million things to attend  to before the big night begins.

I will conclude by telling you that your hometown, The City of Bloomfield Hills, is very exited for you and will be watching tonight. In fact if I have the address right one of the players, on which looks to be very promising Lahser football team lives in your old house. I am told your knowledge of the  French language is world class. Well the the football player's parents speak the best French I have ever heard. They also speak better English than I do which is an accomplishment they share with many.

Your buddy John Rakolta,  who the Detroit News said  is your "biggest champion in Michigan, " lives just down the street sort of. I don't know if you remember, but it's a funny street which actually goes in three  directions. In fact when you were growing up it may have been the only street in what was once a  farm. If you see our neighbor John today (actually it can wait to tomorrow) ask him about the old neighborhood. He will fill you in.

Thank you for the chance to participate. As my wife would be quick to point out, despite my carrying on, I am not the only person in the world to receive an invitation. The concept of a drawing would indicate that. Still I am thrilled to have  such an opportunity regardless of whether  it was prompted by a last minute vacancy or not. I therefore have taken the liberty to share  it in a blog I write. I hope this will not preclude future correspondence, but I think voters should know you are thinking about us, and it isn't just money.
Uncle Mike may have his opinions but you and I both know $3 will barely buy a 16 ounce Starbucks.

I thought you might enjoy  this clip on You Tube. It is a silent film taken by a delegate of The Michigan Delegation the 1956 National Republican Convention. That Convention nominated President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Vice President Richard Nixon for re-election. Both appear briefly at the podium towards the end of the film. The Convention was held in San Francisco in a building oddly enough known as the Cow Palace. Convention guests of note included former President Herbert Hoover, my grand father,  father, mother and myself. The latter four individuals were there in an unofficial capacity of course. It was not planned. I think granddad got tickets at the last minute and we all went after dinner as a lark which you could do in those days. Check out the pink Buick with holes in the hood which appears briefly around the Maryland Hotel. Back in the day we would have walked right past it.

Thanks again. Certainly for you and your selected guest it will be a most memorable occasion  and one to tell the grand children.

                                                                                                       Good Luck and stay in touch.

 -                                                                                                                                       -Mark

Baldwin New Titles 8/28/2012

The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny: When a peaceful monastery in Québec is shattered by the  murder of their renowned choir director, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and Jean-Guy Beauvoir of the Sãurete du Québec are challenged to find the killer in a cloistered community that has taken a vow of silence. Check Availability

 

Bones Are Forever by Kathy Reichs: Forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan examines the bodies of three babies while Detective Ryan investigates their mother in a case with ties to the high-stakes world of diamond mining.Check Availability

Last to Die by Tess Gerritsen: Visiting sixteen-year-old "Rat" Perkins at isolated Evenson boarding school, Maura Isles is astonished to learn that all of his classmates are survivors of violence and are being instructed in scientific detective skills, a discovery that coincides with Jane Rizzoli's investigation into the murder of a boy's foster family. Check Availability

 Darling Companion (DVD): The story of a woman who loves her dog more than her husband, then her husband loses the dog. She enlists the help of the few remaining guests and a mysterious woman in a frantic search.
Check Availability

Battleship (DVD): Based on the classic Hasbro naval combat game, Battleship is the story of an international fleet of ships who come across an alien armada while on a naval war games exercise. An intense battle ensues over sea, land, and air.

Check Availability

Get Your Game Face On ! Your Andover/Lahser Bloomfield Football Card is Coming to Your Door !

If you live in the Bloomfield Hills School district you may be receiving a visit from  members of the Andover or Lahser football team. They are raising money for their football programs and to do so they are selling what last year those in the City of Bloomfield Hills called the "Lahser" Football card . This year it is the Andover/ Lahser  Bloomfield Football  card and next year after the school consolidation it will be the Bloomfield High School Football Card.

What the kids are asking for is essentially the same thing you ask of them. Namely to play to the best of their ability and represent the community well.  To do so they need your support. $20 to be exact and here is where it gets interesting. If you play your card right it shouldn't cost you anything. Don't we tell the kids to plan your work and to work your plan or something like that ?

If you are planning a medium grade purchase of $50 or more at Sears, Dick's Sporting Goods, or the the Sports Authority your card comes with a $10 off discount coupon for each of the above retailers valid  now through Dec 31st 2013. Not bad for a kayak or an air compressor purchase.

Like to dine out ? Your card comes with  key fobs for 20% discounts at The Moose Preserve in Bloomfield Hills  and the Lodge in Keego Harbor. These are on going  repeat use discounts good through  June 30th 2013. The back of the card includes a dozen or more 10% off, or free beverage with purchase offers for a dozen or more fine or  casual
dining , or pizza establishments in the neighborhood.

Of course there is more  Does your mobile phone need an accessory ? Your Bloomfield Andover/ Lahser Football savings card has a 15% off coupon good for that purpose at Best Buy.

And there is still more! You can find more coupons on line. Just enter the code or your card. You can even  download a  mobile app to access mobile discounts The app, normally $5.95 is free with your card.

Is there a down side ? Not really  but  to be perfectly honest even dedicated  Lahser (now Andover/Lahser)  football card enthusiasts do sometimes experience a bit of a sophomore slump. Admittedly winning or striving to play the discount game at the championship level is never easy  but it is worth the effort. What did Robert Browning say ? I think he said "Man's reach should exceed his grasp or what is a heaven for ?"Most likely Browning would be very good at using his Lahser/Andover Football Card.

Even if card privileges  have been ignored or forgotten the best is yet to come!, many of the discounts in the included in last years coupon book are still are valid through. December 31st 2012.

Last year La Marsa Restaurant was a proud sponsor the Lahser Card. This year they are a proud sponsor of the Lahser/Andover Bloomfield Football Card. Last year they offered an ongoing 20% discount which ended July 31st 2012. This year they are offering a 10% discount on an ongoing basis through June 30th 2013. What does that mean ? It means last year many people used the card. To put it in sports speak  the offer, like a fumbled football in the opponent's end zone was was something  to pounce on. Now you get the ball at the twenty yard but it is still a potential dining out game changer.

The Football teams at Lahser and Andover need your support and are offering you what you value, Money through discounts. Thanks to the generosity of merchants who will benefit from your long term patronage. That's three wins and no losses and 3-0 is not a bad way to start the season..

If you have missed connections by with your football playing concierges, by being out of town or whatever, call the schools. They'll set you up and then you can say "Go Barrons" or "Go Knights" before you go shopping or dining.