We often wonder how developers are so politically successful when most voters are strongly opposed to overdevelopment.  The common theory is developers give lots of campaign contributions to candidates for elected office such as City Council.  While the money angle is certainly valid and money can buy political campaigns slick enough to get voters to cast their votes for the developer-backed candidates, there is more to it than just the money.

            The developer-backed candidates still need to get political support from a majority of the voters.  What we have observed is developers have formed an unholy alliance with liberal special interest groups.  Developers support candidates who advocate sustainability, social spending, educational spending, unions, environmental protection, and even higher taxes.  So long as these elected officials will support the developers’ building plans then the developers are willing to write the checks needed to get these politicians elected.

             This creates an interesting dynamic.  Ward 3’s Shakti defends her support of developers as a respect for their “property rights”.  This Republican-sounding theme seems to be a sharp contrast with the Democrat’s advocacy of open space and environmental protection.  However, it does allow the developers, lobbyists and special interests to open the cash faucet to fund her campaigns.

             This alliance helps explains why Democrats who campaign as champions of the common people still manage to get the lion’s share of the special interest campaign contributions.  We have noted the role of special interest donations to city races, but we see it in other elections as well.  In the last general election (2016), the state house races in Lakewood were dominated by Democrats who outraised and outspent their Republican opponents.  For example, Democrat Brittany Peterson raised $138,642 versus the $5,328 raised by Republican Nancy Pallozzi (a 26 – 1 advantage).  In the other Lakewood state house race (HD23), Democrat Chris Kennedy raised $160,305 to Republican Chris Hasdall’s $50,124, for a 3 – 1 advantage.  For more campaign donation information go to http://www.followthemoney.org