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Highlands Today

Schuler, Rahenkamp Ahead InCampaign Funds

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By Douglas  Carman | Highlands Today

Published: October 30, 2007

AVON PARK — If the size of a candidate's bank account is a clue in who's going to win the election, then Mayor Sharon Schuler is way ahead in the mayoral race, while James Rahenkamp has a comfortable lead in the race for Doug Eason's open council seat.

According to campaign treasurer's reports submitted Oct. 19 to the city, Schuler didn't need to use a dime of her own money to raise $1,335 in her campaign. Rahenkamp, meanwhile, plunked $200 of his own money and collected more than $820 from a handful of big-dollar donators in his council bid.

On the expenses, Schuler spent $1,119, almost double the amount spent by Gonzalo Lezama, the next-biggest spender for the mayoral race. Rahenkamp has held on to most of his contributions, spending a mere $428.81 as of Oct. 12.

Notably, Schuler was the only candidate to use campaign mailers. Even though Paul Miller bought business cards, none of the other six candidates spent money on any other form of advertising, using their funds only for filing fees and campaign signs.

Several of the other candidates bankrolled their campaigns using mostly their own money. Mayoral contestants Ed Dickerson and Gordon Marshall relied only on their own wallets to raise $641.87 and $300, respectively.

From the list of contributors, Schuler has pulled much of her campaign money from local businesses, including a $500 check from Long's Air Conditioning and a $250 donation from Highlands Aviation. Miller also relied on businesses for funding, and in terms of the number of different backers, Miller and Schuler both lead with nine contributors each.

Other candidates that received contributions seemed to focus on niches. Al Hinson, who raised $366, collected mostly from fellow teachers and Southside-area residents. Rahenkamp pooled mostly from Holiness Campground residents. Lezama's two contributors and one of Hinson's have Sebring addresses.

City Clerk Sarah Adelt said the city only collects the treasurer's reports and does not actively monitor them, so she could not compare the fundraising for this election to previous ones.

The city will require the candidates to turn in another report Friday, which will be the last update before the election. State law requires the candidates to either refund the left-over money "pro rata" to their contributors, donate it to a charity or contribute it to the city's general funds after the election is over.

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