Republican state senate candidate Roby Smith has received more than $15,000 from political action committees (PAC's) since June, including money from the Koch Industries PAC in Washington, D.C. and Mitt Romney's "Free and Strong America" PAC in Massachusetts.
Billionaires David and Charles Koch, who have become synonymous with financing of Tea Party candidates around the country, are primary contributors to the Koch PAC. For details of how the Koch brothers' have organized and funded front groups to further their political agenda, CLICK HERE.
Smith has raised nearly $29,000 since June, with more than half - $15,250 - from PAC's. Romney's PAC organization and the Koch PAC both contributed $500.
Other top PAC contributions to Smith's campaign include: $2,500 from the Iowa Bankers' Association; $1,500 from the Iowa Association of General Contractors; $1,500 from the Deere & Co. PAC; $1,000 from the Master Builders of Iowa; $1,000 from the Iowa Hospital Association; and $1,000 from the Iowa Association of Business and Industry. The Scott County Republican Central Committee has contributed $1,400 to Smith's campaign since June.
Smith narrowly defeated fellow Republican and incumbent David Hartsuch in the June primary, spending a record $37,000. He is facing Democrat Richard Clewell in the November 2 general election.
Clewell's latest report shows he has raised $6,800 since June, and spent a total of $8,100 on the campaign. He has received a total of $950 from political action committees, including Millwright Local Union 2158, United Staff Union of Iowa, Electrical Workers Local 145 and Teamster Local 371, and the Scott County Democratic Central Committee.
While Smith has raised significantly more than Clewell, the most recent disclosure report states he has spent just $5,600 with only two weeks left in the campaign and had a cash balance of more than $28,000. Smith also listed $7,700 in unpaid bills to himself and $2,200 in an unpaid personal loan to his campaign.
Clewell is retired fish and wildlife biologist and has served three terms on the Davenport School Board. Smith, a small business owner, ran unsuccessfully for state representative in 2007.
The state senate 41 district encompasses most of Bettendorf and east side of Davenport.
For the full list of PAC contributors and Smith's full disclosure report, CLICK HERE.
For the full list of PAC contributors and Clewell's full disclosure report, CLICK HERE.
Roby Smith web site: http://www.robysmith.com
Richard Clewell web site: http://www.clewell4senate.com
