City Hall
The 2011 Elections, by the Numbers
The Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission has released its annual report tallying up the past year's election contributions and expenditures, and it includes some fascinating stata about who spent the most money, who got the highest average contribution, who spent the most of their own money, and how many contributions were "small"---that is, under $100.
Some highlights:
Bruce Harrell raised the most money overall, with $284,000 in total contributions.
Meanwhile, unsuccessful Jean Godden challenger Maurice Classen spent the most of his own money---$45,000, an amount that's especially stunning given that it didn't even get him out of the primary. That number is a bit misleading, however; second-place finisher Bobby Forch still owes his own campaign more than $61,000 in unpaid expenses.
Tom Rasmussen challenger Dale Pusey has the unfortunate distinction of being the only candidate in any race who did not raise a single dollar.
Harrell also had the most individual contributions---1,163, followed closely by Tim Burgess (1,025) and Tom Rasmussen (1,001). Meanwhile, Godden opponent Michael Taylor-Judd raised the largest average contribution ($374), and Burgess opponent David Schraer raised the smallest ($53).
Over the years, the number of contributors to city campaigns has generally risen, but last year, it declined---a factor the report attributes to "continuing weakness in the economy."
Total contributions to city council races were down, continuing a downward trend that started in 2003 (and contradicting those who claim the influence of money in council races has risen steadily over the years). Meanwhile, expenditures on consultants rose each year since 2005, even as spending on on ads declined .
Meanwhile, independent expenditures "fell off a cliff." According to the report, "after skyrocketing more than tenfold in the span of four election cycles – from $20,804 in 2003 to $288,197 in 2009 – there were no independent expenditures reported in 2011."
The top contributors to candidates last year consisted, as usual, of unions, developers, and NUCOR, the steel production company. The top four contributors were Matt Griffin's Pine Street LLC, who gave $4,200 to six council members; the Pacific NW Regional Council of Carpenters, who gave $4,200 to six council candidates; developer Jim Mueller, who gave $3,950 to seven council candidates; and NUCOR PAC, which gave $3,900 to seven council candidates.
Some highlights:
Bruce Harrell raised the most money overall, with $284,000 in total contributions.
Meanwhile, unsuccessful Jean Godden challenger Maurice Classen spent the most of his own money---$45,000, an amount that's especially stunning given that it didn't even get him out of the primary. That number is a bit misleading, however; second-place finisher Bobby Forch still owes his own campaign more than $61,000 in unpaid expenses.
Tom Rasmussen challenger Dale Pusey has the unfortunate distinction of being the only candidate in any race who did not raise a single dollar.
Harrell also had the most individual contributions---1,163, followed closely by Tim Burgess (1,025) and Tom Rasmussen (1,001). Meanwhile, Godden opponent Michael Taylor-Judd raised the largest average contribution ($374), and Burgess opponent David Schraer raised the smallest ($53).
Over the years, the number of contributors to city campaigns has generally risen, but last year, it declined---a factor the report attributes to "continuing weakness in the economy."
Total contributions to city council races were down, continuing a downward trend that started in 2003 (and contradicting those who claim the influence of money in council races has risen steadily over the years). Meanwhile, expenditures on consultants rose each year since 2005, even as spending on on ads declined .
Meanwhile, independent expenditures "fell off a cliff." According to the report, "after skyrocketing more than tenfold in the span of four election cycles – from $20,804 in 2003 to $288,197 in 2009 – there were no independent expenditures reported in 2011."
The top contributors to candidates last year consisted, as usual, of unions, developers, and NUCOR, the steel production company. The top four contributors were Matt Griffin's Pine Street LLC, who gave $4,200 to six council members; the Pacific NW Regional Council of Carpenters, who gave $4,200 to six council candidates; developer Jim Mueller, who gave $3,950 to seven council candidates; and NUCOR PAC, which gave $3,900 to seven council candidates.
