Story County’s Iowa House and Senate races bring in PAC money

Story County's five Iowa House and Senate races show varied fundraising. But one thing in common is the majority of money is coming into the county from political action committees.

Here are the highlights from local legislative campaign finance reports filed with the Iowa Ethics & Campaign Disclosure Board. Reports cover the time period of July 15 to Oct. 14. Final campaign finance reports are due to the board Friday.

The general election is Tuesday. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Iowa Senate District 25

State Sen. Herman Quirmbach, Democrat, is running for his sixth four-year-term for Senate District 25 with what appears to be little opposition.

Quirmbach’s opponent, Jordan Taylor of Ames, has filed no campaign finance committee reports and has not registered with the Iowa Ethics & Campaign Disclosure Board. A candidate committee is required to register with the board if the candidate raises or spends more than $1,000 in a calendar year.

Quirmbach, on the other hand, raised $9,095 in the past four months and spent $31,431.

However, almost all of that expenditure, $30,000, was to the Iowa Democratic Party for a Senate majority fund contribution.

Of the contributions the Quirmbach committee received, more than $5,800 came from political action committees and other interest group donors, including Associated General Contractors of Iowa PAC ($2,000); Bankers Unite in Legislative Decisions ($1,000); MuniPAC ($600); and Heavy Highway PAC ($500).

The Quirmbach committee has carried over an unpaid loan from the candidate for several reporting periods of $10,000. The committee ended the reporting cycle with $23,815 on hand. The most recent report doesn’t list a chairperson. Mary Lundy of Ames is listed as treasurer.

Iowa House District 48

Republican Phil Thompson of Boone is running for reelection in newly-drawn House District 48 against two challengers, Boone County Democrats Chair Penny Vossler and no-party candidate Luke Barnes.

Thompson is running for a third term.

In the most recent reporting period, Thompson raised $47,115. Of that, $32,500 came from political action committees, including Iowa Farm Bureau Federation PAC ($4,000); Associated General Contractors of Iowa PAC ($3,000); and Iowa Hospital Association PAC ($3,000).

Thompson received a $1,000 donation from the Greene County Republican Central Committee even though the newly drawn district no longer represents any of Greene County.

The Thompson campaign also received $18,012 in-kind contributions from the Republican Party of Iowa for advertising.

During the reporting period, Thompson spent $56,906. Of that, $55,000 was donated to the Republican Party of Iowa.

Vossler, a Democrat from Boone, raised $2,387. Her campaign spent $1,892. The campaign finished the reporting period with $1,660 cash on hand. The committee chairperson is Penny Vossler.

Barnes has not registered with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board, which indicates the candidate has not raised or spent at least $1,000 in a calendar year.

Iowa House District 49

Democratic incumbent Beth Wessel-Kroeschell of Ames is uncontested in her bid for her ninth term serving Iowa House District 49.

Wessel-Kroeschell’s campaign raised $14,720 in the past four months and spent $22,020. Of those expenditures, the campaign gave $21,500 to the Iowa Democratic Party.

Of the campaign’s contributions raised, $10,500 came from political action committees, including Justice for All PAC ($3,000); Iowa Hospitals Association ($2,500); and Associated General Contractors of Iowa PAC ($2,000).

The treasurer of the committee is Thomas Jackson of Ames. Records don’t list a committee chairperson.

Iowa House District 50

Incumbent Democrat Ross Wilburn of Ames is running uncontested for the Iowa House District 50 seat.

Wilburn's committee reports in May, July and October were all filed late. However, none incurred a late charge from the state.  The Oct. 19 report was amended Nov. 1

Wilburn’s campaign raised $18,125 in the past four months. The campaign spent $19,298. Of those expenditures, the campaign gave $19,000 to the Iowa Democratic Party. The campaign ended the reporting period with $8,233 on hand.

Of Wilburn’s fundraising contributions, more than $14,450 came from political action committees, including Justice for All PAC ($3,000); Iowa REALTORS Pac ($2,000); Associated General Contractors of Iowa PAC ($2,000); and Hy-Vee Inc. Employees PAC ($2,000).

Iowa House District

Republican David Deyoe of Nevada is running for reelection in Iowa House District 51. This would be his eighth term in the House.

Deyoe raised $14,300 and spent $12,000. All of those expenditures went to the Legislative Campaign Committee and its Eisenhower Club-DIS for Iowa House Majority Fund support.

The bulk of Deyoe’s fundraising came from PAC donations, including $3,000 from the Associated General Contractors of Iowa PAC, $2,500 from the Iowa Friends of Rural Electrifications-IAEC PAC, and $1,500 from the Associated Builders & Contractors of Iowa PAC.

Deyoe is listed as the chairperson of his election committee.

Libertarian Joshua Herbert of Maxwell is challenging Deyoe for the Iowa House seat. Herbert has no campaign reports filed with the state ethics and campaign board.

Iowa House District 55

Iowa Rep. Shannon Latham (R-Sheffield) is running for reelection for District 55. She is running uncontested for her second term. Her report was amended Nov. 1.

Latham raised $22,462 and spent $14,013. Most of those expenditures went to a $10,000 donation to Republican Party of Iowa. Her campaign finished the filing period with $14,562 cash on hand.

The bulk of her fundraising came from political action committees, including $2,500 from the Iowa Corn Growers Association State PAC, $2,000 from the Associated General Contractors of Iowa PAC, and $2,000 from Joni Ernst’s political action committee, JONIPAC.

Teresa Kay Albertson covers politics, crime, courts and local government in Ames and central Iowa for the Ames Tribune and Des Moines Register. Reach her on Twitter @TeresaAlberts11 and at talbertson@registermedia.com, 515-419-6098.

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Campaign finance reports for House, Senate candidates in Story County