Chaff before the wheat.
In Ward 4, Alan Ault has raised $0. That finance report goes from January to June 15. He’s in serious trouble, and to be completely honest, has no chance of winning that race.
Of course, we knew this months ago. Mike Nugent, the son of the current city attorney, had self-financed to the tune of $4,000...months ago.
He’s filed a new report since then. I see Melanie Brock gave him $50. The guy that doesn’t know if he’s a Dem or GOPer - Mike Driscoll - also gave $50. John Engen gave $180. I think that tells you all you need to know.
So far Mike hasn’t really spent that much, aside from the $1,500 he spent for “Development of campaign strategy, plan, timeline, and resources.” This seems like a very shady organization, one designed to hide how money is received, and spent.
In Ward 4, Alan Ault has raised $0. That finance report goes from January to June 15. He’s in serious trouble, and to be completely honest, has no chance of winning that race.
Of course, we knew this months ago. Mike Nugent, the son of the current city attorney, had self-financed to the tune of $4,000...months ago.
He’s filed a new report since then. I see Melanie Brock gave him $50. The guy that doesn’t know if he’s a Dem or GOPer - Mike Driscoll - also gave $50. John Engen gave $180. I think that tells you all you need to know.
So far Mike hasn’t really spent that much, aside from the $1,500 he spent for “Development of campaign strategy, plan, timeline, and resources.” This seems like a very shady organization, one designed to hide how money is received, and spent.
Now to the main crop.
The big dog has eaten.
John Engen has raised $32,457 for his 5th term reelection campaign.
Most donors are maxing-out, giving the full $180. Is this because they like the guy, or because they know their future is dependent upon his? Here are some names that stood out to me:
- Stacie Anderson: $50
- Mirtha Beccera: $180
- Susan Beck: $180
- Bryce Bennett: $35
- Ed Childers: $50
- John DiBari: $100
- Tom France: $180
- Dori Gilels: $100
- Susan Hay Patrick: $180
- Jordan Hess: $180
- Elli Hill Smith: $180
- Gwen Jones: $180
- Kristen Jordan: $100
- Connie Keogh: $50
- Grant Kier: $180
- Pete Lambros: $180
- Marilyn Marler: $180
- Spider McKnight: $180
- Julie Merritt: $50
- Jim Messina: $180
- Todd Mowbray: $100
- Jim Parker: $180
- C.B. Pearson: $180
- Eran Pehan: $180
- Diane Sands: $180
- Amber Sherrill: $180
- JK Simmons: $180
- Josh Slotnick: $180
- Tracey Stone-Manning: $50
- Jennifer Steano: $50
- Dave Strohemeier: $180
- Katie Sullivan: $50
- Mark Thane: $100
- Monica Tranel: $180
- Juanita Vero: $180
- Carol Williams: $100
- Pat Williams: $100
- Whitney Williams: $180
Why are all these government, political, elected people giving money to Engen?
Because they know if he loses, they’ll be out of a job. $180 is a small price to pay to keep those huge government paychecks flowing your way.
Many of their spouses give as well, effectively double those donations.
I find the donation of $180 from Eran Pehan to be one of the most insulting. She’s a revolving door-er, always going from one city department to another, never making things better, but always enriching herself in the process. Her ignorance and incompetence is one of the main reasons our housing crisis is so bad.
Now, the spending.
So far Engen has spent $12,194.
20,000 pieces of mail have been ordered from Alpha Graphics, the Dem printing stronghold. This cost him nearly $2,000.
Sarah Ferguson seems to be in charge of the mayor’s social media push. She was paid $500 on May 15.
Of course, Brock Development is a big player. Engen paid them nearly $2,000 for fundraising.
CB Pearson is another huge player in the mayor’s image campaign. He was paid $1,000 on June 15 for “Campaign Management, media, material development, and consultant engagement/management. May 1 - June 15, 2021,” and was also given a $500 reimbursement for “NGP online services,” whatever that is.
The largest expenditure that Engen had was $3,000 to Missoula’s Tenacious Campaigns for “campaign consulting and voter contact.”
I’d also like to mention the $160 or so that Engen gave to Nick Shontz for web hosting and design. Politicos will know that he ran for city council in ‘19 and lost badly.
Finally, Engen did the exact same thing as I did - he listed his filing fee as a debt, meaning he can use campaign funds to pay it off.
Anyone thinking they can beat Engen via the money game is sadly mistaken. He’ll win that everyday.
No, it’s the issues, and people’s desire for change. Chances are good that Engen’s money will outweigh that, big time.
But you never know.
The only constant in life is change; the only certainty is uncertainty.
