Presidential candidates might raise millions of dollars to get themselves elected, but some local politicians have run successful campaigns for less than $1,000.

Urbana City Council member Esther Patt said this is possible because spending money isn't as important as contacting voters in local elections.

"The wards are small enough where the main campaigning is going door-to-door," Patt said. "In theory, anyone can win if enough people have the opportunity to meet the candidate."

Patt said her largest expense in the 2001 election was the $300 she spent on yard signs.

"In Urbana, yard signs are a big deal," she said.

Though candidates in Champaign have more voters to reach, Champaign City Council member Kathy Ennen said she was also able to run her 2003 campaign for less than $1,000.

"I put my money into good yard signs and a really nice flyer because my strategy was to walk," Ennen said. "I walked and I walked and I walked door to door."

While other candidates might use billboards or television and radio time to promote themselves, Ennen said she spent little money on advertising and was able to create some of her promotional material at a copy shop.

"You don't have to be really rich — you have to be willing to work to run for city council," Ennen said.

Champaign City Council member Ken Pirok said he spent $6,000 to $8,000 on his 2003 campaign, most of which went toward printed materials. Pirok said he is moving away from using radio and television ads in his campaigns because they don't specifically target voters.

"That's why I did (door-to-door campaigning) and mail — you can target the area you're trying to get votes from," Pirok said.

Though he spent more on his campaign than other candidates did, Pirok said it was money well spent.

"I only won by two votes," Pirok said. "It took every penny I had to win."

At the state level, elections are more expensive. State representative Naomi Jakobsson said she is holding a "tailgate brunch" before the football game Saturday to raise funds for her 2004 re-election campaign.

"A fund-raiser is something people like to come to," Jakobsson said. She added that those in attendance will be able to make donations by buying food or tickets to the game.

Jakobsson said fund-raising is not as important to her as being accessible to voters.

"I'm really focused on being in touch with my constituents," Jakobsson said. "The (amount of) fundraising really depends on how the person wants to get their message out."