For Ralph Cole, it may have helped, but receiving and spending more cash than his opponent did not guarantee success for Mayor Jack Clarke in the Bradenton Beach city election.
He lost the race in a tiebreaker.
From Sept. 12-Oct. 29, Clarke received $6,158.59 in contributions and spent $5,006.46. His opponent, Bill Shearon, received $2,988.86 and spent $2,963.93.
Cole received $3,625 and spent $3,008.57. His opponent, incumbent Ward 3 Commissioner Janie Robertson, received $348 and spent $313.
Cole defeated Robertson by 51 votes. Shearon defeated Clarke in a tiebreaker arranged by Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Mike Bennett in which the candidates cut a deck of 52 standard playing cards.
New Ward 1 Commissioner Jake Spooner, who was unopposed, raised $300 and spent $300.
Shearon received $1,400 in checks and loans from himself and a $1,000 contribution from Marie Pracht of Bradenton Beach. He also received an in-kind contribution — $220.99 in postage — from Tjet Martin of Bradenton Beach, his life partner.
Shearon spent $2,867.93 on newspaper advertising and mailing supplies.
Clarke received contributions of $50 from Joe Cuervo of Bradenton, owner of the Drift-Inn on Bridge Street, $500 each from Silver Surf Resort and Bridgewalk Partners both owned by Barbara Rodocker, $500 from Island Time Inn, $200 from Tom Nammacher of Bradenton Beach, $200 from Tevatan of Sarasota, $500 each from The Fish Hole and Bridge Street Bazaar Inc., both owned by Commissioner Jake Spooner, and $200 from Edgewater Real Estate. He also made a $150 loan to himself.
Clarke spent $3,808.48 on stickers, a voter list on disk, print advertising, campaign signs and mailers, stamps, office supplies, copy paper, envelopes and labels, copies, graphic design, markers, mailer supplies, postage, sign fasteners, campaign materials, signage, door hangers, card mailers and petty cash.
Cole received contributions of $500 from his father, former Bradenton Beach Mayor Gail R. Cole; Bridgewalk and Silver Surf motels, $100 from Christine Johnson of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, $100 from Chris McNamara of Holmes Beach and $25 from Sandra Freeman of Bradenton.
Cole also received a $100 contribution from David J. Redeker of Bradenton Beach, $75 from former Mayor Katie Pierola and $50 each from Bruce McKenzie of Anna Maria and Normand Langeland of Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Cole spent $2,680.57 on printing, advertising, stamps, card sign stakes, flier sign stakes and signage.
Robertson contributed checks to herself of $300 and $48. Spooner loaned himself $300.
Candidates have 90 days to dispose of any remaining funds. Legal methods of dispersal include reimbursements to the candidate, returning funds to contributors, charitable donations, political party donations or donations to the city government.
Anna Maria Campaign Funding
Candidate Contributions Expenditures
Dale Woodland $500 $48
Carol Carter $4,675 $4,675
Penny Naylor $3,300 $2,701.13
John Damato $6,527 $3,458.40
Doug Copeland had no campaign funds.
The campaign reporting date is through Oct. 29. A final report is due in approximately 90 days.
Anna Maria 2015-16 commission election campaign funds
Carol Carter
Contributions: $4,675 Expenditures: $4,675
• Carol Carter $1,000 • Campaign fee $48
• Lizzie Vann $1,000 • Printing $578.83
• Richard York $100 • Labels $20.20
• Norman Mansour $100 • Stamps $412.97
• Gerald Slavin $100 • Signs $2,609.28
• Janet Aubrey $100 • Newspaper ads $583
• George Rubino $250 • Postage $78.40
• Patricia Zigulich $50 • Banking fees $12
• Janice Teeter $200 • Loan repayment $182.32
• George Talbot $50
• Robert Carter $800
• Lynn Rubino $150
• David Youngs $75
• Agnes Coppin $100
• Christopher Collins $100
• Paul Zurawski $100
• Madie Iseman $50
John Damato
Contributions: $6,527 Expenditures: $3,458.40
• John Damato $600 • Campaign fee $48
• William Townley $500 • T-shirts $897.16
• Nedra Townley $500 • Signs $852
• Kenneth Jackson $250 • Can koozies $139.92
• George Broadbin $300 • Mailers $478.21
• Mike Thrasher $852 • Fliers $50
• David Youngs $75 • Banners $167.61
• Martin Hubri $200 • Newspaper ads $825.50
• Jack Hineline $500
• West Coast Graphics $425
• Jay Myers $150
• Marci Wilhelm $1,000
• Kathryn Linn Gallager $1,000
• Randy Brown $100
• Sato Real Estate $500
Penny Naylor
Contributions: $3,300 Expenditures: $2,701.13
• Penny Naylor $3,300 • Labels $27
• Campaign fee $48
• Printing $503.22
• Stamps $558.47
• Envelopes $307.07
• Newspaper ads $569.50
• Photographs $400
• Signs $277.97
Dale Woodland
Contributions: $500 Expenditures: $48
• Dale Woodland $500 • Campaign fee $48
Doug Copeland
No contributions, no expenditures.
Candidates have 90 days after the Nov. 3 election to return any unspent contributions. Excess campaign funds must be returned by Feb. 1, 2016.
Leftover funds can be used to pay back a candidate’s loans, prorate contributions back to donors, be given to charity or be used to host a post-election congratulatory event.