Policies vary on reimbursement for visits

Not all cities are charging the candidates for expenses.
CANTON (AP) -- With Ohio being a popular campaign stop this election season, cities are racking up police overtime and other costs for the visits.
But cities vary on whether they ask the candidates to reimburse them.
Whether cities ask or not, what the campaign has to pay them is explained in a decades' old federal law. The law requires the presidential campaign to reimburse local governments for campaign-related costs, such as renting places to have speeches minus the cost of security, which the Secret Service works out with the local governments, said Kevin Madden, spokesman for the Bush-Cheney Campaign.
"We strictly adhere to those guidelines," he said Thursday.
Jennifer Palmieri, a spokeswoman for Democrat John Kerry's presidential campaign, said she knows of no city that has asked yet for reimbursement from their side. She called the security costs regrettable but necessary to protect the candidates.
"We appreciate local law enforcement's support and do what we can to limit their inconvenience," Palmieri said.
Lots of visits
Ohio is a swing state that could decide the election.
Bush has been to Ohio 20 times since taking office, and Kerry has stumped in the state at least 10 times since the March primary.
The city of Canton sent President Bush a bill for $5,681.44 for a July 31 campaign stop at a city-run civic center.
Cleveland plans to ask Kerry to pay back the city for police overtime and other costs racked up during his recent rally. City spokesman David Fitz said exact numbers weren't immediately available but whatever they were, the cash-strapped city can't afford them.
"And I'm sure we're going to see more of both of the candidates over the next few months," Fitz said.
City duties
Bowling Green says it's the city's duty to help with major events, including campaign visits, and won't ask for reimbursement from the candidates despite spending $25,000 in police and other overtime on a recent Kerry event.
"The way we're looking at it is, whenever there's an event in Bowling Green -- whether it's the Black Swamp Arts Festival or whatever -- the city provides support services," said Bowling Green spokeswoman Lori Tretter. "For the safety of those participating in the event and to help people throughout the community, it is necessary for us to provide support services."
The president's re-election campaign paid the Canton bill, which included fees for use of the Memorial Civic Center, the lobby, bleachers, platform, tables, paper cups and drinking water.
Canton Mayor Janet Weir Creighton, a staunch Republican and Bush campaign supporter, said regardless of political party everyone renting the center will pay up, including organizers of Saturday's pro-Kerry event hosted by former Pittsburgh Steelers star Franco Harris.