Summary of “Last Minute” PAC Contributions and Expenditures

A new law in Kansas required “last minute” reports of late contributions and independent expenditures in excess of $300 for both candidates and political action committees (PACs) in last week’s August primary election.

The following table is a summary of these “last minute” PAC reports that total $42,552 in contributions and $134,158 in expenditures:

Table of “Last Minute” Contributions and Expenditures in Kansas August 2008 Primary

$4676 against Mary Pilcher Cook for Senate;
$519 for Sue Gamble for Senate

$2420 for Tim Owens for Senate;
$484+$2082+$4071 against Ben Hodge for Senate;

$392 for Pete Brungardt for Senate;

$1003 for Steve Howe for JoCo DA;
$1003 against Phill Kline for JoCo DA

$425 for/against? August Bogina for State Rep

$514 each for the following:
Steve Howe JoCo DA,
Frank Denning JoCo Sheriff;

Senate: David Wysong, Tim Owens, Sue Gamble, John Vratil

House: Jim Yonally, Jill Quigley, John Skubal, Kevin Yoder, Kay Wolfe, John Crabtree, Ronnie Metsker, Terrie Huntington, Pat Colloton, Sheryl Spalding, Ron Worley, Marvin Kleeb, Scott Schwab

The biggest expenditure in favor of a single senate candidate was the $21,903 spent by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee to favor Kelly Kultala while taking out incumbent Democratic Senator Mark Gilstrap. See Hays Daily News: Gov helps unseat fellow Democrat. This large $21,903 expenditure seems to have been a transfer payment form the Carpenter’s District Council labor union.

The biggest expenditure by a newly-formed out-of-state PAC, and the largest expenditure by an out-of-state group in support of a single house candidate was the $18,790 spent by Kansans for a Diverse Voice at the Table for Inga Taylor in House District 84. Sunday’s Wichita Eagle reported: 84th District race is over, but hard feelings linger. Gail Finney, the victor who will became State Rep since she will have no Republican opposition in November, was quoted by the Eagle:

“A major concern of my campaign was the excessive influence of out-of-state money. It was never my intention to upset or offend anyone.”

The Meadowlark posted articles about these two large last minute PAC expenditures for candidates to alert the public about these unusual expenditures, which potentially were an unfair advantage and unknown to the public.

The largest single expenditure by a PAC was the $30,055 spent by Kansas Club for Growth on several State Senate candidates, who were fiscal conservatives.

Kansas Traditional Republican Majority, acting like traditional “country club” Republicans, simply tried to buy their favorite candidates from a shopping list with little concern for cost. KTRM spent nearly $40,000 on a variety of senate and house candidates, and both the Johnson County DA and sheriff’s races. KTRM was most concerned with Ben Hodge for senate and spent $6637 against Hodge as well as $2420 for his opponent, Tim Owens. Owens prevailed in that race with all the KTRM help.

Kansas Famililes for Public Education PAC and MAINstream PAC were two groups that appear to have coordinated their efforts. Each of these groups spent $476 for robocalls for Mary Ca Ralstin in State Board of Education District 2.

Why did KTRM spend money on Scott Schwab’s contest?

• Finney beats Taylor in 84th House District, Wichita Eagle, Aug 6, 2008.
• D.C. LGBT group “buying” State Rep District 84 for Inga Taylor in Wichita, Kansas Meadowlark, Aug 1, 2008.
• Kansas Democrats to spend another $22,000 to take out Democrat incumbent Senator Gilstrap, Kansas Meadowlark, Aug 1, 2008.
• Kansas Democratic Party’s “Loyalty Committee”, Kansas Meadowlark, July 30, 2008.

Tags: August 2008 Primary, Campaign Finance