Candidates who run for public office have many different expenses. A legitimate way for them to meet these expenses is by accepting campaign contributions from those who agree with the candidates on the issues. The campaign contributions do not run afoul of ethical standards or criminal statutes as long as they are made with no strings attached.
Campaign contributions made with strings attached can, however, be a very different matter. A public official running for re-election can be charged with the crime of bribery when he receives compensation or other reward to act in a way that is inconsistent with his public obligations. For example, a judge running for re-election who receives a campaign contribution in exchange for ruling in a specific way on a case, irrespective of what the law actually dictates, can be found guilty of bribery. Additionally, the person who offered the compensation to the judge can also be found guilty of bribing a public official.
Campaign Finance Law and Campaign Contributions
Currently, campaign finance law is a somewhat gray area in which it is not always clear when a campaign contribution is legitimately made or when it constitutes bribery. To clarify the matter, some states and the federal government have enacted legislation that regulates the amount of campaign contributions and/or the manner in which such contributions are made.
In the end, however, most states would probably agree that under the circumstances you describe, the possibility exists that you could be charged with accepting a bribe. As a public official, you have the responsibility to act in a certain way with respect to the public interest. When you accept compensation, be it money, personal favors or other valuables, by acting in a manner that is inconsistent with the obligations of your office, you could be found guilty of bribery. Whether or not you are prosecuted for accepting a bribe could, in the end, depend on how you voted, for or against the public project. If you are still concerned about your potential criminal liability for accepting a campaign contribution, contact a criminal attorney for advice.