Last year's Chapel Hill mayoral race brought up new issues, such as the right way to deal with campaign spending and the introduction of a spending cap that would limit the amount of money donated to each candidate.
Mayoral candidates Lee Pavao and Kevin Foy spent more than $50,000 combined. Foy, who won the election, spent $25,700 on his campaign, and runner-up Pavao spent a total of $25,298.44. Candidate Cam Hill, who dropped out of the race days prior to the election, did not have figures available.
In 1999, the Chapel Hill Town Council imposed a limitation on candidates, allowing a maximum donation of $200 per supporter.
Last year's election was the most expensive to date in Chapel Hill, but both candidates say the money spent on their campaigns was necessary. "Campaigning is an education process, and you have to use a combination of effort," Foy said. "Unfortunately, all of these things cost a lot of money."
Pavao said he agrees and that the only problem with informing the public is the hefty price tag attached. "(Advertising) is the only way to inform the public, and you have to pay to inform the public," he said.
Some believe the high costs in last year's race will grow higher as more and more candidates run for office.
"Obviously, this year they spent a lot more than I had to spend. ... Stakes are higher now than they were," said former Chapel Hill Mayor Jonathan Howes. "This could be the beginning of rapid escalation into higher and higher spending."
Howes said local politicians are looking for a way to keep the amount spent on elections in line with the size of Chapel Hill government. "Big-time political parties destroy a small-town feel."
Town Council member Mark Kleinschmidt said he tried to keep money from becoming an issue in his campaign. His supporters limited contributions to $100 per person. "It's best that large sums of money stay out of (Chapel Hill politics)," he said.
