The election feels like it was eons ago, but Monday candidates had to file yet another report on the financing of their campaigns.
Some candidates emerged with money in the bank for future political runs, while others ended up with personal investments that contributions have failed to cover as of Dec. 17th.
Nowhere is the contrast starker than in the governor’s race.
Gov. Peter Shumlin hardly has to lift a finger for a 2014 re-election bid because he has $918,231 left from this year’s campaign. He received $1.2 million in contributions, but spent just $337,874.
By contrast, unsuccessful Republican gubernatorial candidate Randy Brock reported a gap of $58,374 between total expenditure of $835,934 and contributions of $777,560. Mark Snelling, Brock’s campaign treasurer, said he expected the campaign would erase the deficit with financial resources already identified.
Brock’s campaign report still showed his $300,000 loan which counted as part of the $777,560 in contributions. The report doesn’t say whether Brock will write that off or try to raise money to cover his loan, but raising money after a failed election bid is a hard sell.
Lt. Gov. Phil Scott, who won re-election, has a big start in his next race with $45,276 listed as surplus. Scott, the Republican, raised $190,415 and spent just $129,192.
Cassandra Gekas, the unsuccessful Democratic/Progressive challenger, spent less than half as much as Scott, $43,461, but raised more than she spent with total contributions of $49,595. She reports she will have a surplus of $2,133 for a future campaign.
Democratic Treasurer Beth Pearce reports $7,744 in extra case from her first statewide campaign, having raised $249,324 and spent $241,881. She has paid herself back the $3,000 advance she gave her campaign, too.
Wendy Wilton, the unsuccessful Republican challenger for treasurer, reports she hasn’t got a cent to put toward a future campaign, but her report also shows she raised more than she spent as of Dec. 17. She listed $98,011 in total contributions and $94,394 in expenditures.
Despite facing challengers in both his Democratic primary and the general election, Democratic Attorney General William Sorrell emerged with $11,734 to put toward his next campaign. Sorrell raised a total of $179,520 during his extended campaign, and spent $167,856.
T.J.Donovan, who lost to Sorrell in the Democratic primary, also reported a little money left over – $3,327 – that he indicates he will reserve for a future campaign. In his unsuccessful primary challenge, he raised $191,901 and spent $184,519.
Unsuccessful Republican AG challenger Jack McMullen spent $203,001 but raised just $58,667 in contributions. He filled the gap by loaning his campaign $153,718. His December filing doesn’t indicate if he will try to raise money to pay himself back or write it off.
In the state auditor’s contest, victor Doug Hoffer reported a $415 difference between total contributions of $57,182 and expenditures of $57,597. He has paid himself back $2,500 of the $10,000 he loaned his campaign and will count the rest as a contribution.
Republican Vincent Illuzzi, who lost to Hoffer, reported a gap of $19,333 between his total contributions of $92,337 and expenditures of $112,270. That gap is nearly equivalent to the amount Illuzzi repaid himself, leaving $5,487 of his $25,000 loan still outstanding.
Secretary of State Jim Condos, who didn’t face major challenger, wrapped up the election with $8,011 to put toward 2014. He raised $29,112 and spent $18,276.
