2004 Campaign Finance Profile - Sheila Harsdorf

Updated: July 19, 2005

Senator Sheila Harsdorf (R) River Falls Picture: Senator Sheila Harsdorf

Senate District 10

2004 Election Notes and Background Senator Harsdorf was first elected to the Assembly in 1988 and after a two year retirement was first elected to the Senate in 2000. She was unopposed in the primary and faced Democratic opposition in the general election. Volunteers for Agiculture ($10,537) made independent expenditures favoring Senator Harsdorf. Planned Parenthood Action Fund ($327) and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin ($1,627) made independent expenditures in favor of her opponent. All Children Matter spent undisclosed amounts on "issue ads" in support of Senator Harsdorf.
2004 Campaign Finance Summary
Harsdorf Raised: $283,834 - Spent: $258,928 Vote: 59.2% - Cost/Vote: $4.57 Independent Backing: $10,537	Bakke Raised: $83,650 - Spent: $83,650 Vote: 40.7% - Cost/Vote: $2.14 Independent Backing: $1,954
Harsdorf’s Committee Assignments 2005-2006: Educaton; Higher Education and Tourism (Chair); Housing and Financial Institutions; Joint Survey on Tax Exemptions (Co-Chair). 2003-2004: Higher Education and Tourism (Chair); Joint Finance; Finance; Joint Legislative Council; Survey on Tax Exemptions; Law Revision.

Where did the money come from?*

Cash on hand 1/1/01	$1,777
Self	$0
Under $100	$53,300
$100 or more	$215,906
PACs & Parties	$12,729
Other Income	$1,899
WECF*	$0
*voluntary spending limit system.

Contributions of $100 or More*
1/1/01-12/31/04

In-District	Out-District
$142,410 (66.5%)	$71,696 (33.5%)
*Excludes returned and self contributions.

Interest Group Contributions from
Individuals and Committees*
1/1/01-12/31/04

Interest	Amount
Retired/Homemakers/Non-income earners	$28,160
Health Professionals	$20,963
Construction	$18,934
Business	$17,223
Real Estate	$15,160
Agriculture	$14,285
Banking & Finance	$13,330
Political/Ideological	$13,229
Manufacturing & Distributing	$11,120
Transportation	$9,660
Tourism/Leisure/Entertainment	$9,185
Insurance	$8,345
Road Construction	$7,700
Unknown	$7,415
Telecommunications & Computers	$5,597
Health Services/Institutions	$5,250
Lawyers/Law Firms/Lobbyists	$5,000
Education	$4,875
Natural Resources	$4,509
Energy	$3,940
Non-Profit/Social Services	$1,575
Civil servant/public employee	$1,380
*Excludes returned and self contributions.

Top Contributors
1993-2004

Contributor(s)	City	Business	Amount
Derrick Family	New Richmond, WI	Derrick Construction Co	$6,025
Nelson, Grant & Carol	Prescott, WI	Retired	$4,500
Uihlein Family	Mequon, WI	U-Line Corp	$4,250
Knox Family	Fort Atkinson, WI	WD Hoard & Sons/Morgan & Myers	$3,580
Nordstrand, Dennis & Carol	Hudson, WI	Yellow River Supply Corp/Fortis Health Care	$3,300
Friedlander, William & Sally	Hudson, WI	Retired	$3,175
Thom, Roland & Rose	Ellsworth, WI	Woodshed Pizza & Drive-in Liquor	$2,750
Schulte, Wayne	Ellsworth, WI	Victory Fireworks	$2,650
Elefson, Vern & Jean	River Falls, WI	Retired	$2,600
Rusch, James & Mary	New Richmond, WI	Greenwood Enterprises/St Croix County	$2,575