Mapping 2012 City Council campaign contributions

Google Fusion Tables City Council campaign contributions 2012 map (link will open new tab)

Final campaign finance reports for the April 3 City Council elections were due to the Missouri Ethics Commission on Thursday. According to those reports, unsuccessful Sixth Ward candidate Bill Tillotson both earned and spent the greatest amount during the campaign, with totals of $33,519.50 and $27,245.51, respectively. His opponent, Sixth Ward Councilwoman Barbara Hoppe, raised $26,272.16, including more than $8,500 in the final two weeks of the campaign, after Tillotson released ads accusing Hoppe of abuse of power in her involvement in a dispute between the East Campus Neighborhood Association and Beta Theta Pi fraternity over the height of their new house under construction on College Avenue. Hoppe spent $25,316 on her campaign.

In the Second Ward, which comprises the northwest part of Columbia, election winner and sitting Second Ward Councilman Michael Trapp reported the greatest amount of contributions and expenses. His totals were $7,260.37 raised and $6,760.37 spent. Opponent Mike Atkinson raised $5,615 and spent $5,593.57. Bill Pauls opted for an austere campaign, saying at several campaign events that he was the “$3,000 dollar man” and would not spend a penny over that amount. Pauls met his goal, raising $2,885.27 and spending $2,536.27.

The Google map below, created using Fusion Tables and contribution amounts collected from the Missouri Ethics Commission, lists individual contributors to all campaigns, their address, their contribution amount and listed occupation. The “Filter” button that appears at the top of the map will allow you to limit results by these qualifiers. For more detailed instructions on how to use the filter tool, or any other questions about navigating the map, consult Google’s own guide.

The following key explains which color represents which contribution amount:

Green: $0 to $49
Yellow: $51 to $99
Red: $100 to $149
Purple: $150 or more

Click the map marker for more detailed information about each contribution.

View the termination reports, including final campaign contribution and expense figures, in .pdf form below. For more information, visit the Missouri Ethics Commission website or contact Missourian Public Life reporter Kip Hill via email. And, as always, thanks for reading!

Google Fusion Tables City Council campaign contributions 2012 map (link will open new tab)

Michael Trapp final report (.pdf)
Bill Pauls final report (.pdf)
Mike Atkinson final report (.pdf)
Bill Tillotson final report (.pdf)
Barbara Hoppe final report (.pdf)

Tillotson goes after opponent, should we follow?

In covering a campaign event Wednesday for the Missourian at which four of five City Council candidates made their case before a group of unionized private and city workers, I found myself in the unenviable position of learning on the job. Questions were raised for me about how journalists cover elections, and what our commitment to our readers should be. After pondering those questions for a few days, I’ve decided to share with you, our reader, how we make our decisions about news coverage on-the-fly and give you a chance to evaluate how we (I) did.

At the union meeting, Sixth Ward City Council candidate Bill Tillotson wasn’t feeling much of a connection with his opponent and incumbent Council member, Barbara Hoppe.

Speaking to members of local unions representing private and public workers, Tillotson criticized Hoppe’s actions on job creation and worker’s benefits.

“We have had several years of really lackluster leadership, point blank,” Tillotson said. “Barbara Hoppe is a disaster.”

Tillotson used Hoppe’s position on the Maguire Boulevard project as an example of her hesitancy in job creation.

“How many jobs did that bring in, whether union or non-union?” Tillotson rhetorically asked the crowd. “And that was big.”

“She (Hoppe) fought at it all the way,” he added. “She fussed at it all the way.”

Hoppe voted in favor of the Maguire Boulevard extension at the April 20, 2009 council meeting, according to the minutes. At the time, she questioned whether the city was doing enough to prevent stormwater runoff and erosion as a result of the project.

Tillotson also suggested the city wasn’t doing enough to close budget gaps by making transit in the town more efficient and using funds that could be allocated for wage and benefit increases for other projects. He pointed the blame for these decisions squarely on his opponent’s shoulders.

Tillotson praised the work of Mayor Bob McDavid, said Third Ward Councilman Gary Kespohl and Fourth Ward Councilman Daryl Dudley have done “pretty decent jobs,” and that he was pleasantly surprised by the decisions of Fifth Ward Councilwoman Helen Anthony, whom he didn’t support initially.

“She’s done a great job,” Tillotson said. “I’ve been pleased.”

Tillotson said Hoppe was the only member remaining on the council of the “old administration,” and that change was needed to ensure greater consideration of city workers’ concerns in the future.

I wrote the story for the Missourian that appeared in Thursday’s edition and on our website Wednesday night. I made the decision not to include the above into the narrative of the story, because I wanted to focus on the concerns of the labor members and the issues they were concerned about in the upcoming election. The workers I talked to following the meeting didn’t mention Tillotson’s position on Hoppe’s track record.

Also, I was put in the uncomfortable position by the candidate of being singled out in the room before the comment was made and given the command/suggestion, “You can print this if you want.” In addition, Hoppe was not in the room to counter Tillotson’s claims.

Too often in political reporting, we focus on the give-and-take between the candidates, and not the substantive issues that are driving the race forward. We become mouthpieces for the candidates, rather than the people.

Wednesday’s exchange reveals the dynamic emerging in the race for the Sixth Ward council seat. I’m currently working on a story about candidate financing that will appear sometime this weekend, and if spending is any indication, the race is going to be a tight one.

But at the Missourian, we continually discuss ways to present the dynamic of a race that will keep residents and voters actively engaged in the process. Did I do enough in reporting this campaign event to do so? Does the Missourian have an obligation to make you, the reader, aware of attacks on other candidates that fall outside the parameters of the issues at hand?

The Daily Dish — Feb. 16

Bicycle/Pedestrian Commission proposes Phase II of Windsor Ash Bike Boulevard by Amy Willsey, Columbia Missourian

Citing the positive reception of Phase I, which placed so-called bike boulevards on Ash and Windsor streets, Bike/Ped sought approval Wednesday to finance a $460,000 expansion with federal funding. Phase II, however, is one of several projects eligible to receive the grant money. City Council will decide which will get the go-ahead at a later time.

Boone County seeks authority to regulate rental property by Antony Lee, Columbia Missourian

Three area representatives took their case for Senate Bill 730, which would grant Boone County the authority to impose regulations on rental property outside city limits, before the state Senate’s Jobs, Economic Development and Local Government Committee on Wednesday. Similar legislation has historically failed to fly, but county reps expressed optimism for the new bill’s prospects.

Senate approves bill moving back Missouri primary date by Marshall Griffin, KBIA

Thursday dawned with the first-round approval of a bill calling for the postponement of filing deadlines for Missouri’s state and national officials. The legislation comes in the heat of a legal battle over the state’s new district boundaries and would shift the filing period back about a month. A single vote stands between the bill and a House vote, but legislators anticipate that it will be received by day’s end.

The Daily Dish — Feb. 15

Nancy Copenhaver to file for election in 47th District by Anli Xiao, Columbia Missourian

Former state representative Nancy Copenhaver of Moberly plans to reprise her three-year stint in the Jefferson City after nearly a decade-long hiatus from state government. She filed Tuesday for election in the new 47th district, which encompasses areas of north and northwest Columbia. Her announcement included promises to act as a “good steward” for tax dollars and “an advocate” for citizens.

State senator seeks public funding for religious schools by The Associated Press

In the wake of the battle for religious freedom spurred by division contraception legislation, a new topic has emerged under the same banner: State Senator Scott Rupp is moving to strike language from the Missouri Constitution barring religiously affiliated schools from receiving public funding. In addition to combating what he claims is religious discrimination, he hopes the amendment will benefit students in cities like St. Louis and Kansas City, where public school districts have become unaccredited.

Missouri Supreme Court strikes down ethics law because of the way it was passed by Steve Kraske, Kansas City Star

The Missouri Supreme Court reversed an ethics bill meant to curtail the laundering of campaign donations Tuesday, calling the manner in which it was passed, well, unethical. The provision was apparently tacked on to unrelated bill concerning purchasing and printing parameters for elected state officials. Sponsors of the overturned legislation indicated they will seek approval for a new — and hopefully more transparent — ethics bill the coming weeks.

Show-Me State Not Shown Much Love, Gives Little In Return

Tuesday’s presidential primary will award no delegates to its victor. Though Missouri has long been viewed as an accurate reading of the nation’s temperature toward candidates, few officially sanctioned efforts have been made on behalf of the GOP field to garner support in the state. Fittingly, few private efforts have been made on their behalves either. In their absence, it’s difficult to gauge just where Missouri stands on the Republican candidates.

Paul Sancya / The Associated Press

In lieu of direct campaign efforts, private donations are the clearest indicator of public support. By that measure, too, though, Missourians appear largely disinterested in the race. Data released by the Federal Election Committee shows Mitt Romney at the top of the statewide donation list with more than $600,000 raised. Over half a million dollars may seem like no small sum, but in the context of Romney’s overall fundraising, which amounted to $57 million last year, it’s little more than pocket change.

In an analysis of fundraising data disclosed at the behest of the FEC, the Washington Post reported that a quarter of the money tied to Romney’s campaign and its affiliated super PAC, Restore Our Future in 2011, came from the pockets of only 41 individuals.

Interestingly, the same trend is evident in local donation data: Just four Boone County donors have collectively contributed $3,850 to Romney, with $2,500 of that sum supplied by one individual alone. Romney trails only Pres. Barack Obama in dollars raised locally, which makes sense considering Boone county’s high concentration of university students, who are demographically more likely to vote to the left.

Students at MU may also account for a surprising surge of financial support for Ron Paul, who sits at number three on both the state and county lists but, contrary to a vast statewide gap, has earned only $600 less than Romney in local donations. In contrast to Romney’s short but generous list of donors, Paul has been on the receiving end of donations from 13 individuals, the largest of which amounts to $1,500 made in several installments throughout 2011.

Small business owners, too, seem to be casting their lot with the Texas congressman. His platform includes provisions to repeal the tip tax and cut unnecessary regulations on small businesses and entrepreneurs, which may account for the franchise and and business owners as well as employees who work on commission populating his list of donors.

Though he is running as a Republican, some local Libertarians will also cast their vote in Paul’s favor this primary season. A group headed by Bruce Summers demonstrated at Personalized Computing on Monday in an effort to supplement their niche voting bloc.

If history does indeed rhyme as Mark Twain claims, however, Libertarian support may not be of much help. The group came out in low numbers in 2008, and Dee Givens, an affiliate of the Missouri Libertarian Party, reported that local Libertarians will in large part be supporting Gary Johnson.

Funnily, the candidates pulling the bulk of financial support from Missourians aren’t faring as well with hypothetical ballots. Public Policy Polling followed up data projecting Rick Santorum, who spoke in town Friday, as leader of the pack both in popular vote and approval rating with a second survey Tuesday indicating that he maintained his majority over the weekend.

Could bellwether Missouri mark the dawn of a Great Santorum Awakening as conservatives search for a Romney alternative, or is the absence of Newt Gingrich, who seems to have filled that role since the first of the year, just a convenient route to a superficial win?

Your turn, readers.

Second and Sixth Ward candidates discuss Columbia’s economy

Five candidates pursuing a seat on the Columbia City Council in the Second and Sixth wards met Thursday afternoon at the Chamber of Commerce to introduce themselves and assess the current economic climate of the city. Questions fired at the candidates focused specifically on the Columbia Regional Airport, public transit and other major issues ahead of the April 3 municipal election.

Mike Atkinson, co-owner of The Candy Factory and a member of the chamber; Bill Pauls, a self-described farm boy from Iowa who has lived in Columbia for a quarter century; and Michael Trapp, a substance abuse counselor with Phoenix Programs, are all in the hunt for Jason Thornhill’s Second Ward Council seat. An audience member at Thursday’s forum asked the candidates about plans to balance the budget.

Given the current budget issues, would you focus on raising revenue or redirecting funds that we have from other expenditures? 

Atkinson said he would not look to raise revenues.

“We don’t need to put any more stress on our economy,” he said. “I’m a big believer in the free market; we don’t need too much government interference.”

Pauls said he would take a more balanced approach.

“We need to address both sides of the issue, that’s our job,” he said.

Pauls said the city should consider adjustments to all sources of revenue as is needed.

Trapp said taxes shouldn’t be raised right now.

“We don’t want to tax out of the real economy and bring it into the government economy in down economic times,” he said.

The chamber posed to Sixth Ward candidates Barbara Hoppe, a tw0-term incumbent, and Bill Tillotson, an independent insurance agent, the question of what was the most important issue facing Columbia.

In your opinion, what is the greatest issue Columbia is facing, and what would your potential solution/solutions be?

Hoppe said that while the budget was under control and sales tax revenue was increasing, improvements at the airport were important to attract businesses to the community.

“I know specifically of some events and some employers that looked at Columbia — we were on the short list — and because of our airport, we fell off that list,” Hoppe said.

She said the demand for increased airport services underscored the importance of improving infrastructure as the city continues to grow. Tillotson echoed Hoppe, saying infrastructure was the key issue for Columbia voters. He cited the condition of roads, specifically, as a major concern.

“Obviously it’s important to the citizens of the city, and I think it’s important for visitors to our community as well,” Tillotson said.

A member of the audience questioned the candidates on the current state of public transit in the city.

In light of recent reductions in federal funds for public transit, can you comment on its future in Columbia?

Tillotson suggested looking at other countries as a model for assessing the transit systems and their environmental impact.

“If you pull up in a bus in Amsterdam, that bus is turned off as it sits at a bus stop or a red light,” Tillotson said. He suggested bringing a lot of different interests in the city together to improve routes and provide continued funding for the bus system.

Hoppe said that the transit issue was one that was particularly important in the Sixth Ward, where a lot of bus riders are students. She said that increased services during her tenure on the council averted potential traffic problems.

“If we had all those students driving, instead of on buses, no one would be going anywhere in the Sixth Ward,” Hoppe said. “It would be gridlock.”

For more on the candidate forum, read our coverage in The Missourian.

Curious About City Council Candidates?

Five Columbia natives managed to gather the 60 signatures necessary for a spot on the City Council ballot for the 2nd and 6th Wards in April. Check out who cast their lot with whom right here at The Watchword:

• Ward 2 petitions – Mike Atkinson, Bill Pauls, Michael Trapp

• Ward 6 petitions – Barbara Hoppe (incumbent), Bill Tillotson

Don’t forgot to cast your vote April 3.

The Daily Dish- Oct. 5, 2011

Councilman Dudley proposes amendment to ward reapprortionment trial – Columbia Missourian

“At Monday night’s City Council meeting, Dudley introduced an amendment to a boundary proposal known as Trial D. Dudley stated at the meeting that this amendment was made ‘to bring it within the legal constraints of contiguity.’ ”

Democrats lineup for county commission seat – Columbia Daily Tribune

“Scott Christianson, who lost to Robb by less than 1 percent of the vote in November, and Don Stamper, who was presiding commissioner from 1990 to 2002, were the first to submit their names Friday. Phyllis Fugit, chairwoman of the Boone County Democratic Central Committee, said Columbia attorney Dan Atwill, former central committee member Fred Seaman, former chief sheriff’s deputy O.J. Stone and former 19th District state Sen. Ken Jacob also have applied.”

New transit task force explores options for students – Columbia Missourian

“The Transit System Task Force met for the first time Tuesday to search for the correct model to fund public transit and evaluate the city-university model that works in other cities.”

Fired Columbia Police officer seeks to buy police dog – Columbia Missourian

“Police Chief Ken Burton and City Manager Mike Matthes will meet Wednesday morning to talk about Fano, a police dog, and the possibility of selling him to his former handler, Rob Sanders. Sanders was fired from the Columbia Police Department in September after aninternal affairs investigation into his use of force against a man in a holding cell.”

The Daily Dish- Sept. 30, 2011

Boone County finds temporary management for fairgrounds – Columbia Missourian

Boone County will pay $45,000 a month during a three-month contract with the recently-formed firm TAG Events, LLC. TAG Events, LLC, represented by Mike Teel and Brent Gibson, will serve as interim manager of the county fairgrounds.

Group seeks to raise Missouri minimum wage – AP/Columbia Missourian

Missouri voters could be asked to raise the state’s minimum wage to $8.25 an hour during the 2012 elections. A proposed initiative has been submitted to the secretary of state’s office, which must approve a battle title before supports can begin collecting signatures to get the  minimum wage issue on the 2012 ballot.

UPDATE: Missouri Republicans set March presidential causcuses – AP/ Columbia Missourian

“Missouri Republicans decided Thursday to use caucuses to choose presidential candidates, bailing out of a planned February primary that had threatened to cause confusion for the 2012 election calendar.”

 

Helen Anthony and Fred Schmidt sworn in at City Council ceremony

Helen Anthony and Fred Schmidt were sworn in as city council members at 6 p.m. Monday night at a special city council ceremony. Former Fifth Ward councilwoman Laura Nauser and former First Ward councilman Paul Sturtz gave parting speeches in which they thanked their friends, family and the city’s staff for all of their help and support.

The two outgoing council members were presented with a resolution of appreciation and a glass retirement tile from the city and a separate gift from the city staff before Anthony and Schmidt were sworn in.

Anthony replaces Nauser as Fifth Ward city council member and  Schmidt replaces Sturtz as First Ward city council member.  Anthony and Schmidt were elected Tuesday, April 5, and their term will expire April 2014.

Barbara Hoppe was also appointed mayor pro-tem to fill the spot formerly held by Nauser.