Overview of House Speaker John Harwood's Campaign Finances

Click to See List of 2000 Individual and PAC Contributors (Large File: May Take 30 Seconds to Upload)

Click to See List of 1999 Individual and PAC Contributors (Large File: May Take 30 Seconds to Upload)

Click to See List of 1998 Individual and PAC Contributors (Large File: May Take 30 Seconds to Upload)

Beginning Balance (Jan. 1, 1998): $110,331.64

1998 Receipts: $131,482.64

1998 Disbursements: $119,567.10

Ending Balance (Dec. 31, 1998): $122,193.18

Source of 1998 Contributions:

Individuals: $98,225 (75%)

PACs: $28,925 (22%)

Other: $4,332.64 (3%)

Top 1998 Contributors:

Of the 543 contributors, lawyers were the top donors to the Speaker, providing 25% of his total receipts. Other top sectors included state and city employees (15%), and other businesses (14%). Medical doctors (3%), educators (2%), and accountants (1%) ranked low on the list of givers. The average contribution was $196 for individuals and $330 for political action committees. (click to see list of contributions by sector)

Notable 1998 Contributions:

Recipient of contribution from NRA Political Victory Fund, $600, April 27, 1998. This is news that can not make his ally, Congressman Patrick Kennedy, very happy. Kennedy is an outspoken opponent of the NRA.

Harwood made at least $13,490 in reported contributions above $100 to other politicians in 1998. This exceeds the legal state limit of $10,000 which can be contributed to state and local candidates. On May 21, Harwood indicated he would request a return of some of these contributions in order to bring his spending back into compliance with state law.

Contributions in 1998 included donations to Democratic Statewide Candidates Myrth York, Charles Fogarty, Sheldon Whitehouse, and Paul Tavares, but not Secretary of State James Langevin, whose office earlier in the year published a scathing report on open meeting violations by the General Assembly. Langevin, though, did make a $125 contribution to Speaker Harwood. (click to see list of contributions to and from politicians)

Top 1998 Expenses:

Top spending categories included: restaurants (24% of all expenses), contributions to other political candidates (12%), charitable contributions (15%), non-itemized credit card expenses (12%), and receptions (10%). Surprising is how little money actually is spent on direct campaign costs, such as advertising, direct mail, and phone banks. (click to see expenditures by category)

Rhode Island Board of Elections Campaign Finance Reports, 1998