Keough raised $102,611 for GOPrimary
Post-primary campaign finance reports are in for North Idaho legislative candidates, and a few things stand out. Among them:
The top fundraiser was Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, who raised $102,611 in campaign donations since Jan. 1, and spent $66,547. With $18,424 carried over from previous years, she ended the reporting period with $54,488 in cash and no debt.
Rep. Luke Malek, R-Coeur d’Alene, was second, raising $64,420 since Jan. 1 and carrying over $17,289 from the prior year. He spent $79,253, and closed out the reporting period with $2,466 in cash and no debt. His challenger, Art Macomber, reported raising $6,788, spending $2,227, and finishing with $5,260 in cash but $6,518 in debt to Becky Funk’s Engage NW Consulting.
The biggest debt was reported by former state Rep. Thyra Stevenson, R-Lewiston, who is running for the seat she lost two years ago to retiring Rep. Dan Rudolph, D-Lewistion. Stevenson reported $70,774 in campaign debt – all carried over from previous campaigns.
Running second for campaign debt in North Idaho legislative races is Republican Mike Kingsley, who is again challenging House Minority Leader John Rusche, D-Lewiston. Kingsley reported $29,900 in campaign debt to himself, all carried over; and $3,566 in cash at the close of the reporting period. Rusche reported $52,346 in cash and no debt.
Rep. Caroline Troy, R-Genesee, who was unopposed in the primary, reported raising $25,410 since Jan. 1, ending the period with $20,769 in cash and $13,500 in carried over debt.
One couple from Coeur d’Alene, Lloyd and Mary Drennan, gave the majority of the campaign cash received in the final reporting period to five GOP candidates: Alan Littlejohn, Don Cheatham, Art Macomber, Glenn Rohrer and Heather Scott. Littlejohn, Macomber and Rohrer all lost their primaries; Cheatham narrowly won, and Scott was unopposed. Each of the candidates got at least $500 from the Drennans.
The Drennans also donated $500 to Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens, who won his primary and also received an array of PAC donations in the final period, which ran from May 2 to May 27. Barbieri reported raising $12,209 in campaign contributions since July 1, and had $15,109 cash on hand and $929 in debt at the end of the reporting period. His Democratic opponent, Kathy Kahn, reported $833 in cash on hand and $1,250 in debt.
Paul Amador, who defeated Rep. Kathy Sims, R-Coeur d’Alene, in the GOP primary, reported raising $21,005 since Jan. 1 and spending $20,217, ending up with $788 cash and $4,558 in debt to himself and his wife. Sims reported raising $6,489 since Jan. 1, and closing the reporting period with $3,400 in cash and a $6,257 debt to herself. Democrat Tom Hearn, who will face Amador in November, reported raising $7,837 since Jan. 1, spending $5,019, and ending the period with $2,918 in cash and $350 in debt.
Complete Eye on Boise column here.
