John Kromko filed a campaign-finance report with the City Clerk’s Office today that reveals that he spent only $4,684 getting the Tucson Water Users’ Bill of Rights on the November ballot. The bulk of that–$3,380–was paid to a petition coordinator and three signature gatherers.

The biggest contributor to the campaign, as of Aug. 6, was Kromko himself, who lent the campaign $2,000. The rest of his contributions have come mostly in $50 checks.

That’s a bargain compared to the $70,013 spent by Wal-Mart on the Consumer Choice initiative, which would have overturned the city’s ban on grocery sales in big-box outlets. That effort was rejected because City Attorney Mike Rankin concluded that zoning law couldn’t be amended through the initiative process.

Wal-Mart funneled the $70K through the political consulting firm Zimmerman and Associates. Hey, next time, the company should consider using Kromko. He seems to be the low-price leader in that arena.

This article appears in Aug 2-8, 2007.

Getting hassled by The Man Mild-mannered reporter

2 replies on “On the Cheap”

  2. Hi Jim,

    Thanks for addressing the Mayoral race in this week’s Skinny column. I just switched from the Democratic party to the Green party in the last month. I got my hopes up when the Dems took over Congress, but then so little changed. When Pelosi said impeachment was off the table and Gabby Giffords voted for more war spending, I just had to jump ship.

    I love the idea of a political party based on 10 key values that mirror my beliefs. Grassroots democracy? Now you’re talking! Social justice? Yeah, I want that. Ecological wisdom? Woo boy, do we need that one! Nonviolence? Yep! Decentralization, community-based economics, feminism, diversity, responsibility & future focus all sound great, too. Shoot, I have been a Green for years now and just didn’t know it! If you believe those core values, you’re probably a Green, too.

    I think our mayoral candidate Dave Croteau is a man of integrity, conscience, and conviction. I love the idea of a party based on ideals and citizen participation instead of those run by moneyed interests. No doubt the Greens have fewer greenbacks than the Repulicrats, but I’ll willingly work for an honest underdog. The status quo has stabbed working stiffs like me and you in the backs. And, just as a correction, in your underdog story, you overlooked Beryl Baker as the Green candidate in Ward 1 City Council race. Go Greens!

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