Zahnd
ahead of Glick
in campaign donations
by Ivan
Foley
Landmark editor
If the size of a campaign's financial war chest will
eventually determine the winner, pencil Eric Zahnd in
as the early favorite in the race for Platte County Prosecutor
in November.
To this point Zahnd has raised more and spent less than
his opponent.
Zahnd will be the Republican challenger to Tammy Glick
(D), who was appointed interim prosecutor by Gov. Bob
Holden last fall after Todd Graves left to accept the
position of U.S. Attorney for Western Missouri.
Through June, Zahnd had raised $62,000 in his election
bid, while Glick had raised approximately $42,000. Their
is a bigger disparity in cash on hand, however, as Glick
has spent about $10,000 more than Zahnd through June.
Candidates were required to submit their quarterly financial
reports by July 15. According to those reports, Zahnd's
campaign had $50,056 on hand at the end of June compared
to $22,367 in cash on hand for Glick.
Records show Glick has spent slightly more than $19,000
on her election bid thus far, while Zahnd lists total
election expenditures to this point at $9,547.
Expenses for Glick include total payments of $6,000 thus
far to R.L. Steinman and Associates of Independence for
consulting services. Glick's report lists the description
of services rendered by that firm as "research on
issues and opposition background; direct mail production;
volunteer organization and fundraising."
Zahnd said he finds it surprising that Glick feels the
need for a campaign consultant in a county race.
"It's surprising that Ms. Glick has the money to
hire a campaign consultant in a countywide race and I'm
troubled by the fact that his job description is listed
as opposition background, which is to dig up dirt.
"That seems to be an indication of where she wants
to take this campaign," Zahnd said this week.
Glick defends her use of a paid consultant.
"I'm not a professional politician. This is the
first race I've ever run. I'm a fulltime prosecutor. I
don't have time to run a campaign against an experienced
politician without some assistance," she said.
When asked if she is happy with the performance of the
consulting firm, Glick replied: "No comment."
The Steinman firm was paid $3,000 on April 5 and another
$3,000 on June 7.
Other expenses listed by Glick for the most recent quarter
include: $759.22 to Shiloh Springs Golf Club for food
and beverage during an April fundraiser; $2,500 paid to
Voter Data Service LLC; $1,307.45 to Damar Printing of
Kansas City; $1,350 paid to James Farley for office space
rent; and $286.50 in postage costs.
Zahnd's major expenditures during the last quarter have
included: $4,550 to Majority Strategies for printing;
$817.21 to Rob Willard for salary; $93.51 to the law firm
of Bryan Cave for phone/copy/fax expenses; $150 to Bixler
Photography; $226.79 to Horizon Screen Printing; $401.88
in postage; and $141.25 to OfficeMax for various office
supplies and copies.
Heading into the most recent quarter, Zahnd had $54,599
in total receipts. He raised nearly an additional $7,700
from April through June.
He had previous expenses of roughly $2,800 heading into
the most recent quarter, and spent $6,740 from April through
June.
Meanwhile, Glick had previously reported roughly $27,000
in receipts prior to the most recent quarter. She took
in an additional $14,700 during April-June.
Glick had spent $6,859 prior to the most recent quarter,
then spent an additional $12,208 from April through June.
Glick said she doesn't see the disparity in cash on hand
as a big problem.
"But obviously I'd want more money to keep up with
my opponent," she said.
"My support is coming from local people who want
someone with experience that knows how to practice law
running that office," she said. "His money is
coming from outside the state and from the far eastern
side of the state."
Zahnd said the "outside the state" funding
Glick refers to is minimal. He said he has relatives from
outside the state who have given, just as Glick has family
members from outside the state who have given to her campaign.
Zahnd said other out of state money he has received can
be explained by the fact he attended law school in North
Carolina, and he has received donations from people connected
with his days at law school.
"I'm very proud that my campaign is being funded
from all over Platte County by people from all walks of
life, and not just from criminal defense attorneys,"
he said.
The next quarterly campaign finance reports for candidates
in the November general election are due in the board
of elections office Oct. 15.
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