November 11, 2009 by ggackle
The winner of Bettendorf's 4th Ward city council election, Greg Adamson, spent at least $5,800 on his campaign, nearly eight times more than his opponent, incumbent alderman Patricia Malinee, according to state campaign finance and disclosure reports.
The state report filed by Adamson days before the November 3 election also shows 30 percent of his campaign contributions came from outside the city and nearly 40 percent came from donors in the city but outside the 4th Ward.
Adamson currently is treasurer of the Scott County Republican Party and served as a county supervisor after retiring from the Bettendorf Police Department. He is currently serving as a member of the Bettendorf Park Board.
A full accounting of Adamson's campaign fundraising and expenditures won't have to be filed until January 19, 2010, but in the report filed Oct. 29, he reported raising $5,500. Expenditures and unpaid bills totaled nearly $5,800. Adamson also made a $2,000 loan to his campaign fund.
Malinee, who lost the aldermanic contest by a vote of 576 to 292, spent less than $750 on her re-election bid. No campaign financial reports are required unless a candidate raises more than $750 or spends more than $750 on campaign materials and services. Malinee did not file a campaign report with the state.
Adamson ran on a platform of being a fiscal conservative saying the main challenge facing the city was watching expenses during the current economic downturn.
The amount Adamson spent on the ward election is believed to be a record-setting amount, totaling nearly $10 per vote he received in the 4th ward race.
Among his expenses was $545 for food at campaign meetings and events and more than $2,600 to Results Integrated, Bettendorf Mayor Mike Freemire's marketing firm, for a campaign website, brochure and ad in the Bettendorf News.
The Adamson campaign expenditures easily exceeded the amounts spent by alderman at-large candidates Tim Stecker, Ron Solt and Judy Gackle.
In the city-wide at-large aldermanic race, Stecker reported raising $3,315 prior to the election, spending $1,215, with another $2,500 in "unpaid bills."
Gackle reported spending $1,280 on election campaign signs and materials, with contributions of $1,290, including $970 from the candidate.
At-large candidate Ron Solt spent/raised less than $750 and did not form a campaign committee or file a report.
For the full campaign fund disclosure report filed by Adamson, CLICK HERE.
For the full campaign fund disclosure report filed by Stecker, CLICK HERE.
For the full campaign fund disclosure report filed by Gackle, CLICK HERE.
