We Get What They Paid For

Will Detrick Go Unopposed? Cooper facing token competition; Money the deciding factor? With this Friday's filing deadline looming...


Will Detrick Go Unopposed? Cooper facing token competition; Money the deciding factor?

With this Friday's filing deadline looming, as it stands now it looks as though Elk Grove City Council Member Steve Detrick could be unopposed for his second term.

As of this posting, no potential candidate for the city's third district has drawn papers to oppose Detrick. Furthermore, there has been little talk in local political circles of any potential candidate so unless someone pulls papers, Detrick will be appointed to his second term.

While Detrick easily beat incumbent Mike Leary in 2008, he has raised the ire of several people since taking office. Most notably Detrick was pointedly criticized for his opposition to the establishment of St. Marie Goretti church in a agricultural-residential area on Bradshaw Road.

At the time several politically connected people threatened to take Detrick to task this year for his vote. To date, none of these people or their surrogates have stepped forward to challenge Detrick.

With less than four days to go, it appears Detrick will go unopposed. Even if someone were to enter the race at this point, they would be at a great disadvantage in two respects - organization and more importantly, money.

In fact the ability to raise an ample amount of cash is intricately tied to the history of successful city council campaigns to unseat incumbents in Elk Grove.

Some history

Following the initial race for Elk Grove City Council in 2000, which was as much about popularity, which may be tied to money, in the three occasions where incumbents were unseated, money was a key factor in the challengers success.

In 2006 when Gary Davis and Pat Hume unseated charter council members Dan Briggs and Rick Soares respectively, both were able to raise large amounts of money. Davis raised $217,942 while Hume raised $210,559

It didn't hurt that Brrigs and Soares had grown unpopular, nonetheless, being outspend by their upstart opponents hurt both men.

In 2008 when Detrick beat an unpopular Mike Leary he initially entered the race with a personal loan of $75,000 to his campaign. By putting so much of his personal money on the line may have helped Detrick who went on to raise an additional $91,749.

What about the 2012 election

Getting back to the political threats Detrick has faced, why is it with less than three days to filing deadline he has no known opponents in the November race? Or for that Matter, how about Jim Cooper who is facing a nominal threat from a candidate who challenged Davis in 2010 that didn't campaign or even bother to show up at the candidate forum night? Baring some fluke, Cooper will win his fourth term.

Could it be that the prospect of having to raise at least $100,000 to run a campaign against a seated council member is viewed as an almost insurmountable challenge? Indeed, with history as a guide, unless your are able to raise in excess of $200,000 or roll the dice and put a small personal fortune on the line as Detrick did in 2008, the odds are against an otherwise good candidate from entering the race.

While some will argue that the Elk Grove mayoral race proves that money isn't preventing people from entering politics, the comparison is not apt. As many will recall, in the initial 2000 city council race there were over 20 candidates. Likewise, this is the inaugural year for a directly elected mayor and there is no incumbent to run against so interest is high.

As we move closer to the Friday deadline and it becomes apparent that Detrick and Cooper will retain their seats either by default or running against a stealth opponent, it would appear that money, or more specifically the lack thereof, is acting as a barrier from people seeking elected office.

So whenever things aren't going the way you hope for in Elk Grove, remember you get what you pay for. Or perhaps we should rephrase that to we get what big donors pay for.


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1 comment

Anonymous said...

how can you run against him. he has all the money. why?? he owes alot of favors.

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