Summary of campaign-fund expenditures by category

During 2001, members of the General Assembly spent about $7.3 million from their campaign accounts. Here is how they spent the money.

Purpose
Number of expenditures
Amount
As a % of total expenditures
Direct Mail/Graphic Design 1,594 $2,241,448 30.9%
Political Consulting 307 $610,428 8.4%
Donations to Party Committees 574 $581,854 8.0%
Donations to General Assembly Candidates 655 $454,818 6.3%
Fundraising Event Expenses 510 $416,711 5.7%
TV/Radio 196 $403,179 5.6%
Staff Salaries/Benefits 471 $380,754 5.3%
Signs/Bumper Stickers/Etc. 398 $241,461 3.3%
Events/Catering 489 $183,126 2.5%
Polling 56 $152,537 2.1%
Phones 1,068 $141,357 1.9%
Reimbursement without Explanation 315 $141,126 1.9%
Newspaper Ads 267 $119,898 1.7%
Donations to Statewide Candidates 199 $119,605 1.6%
Office Rent/Utilities 349 $109,471 1.5%
Donation to Community Group 835 $106,163 1.5%
Miscellaneous Campaigning 135 $105,318 1.5%
Computer Hardware/Software 191 $86,655 1.2%
Travel/Meal Expenses 374 $78,273 1.1%
Office Supplies 632 $54,510 0.8%
Loan Interest/Loan Repayment 6 $50,578 0.7%
Donations to Single-Interest Groups 100 $48,642 0.7%
Donations to Local Candidates 93 $46,703 0.6%
Legal/Accounting Services 75 $45,749 0.6%
Web/Internet 196 $36,545 0.5%
GOTV 82 $36,364 0.5%
Miscellaneus Office Expenses 220 $33,834 0.5%
Office Equipment 68 $29,203 0.4%
Reimburse for Multiple Items 43 $26,719 0.4%
Donations to Federal Candidates 44 $25,010 0.3%
Postage/Courier 476 $22,850 0.3%
Voter Lists 116 $22,787 0.3%
Refunded Donation 116 $19,855 0.3%
Staff for Legislative Session 62 $18,951 0.3%
Miscellaneous Community Goodwill 151 $13,630 0.2%
Lodging for Legislative Session 8 $9,127 0.1%
Books/Subscriptions 187 $8,178 0.1%
Framing of Resolutions 83 $6,930 0.1%
Legislative Session - Miscellaneous 65 $5,429 0.1%
Convention Costs 24 $3,901 0.1%
Conferences/Trips 8 $3,591 0.0%
Membership Dues 51 $3,208 0.0%
Meals during Legislative Session 10 $2,435 0.0%
Miscellaneous Political Donations 22 $1,935 0.0%
State Board of Elections Fines 5 $710 0.0%
Void/Bounced Check 1 $400 0.0%
Totals 11,927 $7,251,956 100.0%

Source: VCU students' analysis of data from the Virginia Public Access Project


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