The latest round of political campaign finance documents are now available, illustrating the dollars and cents behind Scottsdale’s mayoral and City Council races.
Reports show monetary …
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The latest round of political campaign finance documents are now available, illustrating the dollars and cents behind Scottsdale’s mayoral and City Council races.
Reports show monetary donations for the second quarter of 2020 --- April 1 to June 30 --- just before the Aug. 4 primary election.
A final “pre-election” finance report is due to be submitted by July 27, to include any last-minute donations collected during July.
Campaign finance reports are housed and maintained by Scottsdale City Clerk Carolyn Jagger. They require candidates to disclose where their campaign money comes from, what it’s being spent on and how much is in their coffer.
Candidates are only required to disclose the names of individual contributers who give more than $50.
Registered voters have received their ballots in the mail in recent days for the Aug. 4 primary election; a general election shall be held on Tuesday, Nov. 3, to fill any elected offices that remain unfilled after the primary election.
To be elected at the primary election, a candidate must receive a majority of all of the legal votes cast for that candidate’s race.
Seeking the seat of mayor are incumbents Suzanne Klapp and Virignia Korte; while former City Council members Lisa Borowksy, Bob Littlefield and David Ortega are also competing for the spot.
For City Council, nine people are running for three open seats. They are:
Michael Auerbach
Tammy Caputi
Bill Crawford
Tom Durham
Betty Janik
Becca Linnig
John Little
Kevin Maxwell
Guy Phillips, the only incumbent.
Lisa Borowsky
Ms. Borowsky reports she’s received $38,450 in donations of more than $50 from 44 individuals, and less than $200 in donations below the $50 threshold.
She also reports receiving $16,173.46 in loans from herself; and spending $49,612.29 in operating expenses.
Ms. Borowsky’s most-lucrative donations include:
$5,000 from David Hovey Jr., president and principal architect for Optima, Inc.;
$5,000 from Alexander Brigham
In the first quarter of 2020, Ms. Borowsky reported no financial activity, so all numbers presented in quarter two is her total campaign value.
Suzanne Klapp
Ms. Klapp reports $21,250 in donations of more than $25 dollars from 26 donors, and $2,013.73 from political action committees. Also, $25 in donations less than the threshold.
Ms. Klapp kicked off her campaign in late 2019 as she ramped up her run for mayor. In the fourth quarter of 2019, Ms. Klapp reported receiving $104,900 from individual donors --- which adds up to $168,350 for Ms. Klapp’s mayoral campaign thus far.
For the most recent quarter, her total spending is just over $30,000 for the second quarter, the reports state.
Ms. Klapp’s heavy hitters this quarter include:
$2,000 from Greg Tryhus of Grayhawk;
$2,500 from LGE Design CEO Dave Sellers;
$2,000 from Missouri-based builder Richard Huffman of HCW Development.
The two political action committees Ms. Klapp received funds from, in the second quarter, are $500 from an entity labeled “GAZPAC” in Phoenix; and $1,513.73 from Mayor Jim Lane’s “Lane 4 Scottsdale 2016” committee.
Virginia Korte
Ms. Korte reports receiving $32,325 from individuals during the second quarter, and $1,300 from political action committees.
She also reports $33,625 in monetary contributions, and $53.94 in-kind contributions.
In total, Ms. Korte reports raising a cumulative amount of $154,996.
For spending in quarter two, she reports $29,975.34 in operating expenses.
The two political action committees who donated to Ms. Korte are: $500 from Southwest Gas AZ PAC; and $800 from Salt River Project PIC.
Ms. Korte had 78 individual donors. Some of her largest donations were:
$3,000 from Grayhawk’s Mr. Tryhus;
$2,500 from attorney Jason Morris.
Among Ms. Korte’s typical campaign advertising expenses includes payment to community advocate Denny Brown, for campaign management. Mr. Brown has received $3,600 this quarter for his services.
Bob Littlefield
Mr. Littlefield reports $20,353 in donations above $50 from 68 individuals; and $465 less than that threshold.
He also reports $9,000 received in loans from himself, but has repaid $1,053.14 of that.
Also, he reports $309.06 in-kind contributions. Mr. Littlefield’s disbursements for campaign operating expenses are $15,373.
Mr. Littlefield’s contributions include $4,300 from both Cynthia and Michael Simonson.
The majority of the other donations are between $100-$500, from residents listed as retired or N/A for their occupation and employer.
For the 2020 campaign, Mr. Littlefield’s total donations are reported to be approximately $29,000; and his personal loans total $14,000.
David Ortega
For the second quarter of 2020, Mr. Ortega reports receiving $22,087 in individual contributions from 18 donors.
He also reports $13,000 in loans received, and $150 of personal money. Additionally, he reports $1,220 for in-kind contributions.
He has spent $22,299.06 for operating expenses, the reports show.
Mr. Ortega’s largest contributions this cycle include:
$3,200 from Tom Silverman, who identifies himself as retired; and
A total of $8,600 from Mr. and Mrs. Simonson.
In the first quarter, Mr. Ortega reported $11,700 in donations more than $50 from eight contributions; $54.30 in donations less than $50; and $31,450 in loans from himself.
Michael Auerbach
Mr. Auerbach reports receiving individual donations totaling $1,625, and refunding $700 to himself.
He has spent $3,373.07 on disbursements for operating expenses.
For individual donations, he received funds from 17 people, ranging between $25-$500.
His highest donation of $500 was from Alexander Cudzewicz, the second quarter report states.
In the first quarter, Mr. Auerbach reported $850 in donations; while in the last quarter of 2019, he reported receiving $2,900.
The refunded $700 to himself was first reported as candidate’s personal monies in late 2019 as well.
Tammy Caputi
Ms. Caputi received $35,505 in individual contributions more than $50, and $241 in donations less than $50.
She also reported $5,000 in loans received.
Her second quarter campaign spending is $16,486.33.
Ms. Caputi’s 79 donors include $6,450 from Riot Hospitality Group’s Ryan Hibbert; and $5,000 from home builder Julianne Hancock of Camelot Homes.
In the first quarter, Ms. Caputi reported raising $19,050.
Bill Crawford
Mr. Crawford reports raising a total of $28,590 --- comprised of $26,925 from individuals donating more than $50; $165 for donations less than the threshold; and $1,500 from candidate committees.
His donations are from 38 people, including $5,000 from Ms. Hancock; and $6,450 from Paradise Valley Real Estate professional Christy Schust.
Mayor Lane’s PAC donated $1,500 to Mr. Crawford.
Mr. Crawford’s first quarter reporting was $20,600 in donations.
Thomas Durham
Mr. Durham’s second quarter reports show $10,243 from individual donations more than $50; and a $7,000 loan from himself.
His monetary contributions came from seven individuals, including another $8,600 from Mr. and Mrs. Simonson.
In the first quarter of 2020, Mr. Durham reported $8,405 from 26 contributions. In 2019, Mr. Durham reported a single $200 donation and loaning himself $1,123.99.
Betty Janik
Ms. Janik’s campaign finance reports show $11,910 in donations more than $50 for the second quarter.
She also has loaned herself $12,000.
Among her donors are Mr. and Mrs. Simonson who gave a total of $8,600.
Scottsdale City Councilwoman Solange Whitehead donated $400 to Ms. Janik.
Throughout her campaign, Ms. Janik reports $9,583 of donations in the first quarter of 2020; and use of $2,213 in personal donations during the last quarter of 2019.
Becca Linnig
Ms. Linnig reports raising $7,025 in individual donations greater than $50.
Homebuilder, Ms. Hancock, is among Ms. Linnig’s contributors with a $5,000 donation. Her other donations range from $100-$500.
In the first quarter of 2020, Ms. Linnig reported $2,900 in donations, while 2019 fourth quarter report includes $1,250 in total monetary contributions.
John Little
Mr. Little’s campaign finance reports state he received $18,830 in donations of more than $50.
Among Mr. Little’s donors are Ms. Hancock, with a $5,000 donation; and Mr. Tryhus of Grayhawk Development with a $2,000 donation.
In the first quarter of 2020, Mr. Little reported $22,900 in donations, while in the fourth quarter of 2019 he raised more than $18,000.
Kevin Maxwell
Mr. Maxwell has received $2,686 in the second quarter with donations ranging from $50-$500. Last quarter, Mr. Maxwell raised $7,750.
Guy Phillips
Mr. Phillips’ second quarter report shows $23,100 from individual contributions greater than $50, and $460 in lesser donations.
He also reports $400 in-kind contributions received from videographer, Susan Wood.
Mr. Phillips’ greatest donation this quarter is $8,600 from Mr. Simonson.
Last quarter, Mr. Phillips received $9,638 in donations, while the fourth quarter of 2019 included $750 worth of individual donations and a personal loan from himself for $1,090.
Melissa Rosequist Managing Editor | East Valley @mrosequist_
I first started my journalism portfolio at the age of 15 while in high school before going on to study at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications. Being in the journalism field is the only professional avenue I was ever interested in, and have worked hard covering topics from school boards to hard news while working for the Independent, where I have been awarded for my reporting.
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