At the University, groups such as Young Democrats and College Republicans help students get involved in politics. But arguably, money is more important to candidates than support, and University employees have contributed more than $22,000 to political candidates and organizations in the 2010 election cycle.

“Money is the mother’s milk of politics, especially if you’re running in a statewide contest,” said Charles Bullock, a professor of political science. “How do you even begin to introduce yourself to nine and a half million Georgians?”

Candidates for political office need money for TV airtime, polling, yard signs and employees to work for them, Bullock said. Candidates for state positions need more money than candidates for local office, because they have to make themselves known to a larger constituency.

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, 46 self-reported University employees made a total of 78 political donations during the 2010 election cycle, which includes the 2009 and 2010 calendar years. After checking with the University’s Human Resources department, it was discovered 12 of those 46 donors do not actually work at the University, and the data was adjusted accordingly. Bullock said that donations of less than $101 don’t have to report the donor, so the data does not include those donations.

The 34 donors gave to a variety of political causes, including Democratic and Republican candidates, Democratic and Republican organizations and nonpartisan groups.

In total, University employees gave more money to Republican candidates and organizations, but more donors gave to Democratic candidates or causes.

“Those giving to Democrats are giving smaller amounts, so those may have something to do with the salaries of the givers,” Bullock said. “Those giving to Democrats may be [from] arts and sciences, social work, education, maybe journalism, while those giving to Republicans may be [from] business or College of [Agriculture].”

Clarke County usually votes Democratic, Bullock said, and the University contributes to that.

“Clarke County is a Democratic island in a vast sea of Republicans,” he said.

John Brewer, a professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, made several donations to Republican causes, mostly to the Republican National Committee.

“I figure it’s best to donate to the committee, because I figure they know better than I do which candidate would have the best chance,” he said.

Like Bullock, Brewer said that money is essential for candidates to introduce themselves to voters.

“They have to purchase media exposure, put their names before the public, make people aware,” he said. “That all costs money.”

Dawn D. Bennett-Alexander, an associate professor of employment law and legal studies, worked in the White House under President Ford and worked on Capitol Hill for a congressman from Michigan. In this election cycle, she donated to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

“I understand that it takes money to run campaigns, and with everybody giving a little … it really adds up,” she said.

She said her time in Washington, D.C. taught her the importance of party affiliations in politics. Campaign strategies are causing polarization and putting political parties at odds, she said.

“I’m just so afraid the direction the country’s going in,” she said. “I just feel like I need to know what I can to help it. I don’t want someone to scare me into voting.”

UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEE  DONATION STATISTICS:

Total amount donated: $22,137

• Donated to Democratic candidates/ organizations: $8,197
• Donated to Republican candidates/ organizations: $10,940
• Donated to nonpartisan organizations: $3,000

Total number of donations: 60

• Number of donations to Democratic candidates/organizations: 28
• Number of donations to Republican candidates/organizations: 24
• Number of donations to nonpartisan organizations: 8

Total number of donors: 34*

• Number of donors to Democratic candidates/organizations: 22
• Number of donors to Republican candidates/organizations: 8
• Number of donors to nonpartisan organizations: 5

*greater than total number of donors because some donors contributed to both partisan and nonpartisan causes.

—data gathered by the Center for Responsive Politics. The numbers can be found online at www.opensecrets.org