With election in sight, Beck outspending Binsbacher nearly 3 to 1 in race for Peoria mayor
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Campaign finance
For the most recent campaign finance numbers, candidates were required to file their campaign finance reports Oct. 15, which covered receipts and disbursements from July 17 to Sept. 30. Here is a breakdown.
As the race for the mayor’s office in Peoria hits the homestretch, candidate Jason Beck is outspending Bridget Binsbacher nearly three to one.
Campaign finance reports for the third quarter of this election cycle are in, showing Beck spent $86,306 this period, compared with $28,918 for Binsbacher.
Candidates were required to file their campaign finance reports by Oct. 15, which covered receipts and disbursements from July 17 to Sept. 30.
Reports show that in the third quarter Beck started with $75,763 in his coffers and ended with $14,651. Binsbacher started with $76,463 and ended with $71,645.
To date, Beck has spent about three-and-a-half times more at $253,830, compared with Binsbacher’s $72,910.
Most of Beck’s spending this reporting period — $48,350 — has gone to Arena Mail and Digital for advertising.
Similarly, much of Binsbacher’s spending this period — $12,742 — has gone to postage for mailers. Her other big expense this period was $12,000 to HighGround Inc. for consulting and surveying.
In the fundraising arena to date, Beck has more than doubled his opponent, with receipts at $268,582, while Binsbacher’s are at $122,250.
When it comes to donations, this reporting period saw the two candidates neck-in-neck with Beck bringing in $25,195 and Binsbacher bringing in $24,100.
For both candidates, the grand majority of donors were from Arizona and gave $100 or more.
Top Beck donors included: Brandon Kowalski with Kowalski Construction, $2,500; John Graham, chairman and CEO at Sunbelt Holdings, $2,500; Sharon Harper, president and CEO of Plaza Companies, $2,000; and Francis Najafi, CEO of investment firm Pivotal Group, $2,000.
Other notable Beck donors this reporting period: Daniel Seiden, CEO/President of Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry, $1,000; Howard Grace, president and CEO of WM Grace, $500; Lovas for Arizona, $1,000; and Jason Bezezo, vice president of government relations at Banner Health, $250.
PAC donations to Beck included: Safeguarding American Liberties Morals & Opportunities Now (Salmon PAC), $1,000; and Arizona Police Association, $5,000.
Big donors for Binsbacher this quarter included: Thom Gyder, with DPR Realty $6,500; Andy Kunasek, owner of Goodwin Schwartz, $2,500; and Monte Ryan, owner of Touchdown Sportswear and Promotions, $1,346.
Other notable Binsbacher donors this period: David Schwartz, developer, $1,000; Judy Pokorsk, partner at Snell and Wilmer, $200; and Fred Williams, partner at Snell and Wilmer, $500.
Binsbacher received $1,000 from the following PACs: United Goodyear Firefighters, United Mesa Firefighters, SVVFF IAFF Local 3690, Avondale Professional Firefighters and Northwest Firefighters IAFF Local 3572.
Philip Haldiman can be reached at phaldiman@iniusa.org, or on Twitter @philiphaldiman.
Meet Philip Haldiman is an award-winning journalist who most recently took first place for investigative reporting in 2023 from Arizona Newspapers Association. He joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2015, covering Sun City West his first year. Since 2016, he has covered the city of Peoria. Prior to coming to INI, he was a reporter with The Arizona Republic for seven years, covering numerous cities throughout the Valley. Before that, he was a freelance writer.
Community: Haldiman spearheads the Peoria Independent Hometown Heroes Awards program, honoring local individuals and businesses that give back to the community. He has hosted local candidate forums over the years and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists. Haldiman also served as a member of the Journalism Program Community Advisory Board at Glendale Community College. Outside journalism, Haldiman served as a member of the city of Peoria Complete Count Committee for the Census, 2019-2020. Lastly, he has served as a member of his HOA governing board since 2021.
Education: Arizona State University with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications and a BA in Theater.
Random Fact: Haldiman is a fourth-generation Arizonan as well as wrote and produced an autobiographical comic book about his time spent in Hollywood and his life as a cult film star.
Hobbies: He enjoys hiking Arizona’s mountainous landscapes and is currently working on a play for the stage.
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