Tag: Goeff Hansen

Big money has arrived in northern Michigan political races, according to filing reports and the Michigan Campaign Finance Network (MCFN), which tracks money raised and spent in political races. MCFN Executive Director Craig Mauger says the race for the State House in the 104th District (Grand Traverse County) is one that’s attracting significant outside money. “Lansing-based groups see it as an important race.” MCFN has tracked $68,040 spent in the race as of Oct. 12 by and for the two candidates, incumbent Republican Larry Inman and his challenger, Democrat Dan O’Neil. Thus far Inman’s campaign has raised $76,693 and O’Neil’s $137,917. Both of Vanderwall’s primary opponents also outraised Taillard: Ray Frantz raised $68,009, while Bruce Rendon raised $106,498. In the 37th District, which includes Grand Traverse County, the tip of the mitt and the eastern third of the UP, Republican Wayne Schmidt, the incumbent, has raised $396,518. In the race for the State House in the 101st District, Republican Jack O’Malley has raised $64,897. She’s put in $11,670, while the Leelanau County Democratic Party has contributed $10,000, the Manistee County Democrats $4,000, and the Benzie County Democrats $2,603. Of course, the money for these races is dwarfed by the amount spent by candidates at the state level. Other large donors were the combined spending of the DeVos Family, Amway, Windquest Group and Altico, which donated about $7.1 million to Republican candidates.