Low voter turnout in Cobb's Tuesday election follows trend and Campaign disclosure reports reveal funding gaps for Cobb municipal candidates
by Ricky Leroux November 05, 2015 12:00 AM MARIETTA — Voter turnout in Austell, Kennesaw…
Georgia (Nov 6, 2015) —
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November 03, 2015 12:15 AM
MARIETTA — A look at the campaign disclosure reports for candidates taking part in
today’s city elections reveal some discrepancies in the fundraising among candidates.
However, money isn’t everything in local elections, according to Kerwin Swint, political
science professor at Kennesaw State University.
“At this level, money’s not as important as it would be for, say, a statewide or congressional
race,” Swint said.
Money can give candidates an edge when it comes to purchasing yard signs and mailers
or having candidate meet-and-greets, Swint said, but fundraising advantages don’t
always result in winning.
“If you’re able to raise more money, then you’re better able to afford all those things
that are going to get you voter contact,” Swint said. “You can have radio spots or
mailed brochures. You are better able to position yourself, but the caveat there is
it’s not always the person that wins. In local elections, sometimes a candidate that
is less funded but they have a better turnout mechanism or they have something else
working in their favor can win.”
Bigger factors in local races are name recognition, reputation among voters and getting
out the vote, Swint said. …
A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers more than 150 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 41,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia and the second-largest university in the state. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the region and from 126 countries across the globe. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.