Democrat Ann Helton tapped deep into her personal reserves to outspend Republican David Craig in her unsuccessful run for Harford county executive, according to campaign finance reports.
Post-election reports released by the state this week showed that Helton dropped more than $458,400 since the beginning of the year. Craig kept close behind, eventually spending $429,800 in the same period.
Analysts, such as Harford Community College professor Avery Ward, attributed Craig?s 52 percent share of the vote ? to Helton?s 47 percent ? to the Democrat?s blitz of commercials and attack ads, but said Helton?s financing helped make the race close.
“She was competitive because of that ? I think there?s a direct correlation between the ability of a candidate to raise funds and advertise and the percentage they take,” Ward said.
Helton trailed far behind Craig in actual fundraising, however, leaving the bulk of her campaign cash in the form of $306,000 in loans from her personal accounts. Craig tallied $443,000 in contributions to Helton?s $69,300.
Craig?s efforts began before hers did, Helton said. He ultimately raised and spent more money since the establishment of his campaign fund in 2003 ? a total of $502,000.
The loans were necessary for Helton to keep pace with Craig?s fundraising, said George Harrison, Helton?s campaign manager. Helton and her husband Art ? a frequent also-ran for county office ? made their money purchasing and rehabbing property around Aberdeen.
Most of Helton?s expenditures went to The Democracy Group, a consulting firm in Annapolis that produced most of her newspaper, radio, television, billboard and direct-mail ads, for a total of $395,295. She put another $49,512 into producing and airing TV ads through Comcast and Clear Channel, and $26,454 into print ads.
“We all declaim that we need so much money to run a campaign,” Helton said, “but there?s no alternative.”
