Spending soars for city elections

Columbia’s growth, new media costs boost campaign tab

By GINA SMITH

Staff Writer

Columbia Mayor Bob Coble and two City Council challengers are revving up six-figure campaigns, prompting political observers to think sleepy Columbia, might be ready for big-time politics.

That’s a lot of money in a city where the median income for a family of four is $62,000.

Candidate Kirkman Finlay III had raised nearly $170,000 in his run for the District 4 seat, before incumbent Hamilton Osborne resigned last week.

Finlay’s fundraising amount is a record for the city of Columbia, according to State Ethics Commission documents. He said he will prorate whatever money is left over after the April 4 election and return it to supporters.

Meanwhile, Coble said he’s on track to raise about $200,000 in his re-election run against public relations executive Kevin Fisher who hopes to raise $100,000.

By comparison, Coble raised about $60,000 in 2002.

“That’s a lot of money in a town like this,” said Greg Pearce, a Richland County Council member who is up for re-election in June. “Times are changing.”

COLUMBIA’S GROWTH

Some speculate Columbia’s political face is changing because of the city’s unprecedented population growth, including new, politically minded residents with the cash and influence to back candidates.

“There’s (USC’s) research campus,” Coble said. “A host of new developments. People are moving here and they know the city is on the rise. The stakes are higher (for City Council members) now than ever before.”

Consider:

• Nearly $300 million in new residential development will go up in the next three to five years in the Vista and Main Street area.

• Since 2000, about 400 to 500 residential units have been announced or constructed in the city core, said Chip Land, the city’s deputy director of planning and zoning. That’s up from 100 units between 1995 and 2000. “The growth is amazing,” Land said.

• The city’s boundaries are expanding at an unprecedented rate. In 2005, nearly 400 acres were annexed, bringing the city up to slightly more than 84,000 acres. More than 100 acres have been annexed so far this year.

And while plenty of the city’s residents are interested in politics, some do more than just vote.

Columbia financier Don Tomlin, known for paving the way for USC’s Technology Incubator, has entered the city’s political scene. He and other powerful businessmen are holding fundraisers, writing checks and talking up their picks of city candidates.

“My perception is we’re at the bottom of the barrel in job growth. Sprawl is out of hand ... And we have education issues to focus on,” Tomlin said. “We can help more at the local political level than at any other (level.)”

MEDIA-LOVING VOTERS

Candidates in cities around the nation now must deliver slick, multicolored direct-mail fliers. Billboards. TV spots. Web sites.

“All campaigns have gotten expensive with the proliferation of media,” said Rod Shealy, campaign consultant for at-large candidate Chris Barczak.

Barczak anticipates raising between $20,000 and $30,000.

The cost to reach each registered voter’s household with one piece of mail is $25,000, Shealy estimates.

“And you might want to do that more than one time,” he said. “And that’s before you get to TV, radio, newspaper.”

These high-dollar campaigns could spell trouble for the little guys who want to get in on the political game.

“The people who are most qualified and have the heart and ability and excellent integrity are usually the ones who raise the least money,” said mayoral candidate Joe Azar, who has raised less than $500. “Because they refuse to go in the pocket of any special interest.”

“CHANGE IS GOOD”

Some speculate voters want to change the way city government works. And candidates are seizing on the opportunity.

“There is a growing disconnect between the citizens of Columbia and the mayor and council on spending issues,” said mayoral candidate Kevin Fisher, who has spent his own money on his “Change is Good” campaign including TV spots and billboards.

Fisher wouldn’t say how much.

Some say a change has been under way for a few years.

In 2002, candidate Tameika Isaac Devine was the first person to oust an incumbent in 16 years.

She raised $12,000 for that campaign and has already raised $50,000 this go-round. “With three challengers, I’m going to spend more,” Devine said.

Others may follow her lead.

“You’ve got younger people moving into the city. You’ve got a diverse group moving into the city,” she said. “They want to be involved.”

Reach Smith at (803) 771-8462 or gnsmith@thestate.com.

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