[ back ]
GOP primary donations were up close, personal
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - May 09, 2012)
GOP primary donations were up close, personal
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
In March's Republican primary race for a Geauga County commissioner's seat, challenger Ralph Spidalieri outspent the incumbent, Mary Samide.
But that's not unusual, according to Mrs. Samide, who said first-time candidates often need to spend more to gain name recognition among the voting public.
Mr. Spidalieri won the nomination by a vote of 8,104-7,156.
He said he relied on a grassroots campaign and money from close friends to finance it. "I ran my campaign the same way I run a business," Mr. Spidalieri said. "I worked aggressively to get my name out there."
According to campaign finance reports from the Geauga County Board of Elections, Mrs. Samide spent $21,236. Mr. Spidalieri spent $24,411. He received another $8,389 in in-kind donations, which can include services or supplies, bringing the total cost of his campaign to $32,800.
The commissioner's position pays about $55,000 annually.
Mrs. Samide said she spent about $41,000 in her first run for the office in 2002. Since that time, she said, she has spent around $19,000 to $20,000 on subsequent campaigns. As an incumbent, she said, she could save on some expenses, such as by reusing signs from previous campaigns.
Mrs. Samide said she has been able to rely on a campaign war chest built over seven years. That allowed her to forego campaign fundraisers that many candidates.
Individuals supporters, including fellow Commissioner William Young, contributed to her campaign, as did former Bainbridge Township Trustee Linda White. Mr. Young contributed $100, while Ms. White gave $25. Of the four individual contributions Mrs. Samide received, Petronzio Management was the largest at $350.
Mr. Spidalieri also held no fundraisers.
His girlfriend, Jolene Carnabuci, was his biggest supporter with contributions of $2,000, $6,000, $1,000 and $2,000.
Mr. Spidalieri, who owns three gun stores, also received contributions from fellow firearms dealers. Scott Weber, who operates the Gunrunner in Burton, contributed $250, and Robert Landies, who owns Ohio Ordnance Works in Chardon, added $500.
Signs, mailers and newspaper advertisements were the typical methods used by both candidates to promote their candidacies. Mr. Spidalieri also spent $535 for Red State Strategies to place robo-calls on his behalf.
He also spent time to get out and meet voters, he said. "I spent hours upon hours upon hours walking down streets and talking to people. It was a grassroots effort, talking to people and listening to their concerns," he said.
Mr. Spidalieri said his experience working with people as a deputy sheriff helped in learning how to talk and deal with people.
The campaign was not without controversy. A mailer by Mrs. Samide questioned a county loan made to her opponent's business.
Mr. Spidalieri denied wrongdoing and called the allegations untrue.
[ back ]
