Editor’s note: This is one of three reports on expenditures made by local candidates running for county or state office based on information from the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board. The figures below are expenditures the campaigns have made since June 6, the day after this year’s primary election.

The race for Iowa House District 71 sees longtime state Rep. Mark Smith, D-Marshalltown, taking on Republican challenger James Perez of Marshalltown. Smith is seeking his tenth term in the House. The district covers all of Marshalltown and a portion of northern Marshall County, including Albion, Green Mountain and Liscomb.

Democrat

State House Minority Leader Rep. Mark Smith

Total expenditures since primary election: $524,484.52

How they spent:

· Political contributions: $520,083.82

· Advertising: $1,380

· Travel/mileage: $1,111.23

· Campaign supplies (campaign flyers and mailer cards): $869.55

· ActBlue contribution technical services fees: $852.11

· Other: $181.81 in BBQ supplies for fundraiser; $6 bank charge.

Republican

James Perez

Total expenditures since primary election: $16,230.20

How they spent:

· Campaign supplies (signs, cards, flyers, mail fees, shirts, etc.): $15,818.87

· Political contributions: $100

· Other: $252.38 for fundraiser supplies and food, including plates, utensils, soda and 20 Pizza Hut pizzas; $58.95 in bank service and check-printing charges.

Analysis

Smith, the ranking Democrat in the Iowa House of Representatives, has shelled out a lot of funding to the Iowa Democratic Party since the June 5 primary. He has said he is working to turn the chamber blue after years of Republican control by supporting dozens of Democratic candidates across the state.

Smith’s travel expenditures consist of $515.70 in air fare and baggage fees to attend the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee Meeting in Miami, Fla. and to meet U.S. Sen. Cory Booker in New York, New York, according to expenditure records.

His campaign has also made many contributions via ActBlue, an online service to help Democratic fundraising efforts nationwide.

Perez is a first-time Republican challenger looking to unseat Smith. Most of his campaign’s money has been for door-knocking cards, campaign signs and shirts, and mailers sent out by the Iowa Republican Party.