11/05/2006

Campaign donations detailed in GT County Board race

Nelson gets some help from former Gov. Milliken

By
Record-Eagle staff writer

TRAVERSE CITY — A donation from a respected former governor is one way to impress your friends, neighbors — and opposition.

Republican Gov. William G. Milliken of Traverse City gave $100 to John Nelson, an environmentalist and Democratic candidate for the District 7 seat on the Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners.

"It was really an honor to have his support," Nelson said.

The donation that came in the mail was not solicited nor was any note included, said Nelson, whose opponent noted Milliken's gesture.

"Wow, that's impressive and it's not going to help me one bit," said Republican District 7 candidate Christine Maxbauer. "Oh well, I'm still not accepting (contributions) from anyone."

District 7 includes parts of Traverse City and Garfield Township. It's the only one among five contested county board races in which both candidates raised more than $1,000 for their campaigns, county campaign finance records show. Nelson raised $3,750 and spent $2,300, contributing $100 of his own money.

Nelson's largest donations included $500 from the Grand Traverse County Democratic Party and $300 from Randolph Tucker, plant manager at Sara Lee and former chairman of the Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay where Nelson is baykeeper.

He also received $100 from Republican Maurie Dennis, who lost to Maxbauer in the August Republican primary.

Maxbauer spent $3,280 on the primary and general election, all of her own money. She said not accepting outside contributions is how she demonstrates her independence from special interests.

The county candidate who spent the most money is Democrat Donna Hornberger in Republican-leaning District 1 that includes the Old Mission Peninsula. Hornberger raised $2,888 and except for $500 from the Democratic party, all came in the form of donations of $100 or less. She and her husband also spent an additional $4,180 of their own money, of which $4,000 was a loan to her campaign.

"It's a tough district for a Democrat, and when you're running against somebody named 'Hooper'," Hornberger said. "A lot of people think it's Jay" — referring to former county board member and current road commissioner Walter "Jay" Hooper.

Republican candidate Bruce Hooper spent less than $1,000 and is exempt from filing a finance report.

In District 2 Republican Larry Inman, facing his first challenge in 14 years, was the only county candidate to take money from a political action committee. Inman received a $500 contribution from the PAC of Huntington National Bank, where Inman is a local bank vice-president. Two fellow vice-presidents gave him $100 each and the county Republican Party chipped in $500.

Almost all of the $2,115 Inman raised was spent on printing and postage costs. Inman said that included a letter to every household in the district inviting residents to call him if they had any questions about county business.

"I got one call," Inman said. "The guy wanted to know if I was pro-life and pro (National Rifle Association). That was it."

His opponent, Democrat Robin James, filed a waiver.

In District 8, where candidate Larry Fleis spent $2,093 to win the Republican primary, he reported not raising or spending a dime since. His opponent, Democrat Phil Scott, filed exempt.

In District 9, both Democrat Don Dierkes and Republican incumbent Addison "Sonny" Wheelock filed exempt.