Show Me the Money: A Look at Township Hopefuls' Campaign Finances

Someone is paying for the mailings and lawn signs of candidates running for Plymouth Township's local offices, but who?

Under Michigan campaign finance law that information is public record and must be filed with the Wayne County clerk's office.

A candidate's committee to elect must file annual campaign statements as well as pre- and post-election campaign statements for elections where the candidate's name appears on the ballot, including the Aug. 7 primary.

The deadline for filing pre-primary statements was July 27. The following Plymouth Township trustee candidates' reports have not yet appeared on the Wayne County website for filed reports: Incumbent Kay Arnold, Andrew Justus, Don Schettler and Janai Stepp. 

Under state election law, a candidate committee "that does not expect to receive or spend more than $1,000 for any election" can receive a reporting waiver, exempting the committee from reporting.

Unopposed incumbent Plymouth Township Supervisor Richard Reaume reported the largest contributions, totaling $22,806.62, while trustee candidate Charles Curmi raised the smallest contributions — just $650. Totals may include loans made to one's campaign by the candidate.

The following information is based on reports filed with the county clerk.

Richard Reaume (incumbent)

• Total contributions: $22,806.62
• Spent: $1,588.27
• Remaining: $21,218.25
• Donors of $250 or more: Nancy Benedettini of Rochester Hills, administrator of CMI Management Services in Southfield $500); Wallace Smith of Novi, CEO of E&E Manufacturing in Plymouth ($300); Kathleen Burbary of Shelby Township, homemaker ($300); Michael Ferrantino of Plymouth, member of Department Environmental Quality ($300); Judith Siegel of Detroit, co-owner of Dental Care Management in Detroit ($500); Ernest Wallace of Plymouth, Food Safety at Sears Holdings, $300; Ronald Witthoff of Plymouth, attorney at Hemming, Polaczyk, et. al., ($300 cumulative); Tim Griggs of Lake Orion, vice president of Sun Tel Services in Troy, $250 cumulative; 

Joe Bridgman (incumbent)

• Total contributions: $9,582.18
• Spent: $9,485.11
• Remaining: $96.77
• Donors of $250 or more: Thomas Kelly, Royal Oak firefighter ($400); Wayne 11th Congressional District Republican Committee ($1,000).

Nancy Conzelman

• Total contributions: $4,300
• Spent: $3,587.23
• Remaining: $712.77
• Donors of $250 or more: Therese Scharbach of Livonia, retired ($500);Daniel Herriman of Plymouth, president of Herriman and Associates in Plymouth ($300), Charles Conzelman of Northville, retired ($500), James Conzelman of Plymouth, retired ($500) and Plymouth Township Supervisor Richard Reaume ($500).

Ron Edwards (incumbent)

• Total contributions: $5,298.67
• Spent: $4,999.24
• Remaining: $299.43
• Donors of $250 or more: Jacob Bacall of Farmington Hills, owner of Plymouth Associates in FH ($300); Greg Schultz of Farmington Hills, lawyer at Schultz and Young, ($400); Basil Bacall of Brighton, executive at Plymouth Associates ($250).

Edwin Schulz

• Total contributions: $3,000
• Spent: $2,902.60
• Remaining: $97.40
• Donors of $250 or more: N/A

Jennifer Mann

• Total contributions: $1,043.17
• Spent: $596.45
• Remaining: $393.55
• Donors of $250 or more: Thomas Kelly, Royal Oak firefighter ($400); Charles Mann, firefighter/paramedic, Plymouth Township ($500).

Paul Schulz

• Total contributions: $2,500
• Spent: $2,494
• Remaining: $6
• Donors of $250 or more: N/A

Christopher Hull

• Total contributions: $1,500
• Spent: $1,435.17
• Remaining: $64.83
• Donors of $250 or more: Thomas Kelly, Royal Oak Firefighter ($400); Michigan Professional Firefighters Union ($500)

Alanna Maguire

• Total contributions: $2,465
• Spent: $977.14
• Remaining: $1,487.86
• Donors of $250 or more: Plymouth Democratic Club ($250)

Art Butler

• Total contributions: $3,800
• Spent: $3,486.31
• Remaining: $363
• Donors of $250 or more: Plymouth Township Supervisor Richard Reaume ($1,000); Alice Butler, retired ($1,000).

Charles Curmi

• Total contributions: $650
• Spent: $1,933.33
• Remaining: ($1,283.33)
• Donors of $250 or more: Raymond Wales, retired ($500).

Robert Doroshewitz (incumbent)

• Total contributions: $3,210.25
• Spent: $1,696.38
• Remaining: $1,513.87
• Donors of $250 or more: N/A

Michael Kelly (incumbent)

• Total contributions: $2,129.48
• Spent: $2,129.48
• Remaining: $0
• Donors of $250 or more: N/A

Sandra Groth

• Total contributions: $3,941.12
• Spent: $3,912.53
• Remaining: $28.59
• Donors of $250 or more: N/A

Reports not available:

Kay Arnold (incumbent); Andrew Justus; Don Schettler and Janai Stepp. Candidates who receive and spend less than $1,000 can request a waiver to exempt themselves from reporting.

This story has been edited at 1 p.m. to clarify that candidates expecting to raise and spend less than $1,000 can file a reporting waiver.