TKC EXCLUSIVE AND BREAKING NEWS!!! A BRILLIANT AND KICK-ASS TKC TIPSTER PERFORMS A KANSAS CITY ELECTION "VALUE PER VOTE" COST BREAKDOWN!!!
While I'd like to pat myself on the back for putting crowd-sourcing into play when it comes to Kansas City politics, I've always contended that the people reading this blog were a lot smarter than TKC.
Today, somebody really went out of their way to prove it.
To wit . . .
CHECK OUT A RATHER GULLY AND BRILLIANT KANSAS CITY ELECTION "VALUE PER VOTE" COST BREAKDOWN PERFORMED BY A KICK-ASS TKC TIPSTER!!!
The results are telling . . . I want to give this guy credit because it's really great work . . . But my default stance is never to include names on tips. So I sent an e-mail back asking if I can fill in the blanks . . . We'll wait on that . . .
In the meantime, check out a bit of wisdom and insight from a KICK-ASS TKC READER:
"CANDIDATE VALUE PER VOTE"
"If it would interest you, I've done some calculations on what it costs to buy a vote in KCMO. I've looked at every mayoral and city council member's MEC filings. These are the calculations based upon the filings at 8 days out. These do NOT factor in any money collected prior to this election cycle. It is also not a calculation of money spent during the campaign. It may include money contributed by the candidate him or herself through personal funds. So these numbers reflect the total amount collected in fundraising and compares that to the total number of votes received during the election last Tuesday.
"The highest amount collected was Mike Burke at almost $440K. The lowest amount was Charlie Angel with $0 collected which seems…well, unlikely. Especially when one needs to report even personal contributions.
"A total of $1,889,161 has been collected for an average dollar value of $3.84 per vote. Winning candidates collected $1,072,009 averaging $3.47 per vote. Losing candidates collected $817,152 averaging $4.47. . ."
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Check it:
So what have we learned?
Money doesn't always win the race, but sometimes it does.
A lot of candidates got a long way without a lot of cash, but for most that wasn't enough to achieve victory.
Name recognition was a HUGE FACTOR in this race that offset cost.
And let's stop pretending that money doesn't play a significant role in Kansas City elections . . . Because it's pretty obvious that it does . . . As pointed out by a KICK-ASS TKC TIPSTER. Natch.
Money talks.
ReplyDeleteYour kickass tipster is absolutely ridiculously wrong. Just wait...Sly James outraised and outspent Mike Burke. The $435,000 number is a total from the start of raising money in 2010 before the primary through March 10th. In that same period Sly James raised about $850,000. Try again Tony.
ReplyDeleteDiana Kander will you please shut up?
ReplyDeleteUnfair.
ReplyDeleteWhy is it that Sly James supporters are so defensive about their victory?
ReplyDeleteWhat we learned from this worthless "analysis" is absolutely nothing. There are so many ifs and buts attached to the numbers that they're meaningless. Take the total amounts raised over the entire campaign, including personal funds "lent" them, and divide by the number of votes.
ReplyDeleteAnd, at the end of the day, money plays an important, but not decisive role. If your candidate is a dud, or doesn't even actually live in the city, mon ey isn't going to get them very far. Just ask Meg Whitman in California!
The Burke Number is $221,727
ReplyDeleteDivided by 32117 votes.
Which is roughly: $6.90 a vote.
So Burke still paid more than Sly.
You're tipster was basically right but his math was a bit off Tony.
I think that its interesting that the union maid received more money than any other council candidate.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Brandon Ellington received more money than either Reed or SSB.
I think some people are very beholden to some contributors... and we all know that people who give big money expect big payback.
ReplyDeleteDoes this count all the money the Citizens Association, unions and other special interest groups spent on behalf of their candidates. I received at least 3 mailers from the Citizens Association,
ReplyDeleteAnother mushroom cloud photo.
ReplyDeleteTired & lazy
Those numbers are general election only because it is its own cycle. Sly raised $547,000 prior to that. All together, Sly raised a significant amount more than Burke and spent more per vote than him.
ReplyDeleteTracy Ward received no votes?
ReplyDeleteThis is a dumb analysis considering all of the third party help getting votes that are not counted such as Freedom Inc. and Forward Kansas City.
ReplyDeleteThese numbers are way off. There are some consultants in this city who have no idea what they are doing!
ReplyDeleteIt also does not take into consideration "In-Kind" contributions - and some campaigns have inflated their "in-kind" numbers to make it appear that they have raised more money than they actually have - i.e. Ellington really only raised about $7,000 total the rest of the money is from "in-kind" contributions - so Brandon actually spent a lot less per vote.
ReplyDeleteWho is the moron that did these figures? When calculating cost per vote you don't figure the money raised but the money spent.
ReplyDeleteThis does not seem to factor in the "independent" expenditures expended on candidate's behalf, like mailings Local 42's several committees.
ReplyDeleteBrandon Ellington spent less per vote, I just looked at his report, most of his came from in kind. It cost Melba almost 100,000.00 to beat him.
ReplyDeleteIt's more important to know where the money came from. Who had the most in small contributions? Who is bought and paid for by the unions and business interests?
ReplyDeleteIn Kind donations is the best kind. Brandon Ellington showed all the political handlers that he was a community organizer and he went to work getting the citizens involved, black,white,brown,rich and poor we all supported Brandon. Regardless you have to give this young man credit he ran a super campaign, on a shoe string budget.
ReplyDeleteGeez! You're some kind of retard Tony.
ReplyDeleteYou won't be missed.
Many of the politicos will have money left over - that they use during the next four years to "contribute" to events, charities, etc. So the question is how much was spent. I am quite sure that Circo has money left over to sprinkle to supporters during her term. That's how it done.
ReplyDeleteJermaine Reed with held he didn't mention the purchase of his huge campaign material, and he received money for the Plaza Lawyers he is already brought and sold.
ReplyDeleteTracy Ward spent more than $4,000.00, signs,tee-shirts,buttons,campaign materials,mailers
ReplyDeleteA ding dang doo
ReplyDeleteTracy, get you f'n signs picked up and out of the R/W
ReplyDeleteTrue dat.
ReplyDeleteoh, pick them up for her,or they will be there until you do.
ReplyDeleteAs predicted early in this campaign, Tracy Ward will soon be answering to the Missouri Ethics Commission for her campaign finance violations.
ReplyDeleteThat's what happens when the Libertarians and Bill Nigro are your primary campaign advisers.
And yes, get your fucking signs out of the public right of ways, Tracy.
They're all over town and a reminder of your March 22 FAIL.
6z;49am suck an egg for easter. What MEC voilations? Who woke you up this morning, Cathy?
ReplyDeleteI observed Brandon Ellington at a Republican forum & had a mixed review on how he did, but I spoke to him afterward. He was friendly, humble, focused, energetic, outreaching, and delegating. I was surprised to see Plate County election sites all having his signs out.
ReplyDeleteThis crowd can be pretty rough on Tracy Ward. I really like having her as a friend; although she does drag me out to too many events for my comfort. I have personally picked up some of her signs and I believe many of her core supporters have as well. If there are more still out there, please do the favor of letting her know where they are located & I'm certain she'll get them picked up. I was sad to see her lose, but sort of expected it after the primary numbers, Scott's big huge billboards all over, and that nasty mailer he sent out. Overall I think she did pretty well. There was lots to be learned and many areas that could use honing, but it's a learning thing and what finances you have to work with thing.
ReplyDelete