Saturday, October 23, 1999
Columbus race racks up funds
Mayor hopefuls raise combined $3.2M
BY JOHN McCARTHY
The Associated Press
COLUMBUS — Democrat Michael Coleman and Republican Dorothy Teater have taken fund-raising in the city mayoral race to a new level, combining for almost $3.2 million, including money they spent on their primary campaigns, according to finance reports filed Thursday.
Mr. Coleman, the City Council president, has raised $916,000 since June, bringing his total contributions through Oct. 13 to a record $1.82 million, according to reports filed with the Franklin County Board of Elections.
Ms. Teater, a county commissioner, raised $777,000 during the same period, bringing her total including money raised for the primary to $1.34 million.
By comparison, current Mayor Greg Lashutka, who is not seeking re-election, spent just $157,000 on his 1995 campaign. County elections officials could not find a report for Democratic loser Bill Moss.
“It shows you two things. Television advertising has risen to astronomical rates. It also tells you the national implications this race holds for both parties,” Teater campaign spokesman Brett Buerck said. Coleman spokesman Fred Yates did not return a phone call seeking comment.
Indeed, television advertising took the biggest chunk of both campaigns' expenditures. Mr. Coleman's campaign spent $965,000 during the reporting period, including $660,000 on TV advertising. Ms. Teater's campaign spent $391,000 of her $727,000 in expenditures on TV ads. Both campaigns plan to pick up their advertising in the final days before the Nov. 2 election.
Ms. Teater's largest benefactor was the Ohio Republican Party, which contributed $240,000. Other big donors included Cincinnati financier Carl Lindner, who gave Ms. Teater $10,000 and Mr. Lashutka's campaign committee, which gave $5,000 to Ms. Teater, a fellow Republican.
Mr. Coleman's largest donation was $75,000 from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. The Democratic National Committee gave $10,000, while the Ohio Democratic Party and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee gave $5,000 each. The New Democrat Network, a political action committee, contributed $15,000.
Developers of two malls that have become a campaign issue for Mr. Coleman and Ms. Teater also were generous. In addition, Richard Jacobs of Cleveland, who says his Northland mall will suffer unless a tax break for a competing mall is repealed, gave $1,000 to each campaign.
George Steinbrenner, the principal owner of the New York Yankees and a former Columbus resident, gave Ms. Teater's campaign $1,000. It was good for third place behind Mr. Lindner, chief executive of the Cincinnati Reds, and Mr. Jacobs, owner of the Cleveland Indians.
In a report filed with Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell, a coalition backing a school construction bond issue on the Nov. 2 ballot reported contributions totaling $100,750.
Coalition spokesman Mark Weaver said the campaign likely will spend about $500,000 — $400,000 is budgeted for television ads.
The biggest contributors — Ohio Contractors Association, Ozanne Construction Co. of Cleveland and Columbus industrialist John McConnell — all gave $25,000.
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