Anyone who wants to know more about the people who have the attention of our elected officials in Washington, D.C. should check out opensecrets.org.
There are searchable databases that contain candidate and donor information. Whether you are curious about a big-time developer or your next-door neighbor, you can find out who’s giving money to who.
For example, I learned that Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino owner Stan Fulton gave $25,000 to the Republican National Committee in the 2004 election cycle and $3,000 to George W. Bush. Gerald Peters, who wants to build a competing casino in Anthony, also gave $25,000 to the RNC, and gave $2,000 each to the campaigns of Bush and John Kerry.
I also found that New Mexico State University Professor Nancy Baker, an outspoken critic of the Bush Administration and author of a new book on John Ashcroft, gave $225 to moveon.org in the 2004 election cycle and David Steinborn, the owner of Steinborn Realty and a former Las Cruces mayor, regularly gives to Democrats.
The top donors to Congressman Steve Pearce, R-N.M., thus far in the current election cycle include the National Rifle Association, Exxon Mobile and the National Beer Wholesaler’s Association. His opponent, Democrat Albert Kissling, has raised almost nothing in comparison.
In researching area demographics, I learned that people living in the 88005 zip code are a fairly balanced political group. They gave $9,400 each to Bush and Kerry in the 2004 presidential election. People in the 88001 zip code, on the other hand, gave $2,700 to Kerry and $850 to Bush.
This is a site that’s worth exploring.
***
Thanks for being a part of this blog. Come back next week for more!