Campaign financials

With Election Day a little more than a month away, local board of supervisors candidates are busy campaigning for two board seats.
Campaigns cost money and the Virginia Public Access Project, a not-for-profit source for political information, released the most campaign finance figures for local candidates through Aug. 31.
In District 1, incumbent Mark Johnson has raised $504. That's more than challenger Andrew McWilliams has generated so far, since he's reported no contributions. But Johnson's total is far less than that raised by challenger Shannon Abbs, who has raised $2,244.
Since May 28, Abbs' campaign has racked up $1,650 from five contributions of more than $100 from private citizens in her district. There is $550 in campaign contributions made by from seven individuals who gave money in amounts no more than $100, and $44 worth of in-kind contributions of less than $100. Abbs' campaign expenses through the end of August total $1,379, ($1,335 worth of itemized expenses and $44 in in-kind contributions of $100 or less).
Meanwhile, Johnson's campaign for re-election to the board of supervisors includes two cash contributions of more than $100 (from himself), one contribution of less than $100 and one $50 in-kind contribution total $504 from January 1, 2009 until Aug. 31, 2009. He's claimed $146 in itemized expenses, and $50 in in-kind expenses, leaving him with an Aug. 31 balance of $309.
McWilliams started his campaign with a $100 balance on May 28, and made $33 worth of itemized expenditures.
In District 4, incumbent candidate Teri Pace has reported $3,305 in receipts from Jan. 1, 2009 through Aug. 31, 2009. Challenger Ronald Matalavage reported total contributions of $200 from May 28 through Aug. 31, 2009. And Grover Wilson, who seeks to regain the District 4 seat on the board of supervisors reported $3,000 in contributions.
Pace's receipts include two cash contributions of amounts greater than $100, totaling $2,000; and $305 from five cash contributions of $100 or less. In addition, Pace reported a loan to her campaign in the amount of $1,000 (from herself). Pace reported $1,311 worth of itemized expenses between the beginning of the year and the end of August.
Wilson's $3,000 included six cash contributions of more than $100 totaling $1,900, and $1,110 from 11 contributions of $100 or less. Wilson reported $2,658 worth of itemized expenses from Jan. 1 to Aug. 31.
In Matalavage's bid for the District 4 seat on the board, he's reported two cash contributions (from himself) of $100 or more totaling $200 between May 28 and Aug. 31. In the same time period, Matalavage had $100 worth of itemized expenses.
Candidates' big spenders for this year were primarily local citizens, but one contribution came from outside the county.
Backers of Wilson's campaign with contributions over $100 were: Roger E. Jarell of Spotsylvania, $700; Kathy F. Woodcock of Rhoadesville, $500; from Wilson's personal finances, $400; Daniel T. Boston Jr. of Unionville, $200; and Henry Lee Carter of Orange, $100.
Pace's most generous supporters with contributions over $100 were Florence Bryan Fowlkes of Montpelier Station, Gregory May of Rapidan, and Pace herself, each with contributions of $1,000.
Abbs had five deeper-pocketed contributors according to her reporting. Contributions of $500 came from Steven D. Brooks and Florence Bryan Fowlkes, both of Montpelier Station. And both David L. Perdue of Orange and Charlotte Tieken of Somerset made $250 contributions. Timothy Allard of Gordonsville made a contribution of $150 to Abbs' campaign.
Johnson provided the only contribution over $100 in his campaign with a payment of $354.
An in-kind contribution is calculated by the dollar value of a gift; it's of value to the candidate, but it's not given in the form of cash, Orange County Registrar Raymond Cady explained.
"An example of an in-kind contribution would be if a restaurant owner decided to throw a fundraising dinner for a candidate and agreed to give the candidate a 30 percent discount," Cady said. "If the actual cost of the dinner was $1,000, after the 30 percent discount, the actual cost to the candidate is $700. The $300 difference would be considered an in-kind contribution."
On a State Board of Elections Campaign Finance Report form, a candidate would report an expense of $700 to the restaurant owner, Cady said, and a $300 contribution would be listed as an in-kind contribution from the restaurant owner. Cash contributions are listed separately from in-kind contributions.
Candidates must fill out paperwork reporting contributions and expenses and report them to the state board of elections by certain deadlines. And while candidates are required to report contributions, those contributions aren't required for a candidate to actually win an election.
"In theory, a candidate could spend very little and win. However, the sad reality is that it takes money, in some cases a lot of money, to win these days," Cady said.
For more information about local candidates' campaign finance reporting, visit www.VPAP.org., or the Virginia State Board of Elections site at www.sbe.virginia.gov. Candidates will be required to file reports again on Oct. 15.