10192015 - News Article - Portage mayor raised more campaign cash than Dem rival

Portage mayor raised more campaign cash than Dem rival
Chicago Tribune
October 19, 2015
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/news/ct-ptb-portage-mayoral-money-st-1020-20151019-story.html

Republican Portage Mayor James Snyder has outpaced his Democratic challenger in the fundraising department, and in spending campaign money.

Campaign finance documents released Friday show that Snyder, who's running for a second term, raised $193,855 to Brendan Clancy's $111,635.

Much of Clancy's support is coming from organized labor unions. Iron Workers Local 395 gave him $16,500. The International Longshoreman's Association gave $2,000. The Indiana State Ironworkers Political Action Committee gave $5,000.

A group called the Citizens for Chuck Committee, which represents State Rep. Chuck Moseley, D- Portage, gave Clancy $10,000 and U.S. Rep. Peter J. Visclosky's campaign committee donated $1,000.

Gore Realty, of Portage and Johnson Excavation Co., Inc., of Valparaiso, were Clancy's biggest corporate contributors at $2,000 each.

Snyder's biggest individual contributor was Stewart McMillan, of Valparaiso, who gave him $7,500.

Snyder racked up $2,000 contributions from 16 corporations and $10,000 from the Operating Engineers, Northern Indiana Operators joint labor/management political action committee of Countryside, Ill., and $4,200 from the Next Gen PAC, of Valparaiso.

Among other contributions, Snyder received $3,250 from the Country Lounge restaurant in Hobart and $500 from the Friends of Karen Freeman-Wilson, of Gary.

Snyder's wife, Deborah, received $10,115 from the campaign. Snyder also reimbursed himself $5,226 for campaign expenses.

"She's the event coordinator," Snyder said Monday, adding she coordinated a golf outing, among other events. "She's probably spent, this year alone, 20 to 30 hours a week on the campaign."

Kenard Taylor, Snyder's campaign treasurer and executive director of Porter County's Republican Party, said Deborah Snyder has been making campaign phone calls, coordinating volunteers, and assisting with mailings and other tasks.

"She's been spending a lot of time doing those types of things," Taylor said.

SRC LLC, at 3173 Willowcreek Road, which Snyder owns, received $11,320 in rent money according to his campaign finance reports.

Snyder declined to comment on the payments to SRC, referring questions on the matter to Taylor.

"We set up a campaign headquarters there and we set up volunteers there," Taylor said.

The campaign also paid off a $1,050 loan from First Financial Trust, also owned by Snyder. Taylor said the loan was from Snyder's first run for mayor and the campaign has been carrying the balance since then, and Taylor wanted to pay it off.

According to the Indiana Secretary of State's website, First Financial was voluntarily dissolved and has been inactive since June 14, 2010, which Taylor confirmed, adding the check to pay off the loan was made out to First Financial/SRC.

The Secretary of State's Office also shows that SRC was administratively dissolved and inactive as of Feb. 14, 2013, but Taylor said that could be a matter of not filing paperwork.

"I have no idea of that," Taylor said. "It would be James' money one way or the other."

Snyder later provided a statement: "Raising money for a campaign is hard work just like the rigors of the door-to-door and attendance of city events. My team and I have worked hard and we are earning our support not expecting it.

"Our largest contributor the Operating Engineers Union Local 150 is a testament to my belief in the hard-working Portage union family and my representation of their hard work in Portage and downstate."

Clancy, meanwhile, spent $5,805 at Clancy's Pub, a bar he owns in the Portage Mall. He said the money was for post-primary party and a golf outing dinner. He also spent $9,965 at Baxter Printing Inc., in Highland and $5,459 at Shoreline Promotions in Portage.

Campaign coordinator Sarah Ferrero, of Crown Point, has received $4,356. Clancy's wife, Michelle, served as his treasurer but she was not paid.

Clancy said he wasn't surprised that Snyder raised more money. "It shows I can do more with less and I have great support from people who can't afford to make large donations."