Money can mean a lot to a political campaign – it buys campaign materials and advertisements and often offers insight to how much support candidates have. But local elections are a bit different, and Durango City Council candidates say it’s personal connections, not financial support, that will decide who gets elected.

Thousands of dollars have been injected into Durango’s municipal campaigns, public records show. Some campaigns have raised more than others. Donations range from less than $20 to $2,000. Some have more donors than others, and some donors don’t live in Durango. Candidates have used resources to purchase yard signs and flyers, design websites and provide food and drinks for fundraising events.

Kim Baxter, a 62-year-old retired consultant and small-business owner, reported $3,930 in contributions from Dec. 21 to March 11. In the same time, her campaign spent $2,289 on a website, campaign signs, thank you cards, business cards and food for a fundraising event.

While Baxter has made it clear that she’s not advocating for or against a proposed sales tax increase that is also on April’s ballot – she has told The Durango Herald that the tax increase would help, but it’s not the final solution to the city’s budget problems – at least three people who financially supported United for Durango’s Future, a small-issue committee formed in opposition to ballot measure 1A, also donated to Baxter’s campaign.

But the campaigns are separate, Baxter said. People support candidates because they recognize experience and leadership in candidates and want those people to run the city – people often support or oppose a tax increase for different reasons, she said.

Baxter said she has spent the past few months canvassing neighborhoods, meeting with as many people from as many parts of the city as she can. She has a big map of Durango on her wall, which helps her visualize which neighborhoods she’s been to and which she hasn’t.

“I like people, and I like this community; I think it’s important. This is setting a relationship with the people in the community,” Baxter said. “I want people to feel like they can come talk to me because I’ve gone and talked with them.”

Thirty-two people have donated to Baxter’s campaign.

Marcos Wisner, a 31-year-old small-business owner, reported $4,354 in contributions from Feb. 5 to March 12. In the same time, his campaign spent $1,888.56 on yard signs, print advertising, and food and drinks for a fundraiser.

Wisner has publicly supported the proposed sales tax increase. Two major contributors to Citizens for Making Durango A#1, a small-issues committee formed in support of ballot measure 1A, also supported Wisner financially. But Wisner said he’s had trouble raising money – it’s not in his character, he said.

“It’s hard for me; it’s something I’ve never done,” Wisner said. “I’m not very good at going and asking for money.”

And until recently, Wisner said he had only the money to buy signs. He used his time to connect with voters on social media, Wisner said. But a $2,000 gift from a friend in Arizona gave Wisner’s campaign the boost it needed to start sending mailers and buying ads in newspapers. He’s also planned to do neighborhood canvassing. He hopes his reputation and connections as a native Durangoan will bolster his support.

Twenty-one people have donated to Wisner’s campaign.

Barbara Noseworthy, a 60-year-old strategic planning consultant, raised $6,589 from Jan. 10 to March 6. In the same time, Noseworthy’s campaign has spent $2,680 on a registered voter report, webpage development, flyers, yard signs, and food and drinks for announcements.

Noseworhty’s campaign has raised the most amount of money compared with other candidates. And some of those donations have come from out of state. At least five donations were given from people with a New York City address, including philanthropists, professors and business owners. The outside support is coming from friends and family, Noseworthy said.

Noseworthy said a lot of her time since she announced her campaign has been spent talking with more than 100 community members to date. That’s been her focus, not fundraising, she said.

“I think the way to get votes is to talk to people,” Noseworthy said. “You can only spend so much; I tried to be frugal with my design. I think you get votes by talking to people one at a time.”

Thirty-eight people have donated to Noseworthy’s campaign.

Jaime McMillan, a 51-year-old financial adviser, reported $1,840 in contributions from Feb. 1 to March 12. In the same time, McMillan’s campaign has spent $780.39 on a voter registration list, website design and yard signs.

McMillan is the only registered Republican in the campaign for City Council, voter records show. The La Plata County Republican Central Committee donated $400 to his campaign. McMillan said he’s participated with La Plata County Republican Central Committee, and he suspects they supported him because of his ideas about small government and encouraging small businesses.

He’s also enlisted a few Fort Lewis College students to help with his campaign. It’s a win-win situation, he said. The students get hands-on experience with a political campaign, and McMillan is encouraged by their energy. The team has done a lot of email marketing, and plans in the next few weeks to canvass businesses downtown.

“We tried to focus on really the narrow pieces: why we oppose the tax increase, what we plan to do to support small-business growth, how to diversify local economy,” McMillan said.

“Using single message, it’s easier for people to bite off.”

Seven people have donated to McMillan’s campaign.

bhauff@durangoherald.com