Does Money Buy Votes in Lincoln?
Chris Beutler outspent Ken Svoboda by $200,000 and Beutler was subsequently elected for the low cost of $21.03 per vote. Svoboda spent $13.71 per vote. The question I have for you is: does money buy votes in Lincoln? I always think that’s an interesting question to ponder after each election. My general opinion—and my opinion in this specific case—is no. Do you think otherwise?
The Comments
Fletch June 27, 2007 at 11:05am
The answer is no, or we’d be complaining about Senator Ricketts and not Senator Nelson. End of story. This is an easy answer that shouldn’t need any further debate. LOL If you could simply buy votes, Pete would have won like never before. The mayor’s race was close, and I am not totally convinced the outcome would have been different if Chris spent less, or Ken spent more. Had they spent exactly the same, whether $300K or $500K, I think Ken loses that race.
However, I also believe that had Ken never had the contract for the medians for $100K a year or whatever, I think he wins that race.
mike4mayor_of_lincoln July 8, 2007 at 12:12pm
Hello all,
I received 8 votes for every buck I spent; imagine if I had spent $300,000. Would I have gotten 2,400,000 votes? I really think that it is not the money it’s the message and who can smear the other guy better. When you talk about Mayor Beutler’s record it is long and filled with both good and bad. If you could spin the bad then you can be a great politician if not give it up. Mayor Beutler was able to make voting against tax breaks for the people a positive thing for the people. While Councilman Svoboda was unable to spin his family’s company’s inability to live up to a contract a good thing. Then Mr. Yant trying to sell yourself as the business person that this city needs even though the majority of companies that you started went out of business. While the newcomer (myself) unwilling and pretty much unable to waste money on politics and wanting to keep myself above the mud. I am a working man that believes that what ever money I make should go to feed and cloth my family. I did spend my hobby money ($99.54) on the Mayors race and I do not feel comfortable asking people for money to waste on politics. The only people that I guess that may want me for Mayor are the people that I would advocate for the loudest, the working poor. I could never ask them for any money. I guess that next time I will have to find some mud balls and throw one or two. Oh yes the answer to the question is no money does not matter it is the message that does and how polished the message is.
Thanks
Mike 4 City Council