by Dan Rylance
April 3, 2001
(Oshkosh) Pre-election campaign finance reports indicate that two challengers, Frank Tower and Shirley Brabender Mattox, outspent two incumbents, Jon C. Dell'Antonia and Mark Harris, for the Oshkosh Common Council election held on Aptil 3, 2001. This information was obtained from campaign financial statements filed with the Oshkosh City Clerk's office. Three other candidates; Erik Barlow, Terry Knutson and William Castle, were exempt from filing the same reports because their total contributions amounted to less than $1,000 and they received no individual contribution over $100.
Frank Tower reported the largest amount of money raised -- $3310. His largest contributors were Ted Leyhe ($250), Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce ($200),Dale Feinauer and Kurt Koepler ($200 each). He also reported 12 contributors who made $100 donations to his campaign. They were Ben Ganther, Jay Supple, Mike Dempsey, Gordon Decker, Sheldon Lasky, Mark Hoegh, Jack Sullivan, Gary Yakes, Norm Mueller, John Mark, Eileen Kablitz and Bruce Berndt. In addition, Rep. Gregg Underheim contributed $35 and former Common Council member Robert Pung made a donation of $50. Tower reported no personal contribution to his campaign.
Shirley Brabender Mattox reported the second larged amount of money raised - $2480. Her own contribution of $444 (listed as a personal loan) was the largest single donation. Ted Leyhe also donated $250 to her campaign while Barb Lueck donated $200. Mattox also reported nine contributions of $100 from Bob and Wendy Rodman, Neill Goltz, Kevin McGee, Barb Lueck (second contribution), Ross Wandschneider, Chloe Wandschneider, A.J. and Toni Anand, Jo Eichel and John Wallace.
Mark Harris, one of the two incumbents, raised the third largest amount -- $1,505. Harris' personal contributions, however, amounted to over 60% of the total money raised ($900). Harris received only one contribution of $100 from R.A. Nelson and $60 from Winnebago County Supervisor Bill Wingren. He also reported seven contributions of $50 from Jack Heineman, Michael Wachtel, Dr. and Mrs. Donald Lambert, Ted Leyhe, Mark Hoegh, Willard Carlson, and Paul and Margaret Larson.
Mayor Jon Dell'Antonia, the other incumbent, raised the fourth largest amount -- $1,455. He received two $200 contributions from Sheldon and Helaine Lasky and R.A. Nelson and a $150 contribution from Michael Wachtel. He also reported six contributions of $100 from Phillip and Nancy Martini, Jack Sullivan, Michael Dempsey, Lee and Mary Pinnow, Dennis Schwab and Paul and Barb Lowry. He also received a $25 donation from Larry and Carol Spanbauer. (Larry, of course, was Dell'Antonia's buddy on the Oshkosh Common Council). Dell'Antonia returned the $200 PAC contribution from the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce. He also made no personal contribution to his campaign.
The Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce PAC significantly influenced the financing of the April 3 elections. The PAC reported contributions of $2,360. Their largest single expenditure was for ads in the Oshkosh Northwestern ($1,148) for William Castle, Jon Dell'Antonia, Mark Harris and Frank Tower. They also paid for ads for School Board Candidates Dennis McHugh and Teresa Thiel, as well as Winnebago County Executive Candidate Charlene Lowe.
The Chamber also made individual contributions to each of their endorsed candidates. The four Council endorsed candidates each received a $200 contribution. Both Dell'Antonia and Castle returned the money, Tower reported it, and Harris, at the date of his filing, did not report it or had not returned the donation to the Chamber. McHugh, Thiel, and Lowe also received contributions.
This report was researched and written on April 2, 2001.
Dan Rylance can be reached at (920) 231-7597.