The Virginian-Pilot
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The campaign bank account of U.S. Rep. Glenn Nye, who faces a strong Republican challenge in the fall, has grown to more than $1 million after a major boost in donations from Jan. 1 to March 31, according to federal campaign reports.
The first-term legislator accumulated $485,000 more than his closest Republican rival, auto dealer Scott Rigell, in the 2nd Congressional District, which includes Virginia Beach, the Eastern Shore and parts of Norfolk and Hampton. Nye's campaign fund also is considerably larger than those of South Hampton Roads' two other congressmen.
The Virginia Beach Democrat collected $365,219 in donations during the first three months of 2010, according to Federal Election Commission reports.
The six Republicans vying in a June 8 primary to take on Nye in November varied widely in their fundraising. They ranged from Jessica Sandlin, a freelance writer who joined the primary race last month and reported $2,234, to Rigell, who reported $620,276.
Rigell reported more new contributions than Nye, adding $408,280 to his fund. More than half of that cash - $273,000 - was a donation from himself. In all, he has loaned or contributed almost $600,000 to his campaign. Rigell, the owner of Freedom Automotive, has said he is prepared to match contributions to show his commitment to the race.
Other Republicans in the primary also seeded their campaigns with personal loans. Bert Mizusawa, a brigadier general in the Army Reserve and owner of a security consulting business, reported $194,268 in new contributions during the recent reporting period, including a $40,000 personal loan. He has loaned his campaign $90,000 since the start of the campaign season.
Ben Loyola, owner of an engineering firm, made a $226,000 loan to his campaign earlier this year and reported a campaign fund balance of just over $92,000.
In the nearby 4th Congressional District, which includes Chesapeake and Suffolk, U.S. Rep. Randy Forbes, a Republican, reported almost $152,000 in donations during the reporting period, bringing his campaign fund to $270,725.
His Democratic opponent, Dr. Wynne LeGrow of Emporia, raised $22,250 during the same period and spent all but $6,087. That included a $20,000 loan he gave his campaign.
In the 3rd District, incumbent U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott, a Newport News Democrat, had a total of $42,718, including $24,500 raised during the reporting period.
Chuck Smith, a Virginia Beach Republican who announced last week he will run against Scott in November, reported $717.
The district includes parts of Norfolk and Portsmouth.
Bill Bartel, (757) 446-2398, bill.bartel@pilotonline.com
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It's not a numbers game
Interesting article about campaign finances. But as you can tell from the comments, money raising is not the huge indicator of support that it used to be. With all the media,social networking, blogging, etc. that is available, having the big bucks to run TV ads isn't so important. The comments are overwhelming about which candidate best supports the writer's views, whatever they may be. People are not so ready to swallow the candidate pushed by the party. Look where that has gotten us. We need a fresh start, not the same old party politics. Someone who actually cares about what the voters feel, and what is best for the country, not themselves. I support Ed Maulbeck. He's not so much about raising the big bucks and spending other's money. He's about getting back to protecting our constitution and freedom.
My property
The fruit of my labor, that's my property. When the government takes my money and gives it to some one else; be it a farmer, corporation, bank, or another person they have committed legal plunder.
Sometimes the law defends plunder and participates in it. Thus the beneficiaries are spared the shame and danger that their acts would otherwise involve... But how is this legal plunder to be identified? Quite simply. See if the law takes from some persons what belongs to them and gives it to the other persons to whom it doesn't belong. See if the law benefits one citizen at the expense of another by doing what the citizen himself cannot do without committing a crime. Then abolish that law without delay ... No legal plunder; this is the principle of justice, peace, order, stability, harmony and logic.
~ Frederic Bastiat
lousy choice
I never vote for Republicans, but have no use for Democrats like Nye who often vote like Republicans as well. We don't need double agents in our party, so we're stuck choosing between a Republican and Republican-lite. Yuck!
Vote Libertarian or the closest facsimily you can find
"The compelling issue to both conservatives and liberals is not whether it is legitimate for government to confiscate one's property to give to another, the debate is over the disposition of the pillage."
~ Walter Williams
What property has the
What property has the government taken from you?
A humble question ...
... in a major metropolitan area with strong conservative leanings, how in heaven's name does Scott Rigell emerge as the strongest candidate the GOP can field? From what I can learn, he's not particularly well-liked within the party, let alone among the electorate at large.
And, seriously, I'm just askin' ...
Hey Buddy- We Anoint from on high
Hey Buddy, we do the anointin' around here. Good candidate or not when we the all powerful leadership choose someone it's not for you to question. By the way dont you love Rigell commercials about him and Terry building Freedom Ford in a few short years. I believe the secret is he used money provided by her family to purchase the dealerships. Just sayin. Not everyone is a self made man.
Maybe you are just a "hater" or haven't met them but...
...I have actually met, talked to and worked in their home during a renovation. They are for real, they are since and they are genuinely good decent people who I will support. Self made man...is there something wrong with a woman supporting her husbands dream? They say behind every good man is a great woman. I can attest they are that and much more indeed. I'd rather you complained about the old money in our country like the Kennedy's, Kerry's and Uhbamas grandparents...
Glenn Nye voted against health care to stay in the running
But don't be fooled, they didn't need his vote anyway. Watch, wait and see how he represents us on the other issues at hand.
campaign finance reform
1. Congressional candidates can only raise money from people within their district; from a computer IP address within the district; or the national or state party.
2. No candidate can contribute, including loans, more than anyone else is allowed. Why should a millionaire candidate be able to contribute more than you or I?
3. Candidates can only spend what is in the bank and not use pledges.
4. After the election, any money left over is turned over to the Treasury to reduce the National Debt.
5. The congressman or senator that fails to be elected and does not announce their retirement before January of the election year does not get retirement pay.
If someone can present a better plan to "even" the playing field then please let us know.