Because running for a part-time political office shouldn’t cost more than the job pays, the Mayor, Gary Leitzell challenged all the candidates to limit their campaigns to $10K in cash donations and $10k in in-kind donations.

Commissioner Nan Whaley and Retired Judge A.J. Wagner both declined and have taken donations as big as $5,000 (what the donors expect back for that kind of money- one can only wonder). Both had reported over $50,000 in donations months ago- and were actively working to out raise each other.

The Democratic party-endorsed candidates for Dayton City Commission, Jeffery Mims and Joey Williams have not agreed to limit their campaigns either, and both seem more interested in riding on Commissioner Whaley’s money.

The Mayor, and candidates David Esrati (author of esrati.com where you are reading this) and David K. Greer, have joined together to put up a joint site, www.independentdayton.com to keep voters informed about our campaigns and upcoming candidates’ nights. There are three video interviews posted from our Coffee talks at Ghostlight Coffee shot by David Sparks of the Dayton Informer. Hopefully, either I’ll bring some lights, or Mr. Sparks will- so we don’t look like Ghostlighted candidates next week.

This is all a part of trying to better educate voters, instead of trying to wow them over with yard signs, billboards, mailings and TV and radio ads that big campaign war chests can buy.

Take a look.