TN-1: GOPer LOSer David Davis owes $67,000 outsider campaign debt

[doeriver]

Davis trying to pay down debt, considering another 1st District run
http://www.timesnews.net/article.php?id=9017624
By Hank Hayes
Published October 14th, 2009

Former U.S. Rep. David Davis is still trying to pay down post-election debt while mulling an attempt to retake Northeast Tennessee’s 1st Congressional District seat in 2010.

According to his October filing with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), Davis personally loaned his campaign account $25,000 and then paid $25,000 to a Lexington, S.C., firm for “various invoices” related to advertising during the 2008 election cycle.

Davis’ outstanding debt with creditors stood at nearly $67,000, not including a total of $245,000 in personal loans he has made to his campaign account, according to the FEC filing.



Former U.S. Rep. David Davis (center) sharing a laptop with then soon-to-be
Congressioal Press Secretary Timothy Hill (seated) during Election Day 2006.


After a two-year term, the Johnson City Republican narrowly lost the 2008 GOP Primary to current U.S. Rep. Phil Roe, who went on to easily win the following November general election against Democrat challenger Rob Russell.

Davis’ campaign account reported having only $1,622.21 cash on hand as of Oct. 8.

In contrast, Roe’s campaign account reported having more than $256,000 cash on hand with help from about $200,000 in individual contributions, according to FEC filings through June 30. Roe also reported having nearly $170,000 in debt in his campaign account related to personal loans.

General contractors and health professionals were Roe’s top contributors among industry sectors, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a Washington, D.C.-based campaign finance watchdog group. Roe is a retired obstetrician/gynecologist and former Johnson City mayor.

Despite the absence of new checks coming in, Davis said he planned to keep his campaign account open for now.

“I’m not raising money right now because if I start raising money if you know the FEC rules, if you raise over $5,000 you become a candidate,” Davis said. “I honestly haven’t decided if I’m going to run (in the 2010 GOP primary) or not. When I decide, I’ll ramp that up. The reality is I’m not going to be able to raise as much money as the incumbent can. I’d have to put in some personal money and raise some money. That decision is not made yet.”

Davis, however, is staying visible among district Republicans by speaking at area “Tea Parties” and at various GOP events.

He attacked Roe’s legislative record last month and cited two of the incumbent’s votes to use tax dollars toward preserving sea otters and sea turtles.

Someone please tell David Davis that I am not "mad over spending money on sea turtle and sea otters"...I love all of those critters!

“People are mad at Congress right now,” Davis said. “They are mad at Democrats and Republicans. They’re mad that people will tell them one thing to get elected and then do something else. They’re mad over health care. They’re mad over spending money on sea turtles and sea otters. They’re mad over (federal) bailouts and too much spending. I think you will see a shift in the Congress next year. I think there will be Republicans and Democrats lose their elections next year because of the anger across America.”

When asked about Davis’ assertion concerning those two votes in a recent conference call with reporters, Roe said he didn’t vote for sea otters and turtles.

“It was an authorization bill that didn’t cost anything to protect endangered species. It had no taxpayer cost to it,” Roe responded.
The 1st Congressional District hasn’t elected a Democrat to go to Washington, D.C., in more than 100 years.