If you had to guess to which Wyoming U.S. House candidate George W. Bush, Donald Rumsfeld and “Scooter” Libby gave campaign contributions, who would you pick?
You can find out that information from the Federal Election Commission, which recently updated its listing of contributions to candidates running for federal office. FEC interactive tables allow voters to peruse the contributions made to candidates in Wyoming’s U.S. House race.
The FEC lists contributions through July 27. The commission had earlier released the gross amount candidates and their committees have raised through the second quarter of this year, but individual contributors were not identified until recently. The primary is Tuesday Aug. 16.
Voters can click on links highlighted in this story to access most of the candidates’ and campaigns’ filings where “Itemized Individual Contributions” will lead on to interactive tables. Donors can be sorted by name, amount donated and other factors.
Republican Liz Cheney has amassed the largest war chest among Republicans, Democrats, Independent and Constitution party candidates. She and the Liz Cheney for Wyoming campaign list $1.4 million in total contributions and $1.3 million in itemized individual contributions.
And yes, it was Cheney to whom Bush, Rumsfeld and Libby contributed. The filings underscore Cheney’s Washington connections, but also reveal widespread Wyoming support. Cheney’s list has more than 240 donations from the Equality State.
The FEC website lists seven contributors who gave $10,800 to Cheney, the largest amount. Those donations were made by Robin Roodman, a business manager from Marion, Illinois; Daniel Ludeman, of Saint Louis, Missouri, president and CEO of Concordance Academy of Leadership; and Jesse Bodine, retired, of Saint Louis, Missouri.
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The elite list of top givers includes Glenn Stearns, president and CEO of Stearns Lending, Inc., a Wilson resident; John L Kemmerer III, an owner of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort who lists Jackson as his residence; John Childs of Waltham, Massachusetts, chairman of JW Childs Associates; and Stanley N. Gaines, a retiree who lists Palm Beach, Florida as his home.
Several Wyoming residents made contributions of $5,400, the next highest level, including Susan Gore of Cheyenne, who lists herself as retired, Thomas Kopitnik, a neurosurgeon from Casper, Gina Duel, a homemaker from Casper.
The bevy of Beltway powerbroker contributors include both former presidents Bush, former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Scooter Libby, former chief of staff for Cheney’s father, Dick Cheney when he was vice president.
Former Secretary of State James Baker III, and Karl Rove, former chief of staff to president George W. Bush, are among Cheney supporters, according to the filings.
Opponents’ charges that Cheney is a Virginia carpetbagger who bought a home in Jackson Hole so she could run for office haven’t stuck. A Casper-Star Tribune/Wyoming PBS poll puts her far ahead in the Republican primary.
Instead of a liability, Cheney’s D.C. connections could be a boon for Wyoming, according to an analysis of the race in Roll Call.
Stubson second largest fundraiser
Republican Tim Stubson raised the second largest amount, albeit an order of magnitude less than Cheney. He and his campaign list $163,707 in contributions, $133,440 of which are individual contributions.
Stubson listed 12 donors at his highest, $2,700 level, all from Wyoming.
They are Robert J. Wilson, a WYDOT manger in Cheyenne; Jerad Stack, an engineer with Autodesk Inc. of Casper; Laura C. Smothers, a physician with Women’s Health Association of Wyoming in Casper; Lane Smothers, a physician at Casper General Surgery; Ron McMurry, president of McMurry Ready Mix, Inc. of Casper; Thomas N. Long, an attorney of Long, Reimer, Winegar, Beppler in Cheyenne; John Keith Garlick Jr. an attorney with Garlick Law Office of Casper; Carol J. Chapman, retired, of Casper; Rich Fairservis, a developer with Granite Peak Group in Casper; Art Boatright, president of Mobile Concrete, Inc. of Casper; and Stuart Atnip, broker with American Title Agency of Casper.
Republican Leland Christensen of Alta listed $101,421 in individual contributions, the largest at $2,700. Top contributors from Wyoming include Justin Adams of Kelly; James E. Nielson of Cody; Robert Model, a Cody rancher who gave $2,700 twice; William C. Garlow, lodging owner of Sunset Properties, Inc. of Cody; Paul Lowham of Jackson; and Patricia Russell of Wilson.
Other Republican contenders trailed. Darin Dale Smith listed $27,410 in individual contributions. Travis Conklin, an air traffic controller from Loveland, Colorado gave $2,700, the largest amount. Shane Griffin, First Choice GMC owner of Rock Springs was the top Wyoming donor at $2,500.
Mike Konsmo listed $15,450 in itemized individual contributions, three at $2,700, his highest level. Gregory Brown, an RN at Evergreen Hospital in Kirkland, Washington; Samantha Konsmo, self employed at a management firm in Woodway Washington; and Meridith Little, a homemaker from Redmond, Washington made those contributions.
Democrats also in the race
Between the two Democrats, Ryan Greene outpaced Charlie Hardy by raising $45,140 to Hardy’s $10,755. Greene’s fundraising centered on other Greenes in Rock Springs.
Bradley A Greene, Reflections Recovery Center house manager in Rock Springs, gave $2,700, as did Rhonda Greene, and Rick Greene, president of Greene’s Energy Services, Inc. From Jackson, Greene got donations of $2,700 each from Joseph P. Albright and Marcia A. Kunstel.
Hardy listed $10,755 in donations, $6,677 of them itemized individual contributions. Top contributor was Neville Singham, CEO of Thoughtworks in Chicago, who gave $2,700. Two $1,000 contributions came from Patricia Anselmi, a hotel operator in Rock Springs and Roch Carter, retired person from Mequon, Wisconsin
WyoFile could not copy a link to Hardy’s 14 contributors. Daniel Clyde Cummings, Constitution Party Candidate, reported no contributions. WyoFile could not find a filing for Libertarian Gerard Struempf. Rex Rammell withdrew from the Republican primary, throwing his support to Smith.
(The caption in the photo of Cheney in Sheridan has been corrected to properly identify Butch Jellis — Ed.)
Her money comes from out of state. She cares only for her money. We don’t want her at all. Money will not be deciding factor this year, I hope. She will be a debacle for WY.
Thanks for the delicious read Angus. Lots of outside interest in the Cheney campaign I see. A little curious about the Astoria LLC. contributions in particular. Check into the Grand View Lodge in Cameron Parish (from what I hear the Zuschlags lay out quite a spread). Enjoy!
I also wonder about all that “interest” from out of state? What do they want with little ol’ WY?