A few observations about Post-General Campaign Finance statements filed by Vicki Barnett and Paul Welday, which reflect activity in the very last leg of the House District 37 race:
Fundraising:
Because the numbers include a contested Republican primary, it makes sense that Mr. Welday would end the race having raised about $30,000 more than Ms. Barnett – $164,749 to her $132,013. What’s really interesting, though, is that they both raised almost the same amount in the last week and a half – his $13,028 to her $11,751.
Thrift:
Give Ms. Barnett the nod on this one, she ended her campaign with $43,000 in the bank and no debt. Mr. Welday has about $1,000 in the bank and his committee owes $23,000 (all expenses he covered for the campaign).
PAC Money:
About half of Ms. Barnett’s final 33 contributions came from PACs – Planned Parenthood of MI, Michigan Laborers Political League, Michgian Equality PAC, Michigan Podiatric Action Society, Pam Byrnes Leadership Circle, Meadows Majority Fund, Foster PAC, DTE Energy Company PAC, Lakeshore Federation of Teachers in St. Clair Shores, Michigan Corrections Organization PAC, Michigan Propane Gas Association PAC, Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (who knew?), Michigan Society of Anesthesiologists, Wiener Associates PAC and the Lipton Leadership Fund.
Ten of Welday’s final 50 contributions were his own, but he also received money from the Michigan Manufactured Housing RV & Camp PAC, Michigan Aggregates Association, BIASM PAC, WMI PAC of Michigan, Chrysler Service Contracts Inc. PAC, Michigan Insurance Political Action and the Great Lakes Education Project, a PAC formed by Dick & Betsy DeVos to push school vouchers.
I could add up the numbers to determine who took more PAC money overall, but my guess would be that’s kind of a toss-up. This was an important race to both parties; money came in from all over. The big picture here is much more interesting. Though both candidates raised about the same amount of money after October 24, Ms. Barnett came into the last few weeks of the campaign in a much stronger financial position and actually spent less money. Welday spent nearly $52,000 – almost a third of all the primary and general election funds raised – in the last 10 days of his campaign, outspending Barnett about 2 to 1.
And Republicans claim Democrats are the ones always trying to throw money at a problem.
You can find all the campaign finance statements on-line at http://www.mi.gov/sos
–Joni Hubred-Golden
Publisher
The Enterprise 
I believe the issue is throwing taxpayer money at a problem. Spending money, voluntarily given to you, on a campaign is a bit different.
Not to the people who contributed to the campaign.
The issue, it seems to me, is what you do with money that’s not really yours – personally speaking. A candidate has an obligation to the people who provide support for the campaign, just as a public servant has an obligation to taxpayers. Based on these statements, seems fairly obvious which candidate handles other people’s money well.
With internal polling in both camps strongly favoring Barnett in October, it looks like Barnett wisely decided not to spend other people’s money unnecessarily, while Welday went “all in”. The result — Barnett has a strong starting treasury for 2010…and Welday is personally on the hook for more than 20 big ones.
Mr. Welday has run for election to offices many times in the past and has always lost. Unfortunately, negative campaigns, rumors and blatant false statements coupled with innuendo, do not help the voter who is seeking honest representation. Congressman Gary Peters addressed the Farmington (area) Exchange Club at their regular first luncheon for the fall session and answered questions in an open conversation between himself and his audience He was gracious and informative. Many members expressed satisfaction with his knowledge of the issues and the invitation he expressed to them for follow up questions and answers via his office. It is obvious that his education and business experiences (as Vice President at Merrill Lynch and law degree) place him in a great position to represent our Congressional District.