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In Contentious Senate District 22 GOP Primary, Ward Out-Raises and Outspends Opponent

Radio ads set tenor of race in new district covering parts of West Des Moines, Waukee and Clive.

 

Sen. Pat Ward, R-Clive, out-raised and outspent her Senate District 22 opponent, Waukee Point of Grace Church Pastor Jeff Mullen, during the period from Jan. 1 to May 14.

Campaign finance reports filed this week with the Iowa Ethics & Campaign Disclosure Board showed Ward raised $34,915, compared with $20,900 raised by Mullen, R-Clive.

Ward has about $37,150 in cash on hand. Mullen has $8,560.

Debate in the race is taking place in paid media, with candidates airing dueling ads. Mullen has aired ads that Ward says misrepresent her positions on abortion and gun rights. The race is one of the most closely watched in the state.

Ward said she’s running about nine spots a day on WHO Radio. Her campaign paid Victory Enterprises of Davenport $17,485 during the period for campaign management services, including media buys. The consulting company was founded by Steve Grubbs, a former state legislator and Republican Party of Iowa chairman.

Which candidate do you support and why? Tell us below in comments.

Mullen’s campaign paid $8,185 to Mountaintop Media LLC of Sparta, NJ, for advertising services. Mountaintop Media in 2010 placed media buys encouraging Iowans to vote against retention of three Iowa Supreme Court justices who voted for a unanimous 2009 ruling legalizing same-sex marriage.

According to Ward’s summary report, she started the period with $22,420 in the bank. Mullen reported on his summary that he had $10,240 cash on hand when the reporting period started in January.

Individual contributions of more than $1,000 to Ward’s campaign during the period include:

  • Gerald Kirke, West Des Moines, $2,000
  • Don Lamberti, Ankeny, $1,000
  • Linda Juckette, Cumming, $1,000
  • Greg Abel, Des Moines, $1,000
  • Jim Cownie, Des Moines, $1,000
  • Joseph and Anna Kim, Urbandale, $1,000

Ward’s political action committee or industry contributions included:

  • Credit Union PAC, $3,500
  • Associated General Contractors of Iowa, $2,500
  • Bankers Unite In Legislative Decisions, aka BUILD, $2,500
  • Iowa Friends of Rural Electrification – Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives PAC, $1,000
  • Iowa Medical Political Action Committee, $1,000

Contributions of more than $1,000 to Mullen’s campaign by individuals included:

  • John M. and Pam R. Wharton, Urbandale, $2,000
  • Dennis G. Patterson, Urbandale, $2,000
  • Luke Vogel, West Des Moines, $1,000
  • Judy Allen, Waukee, $1,000
  • Robert Cramer, Grimes, $1,000

Mullen’s political action committee or industry contributions of more than $1,000 included:

  • Car City on 14th LLC, Des Moines, $2,000
  • Bang Bang Mongolian Grill Mills Civic Parkway LLC, West Des Moines, $2,000
  • Michele PAC (Michele Bachmann), Woodbury, MN, $1,500
  • Citizens United Political Victory Fund, Washington, D.C., $2,500

Mullen spent $22,580 during the period and took out a $2,138 loan to pay for advertising.

Ward spent $20,188 and has no debt.

  • Who's your pick to represent Senate District 22?

    (Voting has been closed for this question)
    • Senate District 21 incumbent Pat Ward (Republican). Tell us why in comments.
        127 (47%)
    • Challenger Jeff Mullen (Republican). Tell us why in comments.
        70 (26%)
    • Desmund Adams (Democrat). Tell us why in comments.
        68 (25%)
    Total votes: 265
  • Your vote will only count once. This is not a scientific poll. View Results Vote!
Related Topics: Iowa Legislature, Jeff Mullen, Sen. Pat Ward, election 2012, participate 2012, and senate district 22
Which candidate do you support and why? Tell us below in comments. Tell us in the comments.

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