Democrat from Kansas raises $95,000 after posting cartoon on his website

[proud2BlibKansan]

Sean Tevis may never have considered himself a “counter-political candidate” or even a “cool maverick."

But don’t tell that to Julie Barko Germany, director of the Institute for TevisTevisPolitics, Democracy & the Internet at George Washington University's Graduate School of Political Management — "Sean is that."

Tevis, a 39-year old Democrat from Olathe, was featured today in the Los Angeles Times as the new breed of politician who has embraced the Internet to answer the daunting first-time candidate question:

How in the world do I raise the cash to beat the incumbent?

His answer: Draw a cartoon

Tevis has created a stick figure online cartoon strip to appeal to potential supporters — wherever they might be — in his challenge of GOP stalwart Arlen Siegfreid.

“Local political advisors warned the campaign novice that he would need a war chest of at least $26,000 to compete against his entrenched Republican rival,” wrote P.J. Huffstutter in today’s issue of the Times.

SiegfreidSiegfreidIn Kansas, state rep races rarely pull in donations from more than a couple hundred people, so the five-digit figure seemed like a fortune.

"I figured I'd raise a few thousand dollars, at most," said Tevis, a computer systems manager who works for an industrial manufacturing company.

Before creating the strip, Tevis spent weeks asking cash-strapped friends and family for help. He walked door-to-door, raising $1,525.

The comic strip was first posted online July 16. Today, he reported that he has raised $95,162.76 in donations through PayPal, the online service that allows payments and money transfers via the Internet.

more . . . http://primebuzz.kcstar.com/?q=node/13351#comment-27765

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. That's $95K since July 16

His website: http://seantevis.com/kansas/3000/running-for-office-xkcd-style/

[Breeze54]

4. WoW! Maybe he should just create cartoons for a living!

Less stress than politics and he's making a killing! :P

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. I believe he is in marketing

or has experience.

[tkmorris]

2. Absolutely awesome

This guy really needs to win. He's a great guy and the incumbent is a tool.

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. I was at an event with Sean tonight

His opponent is HORRIBLE. One of the WORST of the right in the state house here.

[Muttocracy]

5. sweet. that's some public financing right there. nt

[Lisa0825]

6. Several DUers were part of that!

It was posted in GD and GD: P.

He replied to my email:

Hi Lisa!

You're the blue girl in a red state, right? :-)

The donor tally is a little over 6,500. We've been completely amazed.
We spent the first few days this week answering emails of people who
are well-wishers, other campaigns wanting to know what this all about,
and many, many others.

The journalists started calling on Wednesday. Word got around that
people like you helped completely smash the previous record for most
number of donations in a Kansas campaign like this. There will be
stories about it in The Wall Street Journal and The Los Angeles Times
on Monday. You're the first person to hear of this, by the way.

Now we're up early putting together our campaign finance report, which
is due on Monday. We'll be working all weekend on it and will continue
to work hard to use this momentum to make sure we win the election.

Thank you again for your help and to make all of this possible.
--
Sean Tevis

[dweller]

7. that's about $14.62 per donation give or take a few pence...

ya done good.

dp

[RayOfHope]

9. This DUer was! n/t

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. He thinks you are blue girl red state?

That's a great website. I know her. She's hilarious. My favorite local blogger

http://bluegirlredmissouri.blogspot.com/

[Lisa0825]

12. In my Paypal note,

I said I sympathized because I was a blue girl in a red state. I didn't mean to imply I was anyone in particular, and wasn't aware of her blog.

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. Her entry today:

Monday, July 28, 2008
Something we knew all along...
Posted by --Blue Girl at 7/28/2008 05:00:00 PM


Monica Goodling and Kyle Sampson broke the law when they played politics in the hiring of career Justice Department attorneys You remember Tanya Harding Monica Goodling, the wingnut lawschool graduate who only hired staunch republicans, dedicated movement conservatives and wingnut religious freaks for career positions during her term as White House liason at the Justice Department.

Today's report singles out Goodling specifically for violating federal law and Justice Department policy by discriminating against job applicants who weren't good republicans and loyal bushies. While it doesn't suggest the two will face criminal charges, investigators did suggest that Goodling will at least lose her license to practice law - so there goes her hopes for a partnership with the whack-job Phelps daughter.

[ThoughtCriminal]

8. You've got to love a candidate that

Uses the word "Frack" of copies XKCD

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. kick

[Hamlette]

15. kick

thanks for posting this, he's an interesting guy and I wish him well.

[malaise]

16. This is fabulous

Sean Tevis :yourock: