Duke Behnke | Appleton Post-Crescent USA TODAY NETWORK – WISCONSIN
GRAND CHUTE – The candidates for Town Board have been funding their political campaigns largely with their own money ahead of Tuesday’s election.
Campaign finance reports filed recently with the town clerk show that in the race for town supervisor 1, incumbent Ron Wolff contributed $6,000 to his reelection campaign. He had no other donors, though his campaign started with $461. Challenger Tim Bantes contributed $5,250 to his effort to unseat Wolff. Bantes also had no other donors.
In the race for supervisor 3, incumbent Walt Nocito put up $1,041 for his reelection campaign, after starting with $655. His opponent, Beth English, provided $2,000 of her own money, or about 52% of the $3,826 she raised.
In the race for town chair, incumbent Jason Van Eperen provided the entire $962 that he recorded as income during the reporting period. His opponent, former Town Chair Dave Schowalter, filed an exemption from reporting, indicating he won’t receive or disburse more than $2,000 during the campaign.
The election winners will earn a two-year term on the board. The salary for town supervisor is $10,812. The salary for town chair is $20,500.
English and Nocito were the only candidates to record revenue from donors besides themselves, though Nocito’s other donation totaled 7 cents.
English reported 19 donations ranging from $50 to $200, according to her March 27 filing. The $200 came from Grand Chute Supervisor Brad Gehring. English also received donations of $197 and $89 from the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.
The reports show Bantes and English outspent their opponents during the period.
Bantes spent $4,380, and Wolff spent $2,619. English had $2,999 in expenses and Nocito $1,356. Van Eperen spent $962, the same amount he raised.
The campaigns paid for photography, banners, literature, mailing lists, postcards, yard signs, consulting fees, websites, software, postage, zip ties and office supplies.
For information about registering to vote and polling locations, visit the MyVote Wisconsin website at myvote.wi.gov/en-us.
Contact Duke Behnke at 920-993-7176 or dbehnke@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DukeBehnke.
