What did Hinda spend last time?

 

The question is, how much more does Dan have in the tank? Kurt has been holding back a little, he definitely has money to burn in the final week.

Does this help or hurt Dan. I mean 40k is not all that much in the scope of an election, but it is so much more that the others that it seems a little much. He did start from a position of not being known so he had to spend some more to legitimize himself, which he has clearly done.

this will be interesting to follow.

 

If you could put a price tag on the name recognition advantage the others have, I think things would look more even.

 

What has he been spending it on. I never see even his yard signs.

 

Dan Smith has a full-time campaign staff, not sure about the others.

 

I think his experience is showing. He'll be looking for a job next week.

 

No lawn signs...now there is a campaign platform i would support.

 

The expenses for a mayoral campaign seem reasonable, although it does raise eyebrows how Dan Smith has spent triple what the other candidates have spent. Well, I guess it does pay for a lot of trolling that was going on this blog until Haik set down the law.

 

Actually Dan has a TON of lawn signs. I have seen them everywhere, mostly in the South End though.

 

$40K is not that much, and if anything it simply speaks to the seriousness with which Dan has conducted his campaign. A few staffers for three months + lit + office space + yard signs are all very reasonable expenses. There's no virtue in running a campaign on shoe strings.

 

I agree with Charity. He started off with no name recognition and now people know his name.

I've seen ads in 7Days and the Freeps too.

He does have a full staff, 2-3 people I believe. Kurt has a few people working for him too on Church Street. I think Andy has a dude working for him along with his wife.

Bob's got a volunteer army, if I am correct.

Hinda spent about $25-30,000 I believe. Can't remember though...and I don't think Dan's going to be looking for a job after next week. I think he's got this one.

 

The beauty of anonymity...

 

Hinda raised and spent more than $60,000.

 

Yes, Hinda spent a wad. And she's so sassy and vivacious. I wonder why we didn't elect her?

 

Freeps did a great article on the numbers.

Actually, Wright and Smith are closer then everyone thinks:

Dan raised about $44,000 and Wright raised about $32,000.

Somewhat shocked that Andy and Bob don't have more cash in the bank.

Kurt has the most left but if you have that much money left over, you didn't do something right. Doing the math, $5,000 left for Dan with a week left is exactly where you want to be. But...having $10,000 left like Kurt does certainly doesn't hurt his chances.

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20090225/NEWS03/90224054

 

Smith tops fundraising in Burlington mayor’s race

Free Press Staff Report • February 25, 2009

Independent mayoral candidate Dan Smith has raised more money than the other contenders with a week to go before the election.

Smith had raised $44,638 through Monday — $12,000 more than any other candidate.

Campaign disclosure forms provided by the Burlington Clerk-Treasurer’s Office show Republican Kurt Wright raised about $32,327; Democrat Andy Montroll raised $17,863; and incumbent Mayor Bob Kiss, a Progressive, raised $14,525.
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Smith has also spent the most money of the four candidates. Through Monday, Smith had spent $39,845. Wright spent $19,869; Montroll, $16,947; and Kiss, $13,050.

Based on the figures, Wright has the most money left to spend — more than $12,000 — while Smith has nearly $5,000 and Kiss about $1,500. Montroll has less than $1,000 but has also taken out $4,620 in loans to his campaign.

In a news release Tuesday, Smith thanked contributors “who have embraced a new vision for Burlington’s future.” He described his campaign as “a scrappy group” that has “delivered a message ... that is resonating with voters.”

Smith’s contributors included Trey and Ray Pecor ($1,000 each). He received $1,000 from Lake Champlain Transportation, headed by Trey Pecor and $1,000 from local developer Ernie Pomerleau. Democratic state Sen. Hinda Miller, who lost to Kiss in the 2006 election, contributed $500; $250 came from former Douglas administration official Charles Smith and his wife, Burlington High School principal Amy Mellencamp. Charles Smith is Dan Smith’s uncle. Dan Smith also recorded a $1,000 donation he made to his own campaign.

The Pecors also contributed $1,000 each to Wright’s campaign, as did restaurant-owner Dick Bove. Bove competed in 2007 for the Democratic nomination for Ward 1 City Council. Josephine Bove added another $1,000, and Mark and Rick Bove each gave $500. Builder Robert Miller and his wife each contributed $1,000. Park Commissioner John Ewing and his wife contributed a total of $1,500 to Wright.

Montroll gave his own campaign $1,500; Democratic Party City Chairman Jake Perkinson gave $1,000; and Burlington Democrats gave $1,000.

Kiss gave $1,000 to his campaign, and he got a $750 gift from Community and Economic Development Office Director Larry Kupferman. CEDO Assistant Director Bruce Seifer gave $150.

Smith attracted $10,244 from 130 people donating less than $100. Montroll got $8,478 from 146 under-$100 donors; Kiss collected $6,200 from 114 under-$100 donors; and Wright got $5,685 from 107 under-$100 donors.

Burlington mayor’s race
The four candidates for mayor filed campaign fundraising figures with the Burlington city clerk’s office.

 

I think spending more money then everyone speaks to an overall economic sensibility. I wonder if his staff is paid liveable wages? I really think the mayorial terms should be longer. Any momentum shows in the second term anyway. If an outsider thinks can get anything done in the first term with "fresh thinking" he will sure have some "fresh thoughts" after his first term is over and nothing has happened except the spending of our money.

 

Isn't that what the Mayor does:

spend our money?

I'm not concerned at all of Smith's spending. I'd be more concerned over the fact that Kiss and Montroll have pennies left while Smith and Wright have some cushion under their tushes.

My money is on Smith at this point. He's going to have a lot of second place votes and he's stayed out of the whole brew ha-ha with Montroll and Kiss.

Hope they can get a bang for their buck.