RUN FOR THE MONEY
Methodology

The Citizens Policy Center analyzed the 1999-2000 contributions to statewide and state legislative candidates, legislative caucuses, and statewide political party committees.

This database is based on campaign finance reports available in computerized form from the Ohio Secretary of State. This data includes 1999-2000 contributions for the following:

  • All candidates for the Ohio General Assembly who ran in the 2000 general election and all state senators who ran in 1998 and won.
  • All candidates for the Board of Education and the Ohio Supreme Court who ran in the 2000 general election, and current executive officeholders and their opponents who ran in 2000.
  • The legislative caucuses and state political party committees for the Ohio Democratic Party and the Ohio Republican Party.
  • For statewide totals, all contributions to candidates, even those who did not make it to the general election, are included.

This study used a methodology developed by Larry Makinson, director of the Center for Responsive Politics, to categorize the economic sectors of contributors. The method is described in detail in the book, Follow the Money. For a copy, contact the Center for Responsive Politics at (202) 857-0044.

To identify employers of contributors, the Citizens Policy Center obtained the following databases:

  • Databases of architects, doctors, dentists, funeral directors and certified public accountants registered to do business in Ohio form the Ohio Division of Administrative Services,
  • A database from the Ohio Supreme Court of attorneys in Ohio,
  • A list of lobbyists in Ohio from the Joint Legislative Ethics Committee,
  • The InfoUSA PowerFinder, a national phone directory on CD,
  • The 1997-1998 Take the Money and Win database in which the Center had prepared a similar analysis on 1997-1998 contributors, and
  • A list of contributors to political action committees in Ohio.

In some cases contributors were assigned an economic sector code without knowledge of their employers. Where this is seen in the database, the coding was based on giving from the same contributor to a political action committee. For instance a person who gave to the Ohio Association of Realtors political action committee, but who displayed no employer, was coded in the Financial/Real Estate sector.

Before placing the profiles in this book and on the web page, the Center sent a copy of every profile to the appropriate candidate or committee. The Center called every current officeholder at the statewide and state legislative level and tried to determine if officials had any questions about the profile. Specific requests for corrections were researched and corrected where needed.

For each candidate the total amount in this database includes the following:

  • Contributions received
  • Contributions received at a social or fundraising event
  • In-kind contributions received
  • Contributions the candidate gave to his or her own campaign.

The profiles do not include Statements of Other Income, which include interest, refunds, returns, and other non-contribution income.

For questions or comments, contact Catherine Turcer, 3400 N. High St. #430, Columbus, Ohio 43202. (614)263-4111.

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