2007

In national politics, we often criticize the mainstream media for covering the "horse race" between candidates instead of the issues. Do voters really need to know how much money someone has or do they need to know which candidate's health plan with help their family the most? In reflecting on OP's discussion of this year's election, I find it a little more horse-race oriented than I would like, although there is also a great deal of substantive and useful commentary.

So I spent this evening reading campaign expense reports. I don't usually do this, preferring to rely on the talents of those who are better with numbers. However, Will has his own finances to worry about this year, so I am having a go. ;-)

Here (and below) is a spreadsheet where we are compiling candidate information including finances and endorsements. What other information should it have?

Campaign finance data is from http://www.co.orange.nc.us/elect/campfin.asp

A few of these reports didn't look right to me (Kevin Wolff spent $1,182.93 and has $1,182.93 cash on hand? Bill Strom's IndyWeek.com ad only cost $100!) but I did the best I could. Corrections are extremely welcome!

The endorsees in Chapel Hill are Kevin Foy for Mayor, and Sally Greene, Cam Hill, Bill Strom, and Jim Ward for Town Council. In the endorsement the Indy states:

They are successfully steering Chapel Hill through this critical period of rapid growth, and intelligently steering the town's development: they've pushed for strong environmental, land use, and future zoning standards at Carolina North, established a temporary moratorium on building in the northwest study area, advocated for the Rogers Road neighborhood, supported downtown projects, and set strong affordable housing standards.