| Council hopefuls feeling thrifty Candidates running low-cost campaigns 04/12/2001 By Sarah Post / The Dallas Morning News Forget huge campaign war chests and glittering fund-raisers. Richardson City Council candidates are running such low-cost campaigns that three incumbents have raised no money at all, campaign finance reports show.
Two other candidates have filed reports saying they plan to raise and spend $500 or less.
Last Thursday's deadline for the first round of finance report filings showed Place 5 incumbent Jim Shepherd leading in contributions and spending. His challenger Raj Chari, claimed not to have raised a dime and to have spent only $248 of his own money.
Mr. Chari said he doesn't support campaign contributions for local elections.
"I am very much against it," he said, explaining that he believes incumbents generally have an unfair advantage when it comes to money and connections. He also supports term limits.
"People who are really in touch with the community and the issues should have the upper hand," he said.
Mr. Shepherd's law firm contributed $2,000 to his campaign, and he has given himself a $1,900 loan. Of that, he has spent $2,988.43, mostly on signs and brochures.
"I've had people tell me, 'Jim, you've never had an opponent before. Do you know how to run a campaign?'" said Mr. Shepherd, who has been a council member since 1995. "I am serious about this race. I'd rather err on the side of proving, yes, I do know how to win, to put my best foot forward and campaign properly."
He said that in retrospect, he probably didn't need to spend as much as he already has, but he doesn't regret it. "I hope I'm sending out as clear information as possible to people who deserve to know who is on the council," he said.
Incumbents, even though they are being challenged for the first time in years, aren't planning to spend much. Three of the five challenged incumbents – John Murphy (District 3), Bob Nusser (Place 7) and Carol Wilson (Place 6) – have raised no money.
District 2 council member Tom Rohm has raised $575, most of which came from two close friends.
Only three of the eight challengers have either raised or spent more than $1,000. In fact, Sheryl Miller (District 3) and David Hadavi (Place 7) are participating in "modified reporting," a standard set by the Texas Ethics Commission that allows candidates not to disclose their contributions and expenditures if they do not plan to raise or spend more than $500. A third candidate, John Frick (District 2) has not raised more than $500.
Nearly all campaign money is being spent at printers and office supply stores.
Richardson Mayor Gary Slagel, the only council member not opposed in the May 5 election, said this level of fund raising and spending is "normal to low" compared to city elections in the past.
Ms. Slagel said that when candidates file their second reports April 27, he would expect to see that expenditures have ended early but fund raising has continued in order to recover costs.
The first reports showed that few candidates appeared to be aggressively seeking funding. Most of the candidates who received financial support had just two or three backers.
District 1 candidate Diana Clawson had a grass-roots campaign finance strategy. She went door to door and raised $660 in mostly $20 and $30 donations from 18 of her neighbors.
"I walked all of Duck Creek, 1,400 homes, asking for $20.01 for the year 2001," Mrs. Clawson said.
Staff writer Sarah Post can be reached at 972-234-3198, ext. 124 and at .
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