Paradise Valley election: Who’s donating and who’s self-funding campaigns

By Melissa Rosequist
Mail | Twitter: @mrosequist_

Political newcomer Christine Labelle, who’s the only non-incumbent in the Paradise Valley Town Council race, is raising far more money than her opponents, new campaign finance documents show.

The required reports, which were due April 15, keep track of who’s donating to candidate campaigns and what candidates are spending their money on.

There are four people seeking election to three open seats on Paradise Valley Town Council in the Aug. 2 primary election. Ellen Andeen, Anna Thomasson and Paul Dembow are incumbents seeking reelection, while Labelle is seeking election to her first term.

First-quarter reports cover all financial donations and spending between Jan. 1-March 31. Candidates became official April 4.

Dembow, who’s seeking reelection to a third term, is not required to file a campaign finance report until his campaign meets the expenditure threshold as set by state law. The law states a candidate shall register as a committee if the candidate receives contributions or makes expenditures, in any combination, of at least $5,000 in connection with that candidacy.

Ellen Andeen

Andeen raised $11,750 from in-state contributions valued above $100 during this first quarter, reports show.

She also used $2,000 of personal money.

She reports spending $4,940.

Andeen’s contributions came from four donations by Paradise Valley residents; two of which are personal connections:

• Charles Keller, Andeen’s fiancée, donated $4,500;
• Anne Andeen, her mother, donated $500;
• Resident Keith Ingram gave $6,550;
• Resident Larry Fink gave $200.

Her spending went to campaign expenses mostly comprised of advertising and website services.

Christine Labelle

Labelle reports raising a total of $22,920 during the first quarter of reporting.
Of that, $2,000 was from a personal loan; $20,160 is from in-state contributions greater than $100; $500 is from contributions less than $100; and $200 is from out-of-state donations.

She also reports using $60 of her own money.

Labelle’s donations came from:

• Paradise Valley Realtor Eric Rinestone gave $6,450;
• Patricia Labelle gave a total of $2,000 split into two payments;
• Scottsdale resident Margaret Kichler gave $1,000;
• Surprise resident William Waldrep gave $250;
• Scottsdale attorney Christopher Combs gave $1,000;
• Scottsdale resident Guy James Labelle gave $250;
• Paradise Valley resident Anne Andeen gave $200;
• Paradise Valley resident Betty McCrae gave $6,550;
• Scottsdale Realtor Denise Serro gave $500;
• Paradise Valley couple Sue and Don Powell gave $1,600.

Labelle’s two out-of-state contributions were from two California residents, giving $100 each.

She has spent about $6,000 on expenses including advertising, printing, marketing, a video shoot, public relations services and fundraising accounting fees.

Anna Thomasson

Thomasson reports raising $700, and spending nothing during the campaign’s first quarter.

Of her contributions, $500 is personal monies while $200 came from one contribution.

Thomasson’s $200 contribution is listed as being from “HR-Z” on her campaign finance document. The Mockingbird Lane address provided belongs to Hassan Rafi-Zadeh, according to the Maricopa County Assessor’s website.