Washington
LAST November, before he announced his candidacy for reelection. Sen. Charles H. Percy announced his net worth in a press release. Republican Percy neatly timed his statement: he chose a slow news day and alerted both wire services. He also included some very vague language, disclosing assets "worth between $3.9 million and $8.7 million." Percy's release got national publicity which illustrates illustrates one reason why anti-Equal Rights Amendment activitist Phullis Schlafly did not challenge him in last month's primary; an incumbent has advantages which never show up in campaign finance reports. Percy's advantage — one of many advantages for incumbents — results from the prominence and publicity which accompany his Senate seat. His Democratic opponent, Chicago attorney Alex Seith, won't get national coverage if and when he discloses his finances. ADA study Some of Percy's incumbency advantages are shared by the Illinois House delegation. And a recent Americans for Democratic Action (ADA) study shows the advantages of House incumbency in dollar-and-cent terms. The ADA added to salaries, office space, free services, staff aid, travel allowances and everything else a House member might use in campaign. The total amounted to a $567,000 head start for each of the 24 Illinois House members. Some of them, like Reps. John B. Anderson (R., 16th) of Rockford and Abner Mikva (D., 10th) of Evanston, need it. However, Anderson and Mikva are known as members of the state delegation who will go out of their way in order to not take unfair advantage of the help incumbency offers them. But each Illinois representative, including Anderson and Mikva, can use incumbency in a fair way to help gain reelection. Andersen's prominence as chairman of the House Republican Conference helped him to raise the funds necessary for his primary campaign against evangelist preacher Don Lyon. Financed by right-wingers and backed by ideological groups trying to eliminate GOP nonconservatives, Lyon was considered a serious challenge. (Results not available at press time.) Financial edge Mikva doesn't have primary problems. But in 1976, he spent almost $250,000 to defeat former Rep. Sam Young (R., 10th 1973-75) by only 201 votes. Young spent $267,000. Now Mikva must face the threat of a $25,000-plus war chest raised by Illinois business representatives in Washington, deliverable to his GOP foe. The North Shore representative will need all the help he can get to keep his seat, but he will probably take care not to exploit his office in doing so. But in 1976, incumbency's advantages could have helped 23 out of 24 Illinois incumbents win reelection. It is significant to note that the only loser, freshman Rep. Tim Hall(D., 15th) of Dwight had all of his advantages neutralized by a $ 171,000-to-$74,000 spending edge for his opponent Tom Corcoran. The ADA study itemized those incumbency advantages. It noted that an incumbent still receives his salary ($57,500) while out on the campaign trail. His staffers, who theoretically are not supposed to work full time in campaigns, but who still per form services from Washington which can help a member's reelection chances, also get paid (up to $255,144 per year). Incumbents get free office space in Washington ($10,480 per year) and in their districts ($10,860 per year), according to ADA estimates. Taxpayer-paid parking, furniture, equipment and expenses for both offices complete a $388,000 total. The incumbent's opponent, on the other hand, often has to rent office space, take unpaid leave from employment and depend on volunteers. The ADA claims that incumbents each have a $143,000-to-zero margin in communicating with the district. This includes congressional franking privileges and free telephone, envelope and stationery allowances. It also includes 26 paid round trips per year back to Illinois. An opponent has to rent, buy or borrow all of the means he needs to communicate with the voters. Most -importantly, the ADA claims that an average House member raised $23,000 more than an average challenger in 1976. In Illinois two years ago, the margin for incumbents was even greater. Incumbents raised a total of $2,226,141, an average of $92,756 per candidate. Challengers raised $1,294,103, for an average of $53,921. The challengers'money total was inflated, however, by $379,675 which Democrat Merlin Karlock threw into his own losing race with Rep. George M. O'Brien(R., 17th). The only district other than the tenth where the incumbent and challenger were at par financially was the third, where Republican Ronald Buikema lost to incumbent Democrat Martin Russo, despite out-spending Russo by almost $50,000. For Illinois, the conclusion of the ADA study is clear: when Seith takes on Sen. Percy and 23 challengers oppose incumbents in the U.S. House this fall (there is one open seat), bet on the incumbents. They have a half-a-million dollar head start. April 1978/Illinois Issues/35
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