Candidates have friends in area GOP mayor of Aurora, 79, a believer in Democrat. McCain picks up speed

Stephanie Warsmith

Jun. 14, 2008 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Aurora Mayor Lynn McGill is a lifelong Republican who has never voted for a Democrat.

Until this year.

And not only did McGill vote for Sen. Barack Obama in the March primary, he's also contributed to his campaign 14 times -- the second most donations to Obama from anyone in the Akron area.

"I think he is going to turn the nation around," said McGill, 79, who is serving his second term as mayor and said he was speaking as a private citizen. "I think we need to turn it around. We are floundering."

McGill, who has given Obama $1,170, is one of more than 600 people in the Akron area who have contributed to the presidential candidates. Many have given multiple, smaller donations via the Internet -- a tool the campaigns are using to a greater extent than ever.

The Beacon Journal, which is following contributions made by area residents to the presidential candidates, examined the latest finance reports filed with the Feder

al Election Commission. The reports covered the period from February through April.

Some highlights include:

--Among Republicans, Sen. John McCain has been raising significantly more locally. His donations from the Akron area more than tripled between January and the end of April.

--U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, whose local contributions were increasing until December, raised no money from the area in March or April. Paul has announced he is ending his campaign.

--Among Democrats, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who dropped out of the race this month, has still raised more in the Akron area than Obama. But Obama outpaced Clinton in local donations in March -- when Clinton won the Ohio primary -- and April.

--Obama -- by far -- brought in the most statewide and nationally.

--Obama's average donation locally is lower than either Clinton's or McCain's, at $321. Clinton's average is $398 and McCain's is $589.

The candidates must file monthly with the FEC through the end of the year. The next reports are due Friday.

McCain gains support

McCain is getting increasing support from local business leaders.

Tim Remington, president of Remington Products Co. in Wadsworth, has given McCain $4,600 -- the maximum permitted by law -- most recently donating in early April. He called McCain "a statesman."

"I don't think there's a lot of them left in Washington," said Remington, whose company makes cushion components for footwear.

Remington considers himself an independent and sees McCain as a moderate, particularly on social issues.

"He certainly has the potential to be a better president than Bush was," he said.

Remington, who has never before given this much to a presidential candidate, made both of his donations on the Web.

"It's just an easy way to do it," he said. "It's like paying bills online. Not that I'm too lazy to write a check."

Ward J. Timken, the chairman of the Timken Co. (NYSE:TKR) in Canton, is among the other local executives who have given to McCain. Timken declined, through a company spokesman, to talk about his $2,300 donation, saying "campaign contributions are an individual matter, and we don't discuss them."

Interestingly, Edith Timken, Ward Timken's sister, gave $4,600 -- but to Obama, not McCain. This is unusual because the Timken family is active with the Republican Party.

Ann Brennan, the wife of charter school operator David Brennan, has given McCain the maximum allowed, with her second donation in late April.

McCain, who at 72 would be the oldest American elected to be a first-term president, continues to garner more support from retirees than other candidates.

In fact, Kenneth Schwietz, a Hudson retiree, has given to McCain 29 times -- the most local donations of any candidate. Lawrence Nicklow of Akron, another retiree, has contributed to McCain 21 times -- all under $50 and most only $10.

Clinton backers regroup

Sheryl Holt, a Walsh University professor, has given more often to Clinton than anyone else locally -- contributing 19 times to her campaign.

Holt said she decided to support Clinton after attending several campaign events before Ohio's primary. She even made phone calls and went door-to-door for Clinton's campaign.

"I hoped to have a woman candidate I could believe in," said Holt, who teaches physical therapy and lives in Perry Township.

A few of Holt's donations -- made over the Internet -- were prompted by e-mails from the campaign asking for support, including one from Chelsea Clinton, Hillary Clinton's daughter, on Mother's Day.

"For the most part, I contributed when I felt I could," said Holt, who has never before given to a campaign. "I probably went a little above what I would have given. It was something I really believed in."

Now that Clinton is out, Holt isn't sure who she'll support. She said it will depend on who Obama chooses as a running mate.

John Schmidt, a Summit County Council member, gave Clinton 10 donations of $100 each.

"I think she was the best person for the job," said Schmidt, who often gives to campaigns.

He said he gave for different reasons.

"Some of them were in response to pleas," he said. "Sometimes I would give because she lost. Sometimes because she won. Many times I was inspired to give because of a speech or policy."

Schmidt donated via the Web, a process he said is "ridiculously easy" and takes about two minutes. He called Internet giving "the wave of the future."

Though Schmidt is disappointed that Clinton is no longer in the race, he said he will support Obama, including giving to his campaign.

"I'll do everything I can to help Barack become the next president," he said. "In turbulent times, we need the change he represents."

Professors help Obama

Obama has gotten more support from the college community than any other candidate -- with 25 local professors making donations.

He has supporters from many institutions, including Kent State University, College of Wooster, Cleveland State University and Ohio State University.

William McHenry, one of several University of Akron professors who have given to Obama, has contributed 16 times -- more than anyone else in the Akron area.

"I appreciate his intelligence," said McHenry, who teaches information systems in UA's business college. "The fact that he was the first African-American to be head of the Harvard Law Review, that appeals to me as a professor."

McHenry, who is gay, also favors Obama's stance on social issues, including his support for repealing the Defense of Marriage Act.

McHenry made his contributions online, which he said was easy and preferable to donating after a phone solicitation.

"I had a call from the Obama campaign very early (in the process)," he said. "I didn't like that call. I thought there was pressuring."

Hudson Mayor William Currin has given Obama two donations totaling $1,500 -- one at a private fundraiser where he got to meet the candidate and the second on the Web.

"I firmly believe that the time has come for a man of his knowledge, stature, dedication and past experience to be in the Oval Office," said Currin, an independent who is in his second term as mayor.

Currin thinks the increase in Internet giving is a positive change.

"More people are involving themselves in the process versus the wheelers and dealers, soft money and lobbyists," he said. "The more broad based it can be, the better it is for participatory democracy."

Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at 330-996-3705 or swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com. David Knox, manager of computer-assisted reporting, contributed to this report.

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