Republican Roby Smith spent more than $37,000 on the hotly contested June party primary, leaving him with an apparent $2,700 debt headed into this fall's general election campaign for the Iowa District 41 Senate seat.
Smith defeated Republican incumbent David Hartsuch 2,487 (52%) to 2,307 (48%) in the June 8 primary.
According to reports filed with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board, Smith had spent $29,900 and had another $7,700 in unpaid bills as of July 15. His committee reported having $5,000 cash on hand, leaving a $2,700 debt after subtracting the $7,700 in unpaid bills. Smith also reported he had an outstanding personal loan of $2,200 to the Smith for Senate campaign committee.
In an unusual twist for a state senate campaign, Smith's spent a total of $6,000 on voter surveys. One was conducted in January/February as the campaign began and another was conducted in May as the campaign drew to a close. In addition to the usual advertising, direct mail and yard sign expenses, Smith spent nearly $600 on automated phone calls to voters.
Smith faces Democrat Richard Clewell in the November 2 general election. Clewell, a three-term member of the Davenport School Board, defeated Dave Thede, 596 to 479, in the Democratic primary. Clewell has raised a much more modest $6,179 since the campaign began, and had $1,623 left as of July 17.
Smith received nearly a third of his campaign funds – $9,000 – from a single contributor, Harry Cockrell, president of Salzman International, an animal by-products firm headquartered in Davenport. He also received donations of $500 or more from 13 other party members.
Clewell's largest single contribution was $250 from one donor. Smith had 21 individuals and one Political Action Committee (PAC) contribute $250 or more to his campaign as of the July reporting period.
CLICK HERE for Roby Smith's financial disclosure reports.
CLICK HERE for Richard Clewell's financial disclosure reports.
Below if a map of State Senate District 41 encompassing most of Bettendorf and the eastern edge of Davenport.
