By Billy House
Media General News Service
Media General News Service
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WASHINGTON -- The Tampa Bay area’s five members of Congress have already raised nearly $3 million for their re-election bids, while hopefuls seeking to unseat them this fall have raised less than a tenth of that.
In fact, the bulk of money in local challengers’ war chests so far has come from their own checkbooks, in the forms of self-contributions and loans as they seek to get their campaigns going.
Meanwhile, Rep. Adam Putnam of Bartow, the No. 3 Republican in the U.S. House, has alone raised more than $1.1 million since January 2007 for his re-election.
The new numbers are found in latest campaign committee filings with the Federal Election Commission, which were due this week and reflect figures through the end of March.
The figures are even more lopsided than what is occurring in most congressional contests nationally, according to The Center for Responsive Politics, non-profit, non-partisan research organization based in Washington.
Uneven playing field?
Across the country, House incumbents have so far raised $769,437, on average, since the start of 2007, while challengers across the country have raised $200,286, on average.
Typically, congressional incumbents have all sorts of advantages in fundraising, explains Massie Ritsch, the center’s communications director.
Sitting members of Congress usually have wider name recognition. They also often have free access to the media, can send taxpayer-funded mail to constituents that tend to be more self-promotional, and benefit from special interests that focus on getting things done in Washington and therefore favor people already on the job with donations.
These and other advantages help to make incumbent re-election rates so high – between 94 and 98 percent over last four congressional elections -- according to The Center For Responsive Politics.
“It is nearly impossible to unseat a member of Congress unless you are personally wealthy or have access to a vast network of wealthy people,” said Ritsch. “To beat an incumbent, you need about $1.3 million just to have a shot at it.”
In the Tampa Bay area, candidates who have decided to open up their own checkbooks include former Plant City Mayor John Dicks, one of several Democratic hopefuls seeking to unseat freshman GOP Rep. Gus Bilirakis of Palm Harbor.
Dicks has loaned his campaign $250,000.
“John is really focused on this campaign and this (the personal loan) shows that he’s viable and committed to this race,” explained Dicks’ campaign spokesperson, Ana Cruz, who described the fundraising climate as tough now for political candidates.
“It’s the economy. People are feeling the crunch all over the place,” said Cruz, who added that Tampa and Central Florida areas never have been as big of a Democratic fundraising source as is South Florida, anyhow.
For some, money flows
It’s not quite as tough, however, for incumbents like Putnam, whose campaign committee, had $583,625 remaining in the bank as of March 31. But that isn’t even the whole picture.
Putnam, the House GOP Conference Chairman, also has a separate political action committee used to help other GOP candidates and causes across the nation. Through his leadership “Red PAC,” Putnam has raised another $93,918 since January 2007, with $35,154 still in the bank at the end of March.
“As the only member of congressional leadership from Florida, Adam has anticipated that he would face opposition,” said Putnam congressional office spokesman Keith Rupp, of the fund-raising. “He knows how important it is to be well prepared for Election Day, and the people have been generous and enthusiastic in their support.”
Democrat Douglas Tudor of Riverview, retired from the Navy, filed his declaration of candidacy papers for Putnam’s seat early this month with the FEC, but has not yet filed a campaign committee financial report.The FEC does not require a candidate to file a report of its finances until their campaigns have either raised or spent at least $5,000.
Local contests reflect ranges
Here’s a rundown of how the fundraising stands in other area congressional contests, according to filings so far with the FEC.
-- The area’s most competitive House race – at least in terms of fund-raising – is for the seat now held by Bilirakis.
Like Putnam, Bilirakis is outpacing the average fundraising dollars being posted by House incumbents nationally, taking in more than $844,000 in receipts since January 2007. His committee had $521,511 of that money still in the bank at the end of March.
Dicks reported his campaign has taken in $342,852 in receipts, including the personal loan. With that loan money included, his committee had $312,402 sitting in the bank at the close of March.
Another Democratic hopeful, William Mitchell, a Tampa employment lawyer who lives in Carrollwood, has taken in $162,475. But $100,000 of that also came from a loan he gave to his committee. His committee had $149,380 in the bank as of March 31.
No updated filing was available for a third Democrat, Michael Van Hoek of Valrico, a paramedic and a member of the Hillsborough Democratic Club. He reported raising a total of $10,100 through Dec. 31, with $9,000 of that a contribution from himself. Van Hoek’s campaign listed $1,724 in the bank as of Dec. 31.
The committee of Anita de Palma of Clearwater, a fourth Democrat who has filed a declaration that she is running for Bilirakis’ seat, has not filed a financial report.
Richard Emmons of New Port Richey filed a declaration of candidacy last month for Bilirakis’ seat, as a candidate of the “Term Limits For The United States Congress Party.” In that filing, he reported he intends to spend up to $30,000 of his own money in the general election. Emmons’ committee’s first financial filing showed he has raised $9,134 so far -- all of that a contribution from himself. He has spent that.
-- Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, a Republican from Brooksville, reported raising $384,381 through March 31. Her campaign listed $352,789 left in the bank.
Republican hopeful Jim King of Land O’Lakes reported his campaign raised $51,935 last year – including a $5,000 loan from himself. His committee listed $19,516 left in the bank by the end of December. King submitted an updated report this week, but has been asked by the FEC to clarify some of the information.
Carol Castagnero, a retired teacher in Lakeland who ran for governor as a Democrat in 2006 and received 5 percent of the primary vote, has filed a declaration of candidacy for Brown-Waite’s seat, but has not yet filed a financial statement.
-- Rep. C.W. Bill Young, a Republican from Indian Shores, reported raising $380,801 for his committee since January 2007. With money left over from previous re-election campaigns, his committee reported having $555,655 in the bank on March. 31.
A Republican, Robert Spencer of St. Petersburg, filed a declaration of candidacy to run for Young’s seat, but has not yet filed a financial statement.
Max Linn, a Treasure Island Democrat, reported raising $173,833. More than $58,000 of that money came as contributions from the candidate’s own pockets and $110,000 coming as a self-loan. Linn’s committee reported $81,710 left in the bank at the end of March.
The committee for Samm Simpson, a Gulfport Democrat, reported raising $5,409, with $2,020 remaining as cash in the bank.
-- Freshman Rep. Kathy Castor of Tampa reported her committee raised $364,741, and had $324,996 left in the bank as of March 31.
Republican Eddie Adams Jr., a Tampa architect who lost in 2006 against Castor in what then was an open-seat race (no incumbent seeking re-election), reported raising $16,635. Of that amount, $2,051 was a contribution from himself and $600 was a loan from himself. His committee listed $1,529 in the bank as of March 31.
Adams agreed that the money-raising climate is tough, especially for challengers.
“That’s why we’ve gone back to old-fashioned, grass-roots politics -- getting to know your neighbors, meeting people door to door,” Adams said.
Reporter Billy House can be reached at (202) 662-7673 or bhouse@mediageneral.com.
In fact, the bulk of money in local challengers’ war chests so far has come from their own checkbooks, in the forms of self-contributions and loans as they seek to get their campaigns going.
Meanwhile, Rep. Adam Putnam of Bartow, the No. 3 Republican in the U.S. House, has alone raised more than $1.1 million since January 2007 for his re-election.
The new numbers are found in latest campaign committee filings with the Federal Election Commission, which were due this week and reflect figures through the end of March.
The figures are even more lopsided than what is occurring in most congressional contests nationally, according to The Center for Responsive Politics, non-profit, non-partisan research organization based in Washington.
Uneven playing field?
Across the country, House incumbents have so far raised $769,437, on average, since the start of 2007, while challengers across the country have raised $200,286, on average.
Typically, congressional incumbents have all sorts of advantages in fundraising, explains Massie Ritsch, the center’s communications director.
Sitting members of Congress usually have wider name recognition. They also often have free access to the media, can send taxpayer-funded mail to constituents that tend to be more self-promotional, and benefit from special interests that focus on getting things done in Washington and therefore favor people already on the job with donations.
These and other advantages help to make incumbent re-election rates so high – between 94 and 98 percent over last four congressional elections -- according to The Center For Responsive Politics.
“It is nearly impossible to unseat a member of Congress unless you are personally wealthy or have access to a vast network of wealthy people,” said Ritsch. “To beat an incumbent, you need about $1.3 million just to have a shot at it.”
In the Tampa Bay area, candidates who have decided to open up their own checkbooks include former Plant City Mayor John Dicks, one of several Democratic hopefuls seeking to unseat freshman GOP Rep. Gus Bilirakis of Palm Harbor.
Dicks has loaned his campaign $250,000.
“John is really focused on this campaign and this (the personal loan) shows that he’s viable and committed to this race,” explained Dicks’ campaign spokesperson, Ana Cruz, who described the fundraising climate as tough now for political candidates.
“It’s the economy. People are feeling the crunch all over the place,” said Cruz, who added that Tampa and Central Florida areas never have been as big of a Democratic fundraising source as is South Florida, anyhow.
For some, money flows
It’s not quite as tough, however, for incumbents like Putnam, whose campaign committee, had $583,625 remaining in the bank as of March 31. But that isn’t even the whole picture.
Putnam, the House GOP Conference Chairman, also has a separate political action committee used to help other GOP candidates and causes across the nation. Through his leadership “Red PAC,” Putnam has raised another $93,918 since January 2007, with $35,154 still in the bank at the end of March.
“As the only member of congressional leadership from Florida, Adam has anticipated that he would face opposition,” said Putnam congressional office spokesman Keith Rupp, of the fund-raising. “He knows how important it is to be well prepared for Election Day, and the people have been generous and enthusiastic in their support.”
Democrat Douglas Tudor of Riverview, retired from the Navy, filed his declaration of candidacy papers for Putnam’s seat early this month with the FEC, but has not yet filed a campaign committee financial report.The FEC does not require a candidate to file a report of its finances until their campaigns have either raised or spent at least $5,000.
Local contests reflect ranges
Here’s a rundown of how the fundraising stands in other area congressional contests, according to filings so far with the FEC.
-- The area’s most competitive House race – at least in terms of fund-raising – is for the seat now held by Bilirakis.
Like Putnam, Bilirakis is outpacing the average fundraising dollars being posted by House incumbents nationally, taking in more than $844,000 in receipts since January 2007. His committee had $521,511 of that money still in the bank at the end of March.
Dicks reported his campaign has taken in $342,852 in receipts, including the personal loan. With that loan money included, his committee had $312,402 sitting in the bank at the close of March.
Another Democratic hopeful, William Mitchell, a Tampa employment lawyer who lives in Carrollwood, has taken in $162,475. But $100,000 of that also came from a loan he gave to his committee. His committee had $149,380 in the bank as of March 31.
No updated filing was available for a third Democrat, Michael Van Hoek of Valrico, a paramedic and a member of the Hillsborough Democratic Club. He reported raising a total of $10,100 through Dec. 31, with $9,000 of that a contribution from himself. Van Hoek’s campaign listed $1,724 in the bank as of Dec. 31.
The committee of Anita de Palma of Clearwater, a fourth Democrat who has filed a declaration that she is running for Bilirakis’ seat, has not filed a financial report.
Richard Emmons of New Port Richey filed a declaration of candidacy last month for Bilirakis’ seat, as a candidate of the “Term Limits For The United States Congress Party.” In that filing, he reported he intends to spend up to $30,000 of his own money in the general election. Emmons’ committee’s first financial filing showed he has raised $9,134 so far -- all of that a contribution from himself. He has spent that.
-- Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, a Republican from Brooksville, reported raising $384,381 through March 31. Her campaign listed $352,789 left in the bank.
Republican hopeful Jim King of Land O’Lakes reported his campaign raised $51,935 last year – including a $5,000 loan from himself. His committee listed $19,516 left in the bank by the end of December. King submitted an updated report this week, but has been asked by the FEC to clarify some of the information.
Carol Castagnero, a retired teacher in Lakeland who ran for governor as a Democrat in 2006 and received 5 percent of the primary vote, has filed a declaration of candidacy for Brown-Waite’s seat, but has not yet filed a financial statement.
-- Rep. C.W. Bill Young, a Republican from Indian Shores, reported raising $380,801 for his committee since January 2007. With money left over from previous re-election campaigns, his committee reported having $555,655 in the bank on March. 31.
A Republican, Robert Spencer of St. Petersburg, filed a declaration of candidacy to run for Young’s seat, but has not yet filed a financial statement.
Max Linn, a Treasure Island Democrat, reported raising $173,833. More than $58,000 of that money came as contributions from the candidate’s own pockets and $110,000 coming as a self-loan. Linn’s committee reported $81,710 left in the bank at the end of March.
The committee for Samm Simpson, a Gulfport Democrat, reported raising $5,409, with $2,020 remaining as cash in the bank.
-- Freshman Rep. Kathy Castor of Tampa reported her committee raised $364,741, and had $324,996 left in the bank as of March 31.
Republican Eddie Adams Jr., a Tampa architect who lost in 2006 against Castor in what then was an open-seat race (no incumbent seeking re-election), reported raising $16,635. Of that amount, $2,051 was a contribution from himself and $600 was a loan from himself. His committee listed $1,529 in the bank as of March 31.
Adams agreed that the money-raising climate is tough, especially for challengers.
“That’s why we’ve gone back to old-fashioned, grass-roots politics -- getting to know your neighbors, meeting people door to door,” Adams said.
Reporter Billy House can be reached at (202) 662-7673 or bhouse@mediageneral.com.