Campaign finance

reports show

candidates’ spending

By Lori Carlson

Editor

Incumbent Chad LeMair outspent his main opponent, Richard
Keeney, by more than $4,000 in the Nov. 6 Prior Lake
City Council election, according to campaign finance reports filedLeMair by the
candidates.

LeMair defeated Keeney by a narrow margin in the race for a
two-year seat, garnering 47 percent of the vote to Keeney’s 45 percent. A third
candidate, George Victor, got about 7 percent of the vote.

According to reports filed by LeMair, the candidate spent $6,659
throughout the course of his campaign. Keeney’s report shows that he spent
$2,186 total.

LeMair reported total campaign contributions of $5,453. Keeney
reported he received $155 in total.

Candidates have until all debts have been settled and all assets
in excess of $100 are spent to submit final reports, but the state also
requires them to submit reports several times during the election season.

LeMair’s reports show that he spent money on newspaper ads,
election parties and brochures. He did not list spending on signs, but LeMair
said Wednesday that his final report will show he spent about $700 on signs. He
said most of his signs were reused from his previous run for City Council in 2003.

LeMair reported spending on election parties at Fong’s
Restaurant in September and at Captain Jack’s on election night and that he
reimbursed his company, Performance Construction, for an in-kind contribution
to his political Web site. LeMair also reported expenses of $680 and $73 made
by another of his companies, Above All Hardwood Floors, for use of a company
van and for brochure expenses. LeMair said he reimbursed the companies for
those expenses. State statute prohibits contributions from corporations
controlled by or operated for the advantage of a candidate, political party or
committee.

Keeney reported spending money on office supplies, campaign
signs, Web ads, brochures, a political portrait, sign supplies and a domain
name and hosting package for his political Web site.

In the race for two open three-year council seats, incumbent Ken
Hedberg, who won election to his previously appointed seat, reported receiving
$4,000 in contributions and spending $5,907. Hedberg reported spending on a
fund-raiser, election-night expenses, mailing labels, postage, printing, signs
and a Web site. LeMair is listed among contributors – the report shows LeMair gave
$200 to Hedberg’s campaign.

Incumbent Steve Millar, who won re-election to his seat, reported
receiving $2,305, including a $250 in-kind contribution for printing from MHC
Companies in Burnsville. He
reported spending a total of $2,006, including printing, signs and hardware and
a newspaper ad.

Other candidates who were not elected include: Jeff Evens, who
reported receiving no money and spending $27 on a filing fee and copies of
flyers; Randy Langhorst, who reported zero contributions and $639 in spending
on campaign signs; Vaughn Lemke, who reported $15 in contributions and $2,500
on postage, newspaper ads, printed material, signs and a filing fee; and George
Victor, who reported receiving no money and spending $82 on a filing fee and a
newspaper ad.

State statute requires campaign financial reports from
candidates who receive more than $750 in campaign contributions in a calendar
year, committees or corporations who spend more than $750 in a calendar year,
and corporations spending more than $200 on activities to encourage voting
participation.

An initial report must be filed within two weeks of the
candidate receiving contributions or making disbursements of more than $750.
Reports also must be filed 10 days before and 30 days after the election.

Lori Carlson can be
reached at (952) 345-6378 or editor@plamerican.com.