Northwest Indiana campaign donations top $1.5M; incumbents get the lion's share
NWI Times
November 05, 2018
https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/elections/northwest-indiana-campaign-donations-top-m-incumbents-get-the-lion/article_f10c31a9-61a8-585a-91ea-7d503817026d.html
Candidates for state legislative and local government races across Northwest Indiana have raked in more than $1.5 million in campaign contributions over last summer and early fall.
More than 50 Democrats and Republicans in contested races have spent more than $884,000 and were keeping more than $580,000 in reserve before the Nov. 6 general election, according to campaign finance reports.
The Times examined dozens of reports available online at the Indiana Secretary of State and Porter County clerk's websites and paper documents filed in the Lake and LaPorte County clerks' offices.
Incumbent officeholders have received and spent the bulk of this campaign money.
Incumbent legislators and county officials involved in 18 contested races across the Region account for 75 percent of the donations, 81 percent of the campaign expenses and hold 71 percent of the remaining funds.
The largest war chests are held by two Republican legislators, state Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso, who has represented the 4th House District in the General Assembly since 2006, and state Rep. Julie Othoff, R-Crown Point, who in 2014 captured the 19th House seat, a swing district in south Lake County.
Soliday held more than $47,000 in cash in May, received more than $105,000 in donations between then and Oct. 12, and in late October raked in more than $8,000 from the House Republican Campaign Committee and $5,000 donations each from NiSource and the Boilermaker's Local 374 Union in Hammond.
Soliday is being challenged by Democrat Frank Szczepanski, co-founder and CEO of Valparaiso's IV Diagnostics. Szczepanski has received a little more than $20,000 in contributions.
Olthoff reported nearly $132,000 in contributions and several large contributions in the latter part of October; $5,000 from the National Federal of Independent Businesses and $50,000 from the Indiana House Republican Campaign Committee.
She is facing off against Democrat Lisa Beck, an attorney living near Lakes of the Four Seasons. Beck has received $98,000 in the last five months and last-minute donations of about $15,000 from a teacher's group, a lawyer's group and a union.
Democratic Party incumbent state Sen. Karen R. Tallian, D-Ogden Dunes, has served in the General Assembly since 2005. She has received nearly $135,000 over the past five months and in the last days more than $5,000 from the Indiana Senate Democrats, and $4,000 from two Midwestern unions.
She faces Republican Cole Stultz, who lists a Michigan City address. He hasn't reported receiving his most recent campaign finances.
In Lake County, Sheriff Oscar Martinez is overwhelming his Republican opponent financially. Martinez has received $125,000 in contributions. Republican Dan Bursac, a retired county police officer, reported less than $9,000.
Lake County Democrats have placed much hope, but little money, behind Lowell Democrat Phillip Kuiper to upset Republican nominee Christian Jorgensen for the 7th District seat on the Lake County Council.
Kuiper has received about $5,200 and spent less than $4,200 since a caucus of Democratic precinct committee members put him on the ballot last summer.
Jorgensen, who defeated incumbent Republican Councilman Eldon Strong by two votes in the spring, has received more than $32,000 and still had about half that amount in reserve in mid-October.
In Porter County, Prosecutor Brian Gensel has cash and donations of more than $31,000 and has spent more than $13,000 in the last five months and reported having more than $18,000 in reserve.
His Democratic challenger, Gary Germann, has taken in $42,000 in contributions and spent $17,700. He has more than $24,000 in campaign funds left.
Porter Superior Judge Jeffrey W. Clymer has received $51,000, spent more than $19,000 and has $31,500 in campaign reserves. Democratic challenger Clay M. Patton has received almost $45,000, spent almost $18,000 and holds $27,000 in reserve.
In LaPorte County, Republican Christina M. Espar has received more than $23,000 and spent nearly half that in her campaign for prosecutor. Her Democratic opponent, John Lake, has received almost $13,000, spent nearly $9,700 and holds $3,400 in reserve.
LaPorte County Commissioner Connie Gramarossa has received $33,000, spent almost $20,000 and holds nearly $13,000 in reserve.
Her Democratic opponent, Sheila Brillson has received almost $30,000, spent almost $20,000 and her campaign holds more than $10,000 in cash.
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