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As Senator Thomas O’Neil commented,“All politics is local,” but for one reason or another, Americans pay substantially less attention to city politics than national politics. State and local governments wield enormous control over the local economy, school system, and public services. Police protection, fire departments, property tax assessments, and public education are all controlled at the local level. Everyone agrees that they need these services, but the elections to determine exactly who will be in charge of them still draw half as many voters as presidential elections. But not everyone is disinterested.

Despite the general apathy of many voters, campaigns for local office can raise substantial amounts of money, but who are the contributors? Sociologists and urban affairs scholars are quick to assume that local politics are controlled by those whose interests are most effected by city policy, especially real estate …