Campaign Finance

I was at a meeting last night... one of the current commissioners in Calvert County said it cost him over $40,000 to run last time....

So with inflation... we can assume he is willing to find more this time to keep a spot that pays $36,000 a year....

I ask you does that seem logical?

I just called for the price of signs... 254 Signs will cost me $1,250.00...

I ask you does that seem logical?

[Sharon]

Originally Posted by residentofcre

I was at a meeting last night... one of the current commissioners in Calvert County said it cost him over $40,000 to run last time....

So with inflation... we can assume he is willing to find more this time to keep a spot that pays $36,000 a year....

I ask you does that seem logical?

Logical...

only if you think about all the kickbacks you'll receive for "special favors".

[Vince]

Originally Posted by residentofcre

I was at a meeting last night... one of the current commissioners in Calvert County said it cost him over $40,000 to run last time....

$40,000??? Sounds like to me.

[rraley]

What I think is more outrageous is that Tommy McKay has stated that it will cost him $250,000 to run for a State Senate seat in Southern Maryland. I have no idea where all of that money will go...it's not like television ads and newspapers ads in a very small market such as ours is going to be amazingly expensive.

[Ken King]

Originally Posted by Vince

$40,000??? Sounds like to me.

He probably computes the time and effort that he could be working a regular job into the equation to get the number that high. Even so $36K times 4 years comes to $144K so would it be that bad of an investment?

[Ken King]

Originally Posted by rraley

What I think is more outrageous is that Tommy McKay has stated that it will cost him $250,000 to run for a State Senate seat in Southern Maryland. I have no idea where all of that money will go...it's not like television ads and newspapers ads in a very small market such as ours is going to be amazingly expensive.

RRaley, I suspect that includes the money he will have to pay the lawyer to get his son out of the counterfeiting charge for printing up the initial expense money.

I asked my husband to check into getting a spot on Channel 6 [the local Comcast channel]. He said that Comcast wouldn't give him the info.

I have a hard time with litter on a stick [political signs] costing $1,250.00 for 254 signs.... and how much do people spend on mailers in envelops that get tossed without being read....

What are we thinking? Why are people spending all this money? Aren't votes and issues important anymore?

Somone said I should go to businesses for the money.... every business I know of is trying to absorb the additional costs of fuel shortages and the rising costs of supplies based on the rising interest rates and fuel....shouldn't employers be putting that money into keeping the business running so people can work... or maybe into health care or other benefits....

If candidates are throwing away money on bumper stickers and litter on a stick... how does that show concern for the community or issues?

I think that if I were running for office in southern Maryland I would spend my time and money going out and meeting people. Look for all the meetings of groups, contact them, and see if they'll give you time to come and meet with them. Notice that I didn't say talk to them... I think that's what turns off a lot of people about politicians. When you go out keep what you say short, and use the time to let people tell you what they want. "Fell their pain" as Clinton used to say. That'll get people to remember you better than any signs or mailings, and it's pretty cheap.

Originally Posted by Bruzilla

I think that if I were running for office in southern Maryland I would spend my time and money going out and meeting people. Look for all the meetings of groups, contact them, and see if they'll give you time to come and meet with them. Notice that I didn't say talk to them... I think that's what turns off a lot of people about politicians. When you go out keep what you say short, and use the time to let people tell you what they want. "Fell their pain" as Clinton used to say. That'll get people to remember you better than any signs or mailings, and it's pretty cheap.

Well said...

My grandfather use to tell me all the time... "Your handshake can speak for you!"

I hate corruption in government... seems to me setting the price of local elections is just corrupt.... begging for real campaign reform....

[ylexot]

Originally Posted by residentofcre

I have a hard time with litter on a stick [political signs] costing $1,250.00 for 254 signs.... and how much do people spend on mailers in envelops that get tossed without being read....

~$5 per sign...how big are they, number of colors, materials, screen printed vs vinyl, etc. Are they doing design work? That could be a reasonable price, or it could be expensive...it all depends.

As for mailings, I've been getting annoyed with the MD Republican mailings lately. The first one I got was a survey...cool, nice to see that they want to find out what is important to their constituents. Not so fast...there was no option for "Here's my survey. Sorry, I don't want to contribute right now" (or something to that effect). Basically, give us money and we'll consider your opinion to be important enough to count. I also noted that there were no questions about gun control laws