Pro-refinery forces hold advantage in funding
By Dave Dreeszen, Journal business editor | Posted: Saturday, May 24, 2008
ELK POINT, S.D. -- Two local groups opposed to an oil refinery in Union County combined to narrowly raise more campaign funds than a single pro-Hyperion citizens group, documents filed Friday in the county courthouse show.
But if you count the funds Hyperion Refining contributed to its own campaign committee, pro-refinery forces hold a more than 10-to-1 cash-on-hand advantage heading into a pivotal June 3 vote. Pro and con groups have launched aggressive advertising campaigns and get-out-the-vote drives.
Save Union County and Citizens Opposed to Oil Pollution each formed ballot question committees to defeat the rezoning ordinance, while Citizens for Hyperion, which supports the proposed energy center but is not affiliated with or financially backed by Hyperion, formed a ballot committee to pass the referendum.
The three groups on Friday filed their initial campaign finance disclosure reports, which cover activity through May 19. As the Journal first reported Friday, Hyperion Energy Center Referendum, a ballot committee formed by Dallas, Texas-based Hyperion Refining, filed its first disclosure report Thursday.
The Hyperion committee took in $45,000 from the company and spent about half of that during the period, largely on salaries for local campaign workers, advertising and consulting services.
Citizens for Hyperion collected $22,030, including 28 itemized donations of $100 or more. The largest single contribution, $5,000, came from Greater Siouxland Inc., a long-standing private organization of local businesses.
A dozen businesses gave itemized contributions of $100 or more to the Citizens for Hyperion committee. Of those, Argosy's Belle of Sioux City riverboat casino made the largest donation, $3,000.
Citizens for Hyperion's largest contribution from individual residents was $1,000, from Mark and Maria Buckley of Dakota Dunes.
During the covered period, Citizens Opposed to Oil Production raised a total of $15,539, including 21 itemized individual contributions of $100 or more.
Dakota Alert, an Elk Point business owned by Jason Quam, a leader of the citizens group, made the largest single contribution of $1,900. Quam and his wife, Kim, also individually contributed $1,300. An Alcester business, Custom Coils, and Burdette and Gladys Hanson of rural Elk Point donated $1,000 apiece.
The Hansons also are leaders of Save Union County, which reported collecting a total of $10,368, including 10 itemized individual contributions of $100 or more. Burdette and Gladys Hanson, Cathy Beard of Vermillion, S.D., Mark Wetmore of Vermillion and Save Union County spokesman Ed Cable of Elk Point each contributed $500.
The Save Union County committee spent all but $265 during the period. The group reported expenditures of $2,860 for printing, $1,971 for postage, $1,954 for signs and materials, $1,389 for forums, $976 for billboards, $550 for advertising and $400 for consulting.
The Citizens Opposed to Oil Pollution committee spent $12,838 during the period, leaving $2,700 in the bank. Reported expenditures included $8,111 for printing and $4,826 for postage.
During the same period, Citizens for Hyperion spent $7,697, leaving $14,332 on hand. Expenses included $2,820 for advertising, $3,272 for postage and $1,602 in expenses for a fundraiser in Dakota Dunes.
Citizens for Hyperion's disclosure report filed Friday does not include funds collected at a fundraiser in Beresford on Wednesday. The committee lists debts of $2,226 to Star Printing/Studio B Graphics and $210 to The Main House.
South Dakota law allows ballot question committees to collect and spend unlimited amounts to pass or defeat an issue. Unlike candidates for public office or political action committees, ballot question committees can accept corporate donations.
The final campaign disclosure report for the Hyperion ballot question will not be due until after the June 3 election. However, from May 19 until election day, committees will be required to disclose any corporate contributions and any individual donations in excess of $500 within 48 hours of their receipt.
Here is an itemized list of individual contributions of $100 or more reported Friday by three ballot question committees registered for the June 3 zoning referendum in Union County.
Citizens for Hyperion
$5,000
Greater Siouxland Inc.
$3,000
Belle of Sioux City LP
$2,500
Dakota Valley Business Council
$1,000
Brown Construction, North Sioux City; United Vending & Food Services of North Sioux City; Mark and Maria Buckley, Dakota Dunes
$750
Malloy Electric, Sioux Falls
$500
United Real Estate Solutions, Sioux City
Dr. Ralph and Julie Reeder, Dakota Dunes
$300
J.B. and Peg Mercer, Jefferson, S.D.; Tom and June Heinz, Dakota Dunes
$250
Union County Opportunities, Dakota Dunes; Plains States Distribution, Dakota Dunes; Peterson Management Co., Dakota Dunes; Ginny Peterson, Dakota Dunes; Jack and Gail Bernstein, Dakota Dunes; Regina Roth, Dakota Dunes; Rich Waller, Dakota Dunes; Roy Jaeger, Sioux City; Greg and Karen Miner, Dakota Dunes; Jim and Julie Towler, Dakota Dunes; Irving Jensen III, Dakota Dunes.
$200
Schmidt Financial Inc., Dakota Dunes; Dennis Kuhn, Sioux City
$100
Holland Dental, Dakota Dunes; Wegher Construction, North Sioux City; Sioux Laundry Inc., North Sioux City.
Citizens Opposed to Oil Pollution
$1,900
Dakota Alert, Elk Point, S.D.
$1,300
Jason and Kim Quam, Elk Point.
$1,000
Burdette and Gladys Hanson, Elk Point; Custom Coils, Alcester, S.D.
$700
David Johnson, Elk Point
$500
Mary Slattery, Sioux Falls; Kenneth Moow, Elk Point; Victoria Winteringham, Vermillion, S.D.
$400
Wayne and Jaquelyn Heckathorn, Elk Point
$300
Russell and Margaret Hanson, Elk Point; Paul and Kathern Lessek
$200
Elizabeth Merrigan, Burbank, S.D.; Kervyn and Joanne Heeren, Akron, Iowa; Oris and Orma Holden; Elk Point; Lance and Lisa Nielsen, Akron, Iowa; Mark Wetmore, Vermillion, S.D.; Glenn Hanson, Elk Point; David Johnson, East Lansing, Mich.; Jeffrey Phillips, Jefferson
Save Union County
$500
Burdette and Gladys Hanson, Elk Point; Cathy Beard, Vermillion, S.D.; Mark Wetmore, Vermillion, S.D.; Ed Cable, Elk Point
$200
Arden and Bridget Hanson, Elk Point; Dallas and Clarice Wilken, Elk Point; Mr. and Mrs. Russell Hall, Elk Point; Robert and Marilyn Abraham, Alcester, S.D.; Keith and Toni Hall
Source: Campaign finance disclosure reports. Union County Auditor's Office.
But if you count the funds Hyperion Refining contributed to its own campaign committee, pro-refinery forces hold a more than 10-to-1 cash-on-hand advantage heading into a pivotal June 3 vote. Pro and con groups have launched aggressive advertising campaigns and get-out-the-vote drives.
Save Union County and Citizens Opposed to Oil Pollution each formed ballot question committees to defeat the rezoning ordinance, while Citizens for Hyperion, which supports the proposed energy center but is not affiliated with or financially backed by Hyperion, formed a ballot committee to pass the referendum.
The three groups on Friday filed their initial campaign finance disclosure reports, which cover activity through May 19. As the Journal first reported Friday, Hyperion Energy Center Referendum, a ballot committee formed by Dallas, Texas-based Hyperion Refining, filed its first disclosure report Thursday.
The Hyperion committee took in $45,000 from the company and spent about half of that during the period, largely on salaries for local campaign workers, advertising and consulting services.
Citizens for Hyperion collected $22,030, including 28 itemized donations of $100 or more. The largest single contribution, $5,000, came from Greater Siouxland Inc., a long-standing private organization of local businesses.
A dozen businesses gave itemized contributions of $100 or more to the Citizens for Hyperion committee. Of those, Argosy's Belle of Sioux City riverboat casino made the largest donation, $3,000.
Citizens for Hyperion's largest contribution from individual residents was $1,000, from Mark and Maria Buckley of Dakota Dunes.
During the covered period, Citizens Opposed to Oil Production raised a total of $15,539, including 21 itemized individual contributions of $100 or more.
Dakota Alert, an Elk Point business owned by Jason Quam, a leader of the citizens group, made the largest single contribution of $1,900. Quam and his wife, Kim, also individually contributed $1,300. An Alcester business, Custom Coils, and Burdette and Gladys Hanson of rural Elk Point donated $1,000 apiece.
The Hansons also are leaders of Save Union County, which reported collecting a total of $10,368, including 10 itemized individual contributions of $100 or more. Burdette and Gladys Hanson, Cathy Beard of Vermillion, S.D., Mark Wetmore of Vermillion and Save Union County spokesman Ed Cable of Elk Point each contributed $500.
The Save Union County committee spent all but $265 during the period. The group reported expenditures of $2,860 for printing, $1,971 for postage, $1,954 for signs and materials, $1,389 for forums, $976 for billboards, $550 for advertising and $400 for consulting.
The Citizens Opposed to Oil Pollution committee spent $12,838 during the period, leaving $2,700 in the bank. Reported expenditures included $8,111 for printing and $4,826 for postage.
During the same period, Citizens for Hyperion spent $7,697, leaving $14,332 on hand. Expenses included $2,820 for advertising, $3,272 for postage and $1,602 in expenses for a fundraiser in Dakota Dunes.
Citizens for Hyperion's disclosure report filed Friday does not include funds collected at a fundraiser in Beresford on Wednesday. The committee lists debts of $2,226 to Star Printing/Studio B Graphics and $210 to The Main House.
South Dakota law allows ballot question committees to collect and spend unlimited amounts to pass or defeat an issue. Unlike candidates for public office or political action committees, ballot question committees can accept corporate donations.
The final campaign disclosure report for the Hyperion ballot question will not be due until after the June 3 election. However, from May 19 until election day, committees will be required to disclose any corporate contributions and any individual donations in excess of $500 within 48 hours of their receipt.
Here is an itemized list of individual contributions of $100 or more reported Friday by three ballot question committees registered for the June 3 zoning referendum in Union County.
Citizens for Hyperion
$5,000
Greater Siouxland Inc.
$3,000
Belle of Sioux City LP
$2,500
Dakota Valley Business Council
$1,000
Brown Construction, North Sioux City; United Vending & Food Services of North Sioux City; Mark and Maria Buckley, Dakota Dunes
$750
Malloy Electric, Sioux Falls
$500
United Real Estate Solutions, Sioux City
Dr. Ralph and Julie Reeder, Dakota Dunes
$300
J.B. and Peg Mercer, Jefferson, S.D.; Tom and June Heinz, Dakota Dunes
$250
Union County Opportunities, Dakota Dunes; Plains States Distribution, Dakota Dunes; Peterson Management Co., Dakota Dunes; Ginny Peterson, Dakota Dunes; Jack and Gail Bernstein, Dakota Dunes; Regina Roth, Dakota Dunes; Rich Waller, Dakota Dunes; Roy Jaeger, Sioux City; Greg and Karen Miner, Dakota Dunes; Jim and Julie Towler, Dakota Dunes; Irving Jensen III, Dakota Dunes.
$200
Schmidt Financial Inc., Dakota Dunes; Dennis Kuhn, Sioux City
$100
Holland Dental, Dakota Dunes; Wegher Construction, North Sioux City; Sioux Laundry Inc., North Sioux City.
Citizens Opposed to Oil Pollution
$1,900
Dakota Alert, Elk Point, S.D.
$1,300
Jason and Kim Quam, Elk Point.
$1,000
Burdette and Gladys Hanson, Elk Point; Custom Coils, Alcester, S.D.
$700
David Johnson, Elk Point
$500
Mary Slattery, Sioux Falls; Kenneth Moow, Elk Point; Victoria Winteringham, Vermillion, S.D.
$400
Wayne and Jaquelyn Heckathorn, Elk Point
$300
Russell and Margaret Hanson, Elk Point; Paul and Kathern Lessek
$200
Elizabeth Merrigan, Burbank, S.D.; Kervyn and Joanne Heeren, Akron, Iowa; Oris and Orma Holden; Elk Point; Lance and Lisa Nielsen, Akron, Iowa; Mark Wetmore, Vermillion, S.D.; Glenn Hanson, Elk Point; David Johnson, East Lansing, Mich.; Jeffrey Phillips, Jefferson
Save Union County
$500
Burdette and Gladys Hanson, Elk Point; Cathy Beard, Vermillion, S.D.; Mark Wetmore, Vermillion, S.D.; Ed Cable, Elk Point
$200
Arden and Bridget Hanson, Elk Point; Dallas and Clarice Wilken, Elk Point; Mr. and Mrs. Russell Hall, Elk Point; Robert and Marilyn Abraham, Alcester, S.D.; Keith and Toni Hall
Source: Campaign finance disclosure reports. Union County Auditor's Office.
Story Comments
Read More and Post Comments 7 comment(s)
Please note: The following are comments from readers. In no way do they represent the views of The Sioux City Journal or Lee Enterprises. We will not edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to not post or to remove comments that violate our code of conduct. No comment may contain potentially libelous statements; obscene, explicit or racist language; personal attacks, insults or threats. Terms of Service
George L wrote on Jun 7, 2008 4:00 PM:
Guy Smylie wrote on Jun 5, 2008 10:27 AM:
We need many refineries. Maybe, it's community that means a lot to you, it means a lot to everyone! But they aren't trying to run you out of town. Hyperion is practically bending over backwards to make everyone happy. If you don't believe me ask them. A GOOD idea, since the measure passed, those opposed should try and work with Hyperion. But people here in South Dakota don't want change. They apparently want all their children to move away to PRODUCTIVE areas of the country. "
Voting No in Wynstone wrote on Jun 1, 2008 12:54 AM:
RedBlood wrote on May 24, 2008 9:19 PM:
union wrote on May 24, 2008 8:27 PM: