Locke Enjoys Lucrative Month Out-Of-State Donations Fill His Purse
Republican Dale Foreman has become the first gubernatorial candidate to top $500,000 in fund raising this year, but that paled in comparison to the monster month recorded by Democrat Gary Locke.
While Foreman collected $56,805 in the past month to boost his campaign total to $524,097, Locke used his connections across the country to pull in a whopping $159,972, according to campaign finance reports filed this week at the state Public Disclosure Commission.
Locke’s June success increased his total collections to $396,697, which still leaves him fifth overall in fund raising, behind four Republicans.
But Locke, the King County executive and a former budget writer in the Legislature, also has at least $100,000 more in the bank that his closest competitors.
Locke has $259,100 in available cash as the campaigns approach the crucial two-month period before the September primary. Democrat Norm Rice has $141,030 in the bank, followed by Democrat Jay Inslee with $129,760. Foreman, a Wenatchee orchardist and majority leader of the state House, is well behind at just $88,800.
“We’ve been very careful about how we budget,” Locke campaign spokeswoman Sheryl Hutchison said Friday. “Gary is a budget wonk. He was adamant that before we spend a penny, we’ll have a budget laid out.”
Brett Bader, Foreman’s political consultant, agreed that the campaigns will have to save more money for advertising blitzes this fall. “July and August are critical fund-raising months for everybody,” he said.
For Locke, a second-generation Chinese-American, much of his money came from two fund-raising events in California, where his wife is from, as well as hundreds of Asians in seven states and the District of Columbia.
“The Asian community is very enthusiastic about Gary’s candidacy throughout the nation,” Hutchison said. “What you’re seeing with Gary is a lot of individuals who are related or are friends of relations that are coming in.”
Rice, the Seattle mayor who recorded a strong month with $115,509 in contributions, also drew support from across the country, including a number of mayors. He has raised $359,054 so far.
Inslee, who boasted solid support from the Yakima area, which he once served in Congress, hopes voters notice his competitors’ reliance on out-of-state money. He ranks last among the three remaining Democrats with $278,861 in total collections.
“I think there’s something to be said about where your money is coming from,” said Joby Shimomura, Inslee’s campaign manager. She said Inslee will not abandon his focus on areas outside Seattle, since Locke and Rice are so strong there.
“People are amazed at how much money we’ve been able to get out of Yakima so far,” Shimomura said. “I think people are so surprised because no one has ever really tapped them before.”
As for the field of six Republicans, Foreman’s report of $56,805 in contributions was bested only by Ellen Craswell of Bremerton, who collected $69,634, much of it in the form of postage, food and paper from hundreds of supporters. She has raised $417,538 and spent all but $11,524.
Among other Republicans: Tacoma lawyer Jim Waldo has raised $485,924 with cash on hand of $64,153; King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng has collected $399,875 and spent all but $50,140; state Sen. Pam Roach of Auburn has raised $151,213 and spent all but $11,158; and King County businesswoman Nona Brazier has collected $54,562 and spent all but $14,370.
xxxx GOVERNOR’S MONEY RACE Gubernatorial fund raising through June at-a-glance:
Name Overall June Remaining Dale Foreman, R $524,097 $56,805 $88,841 Jim Waldo, R $485,924 $40,101 $64,153 Ellen Craswell, R $417,536 $69,634 $11,524 Norm Maleng, R $399,875 $40,446 $50,140 Gary Locke, D $396,697 $159,972 $259,100 Norm Rice, D $359,054 $115,509 $141,030 Jay Inslee, D $278,861 $61,827 $129,760 Nita Rinehart, D $214,625 $28,565 $4,093 Pam Roach, R $151,213 $12,523 $11,158 Nona Brazier, R $54,562 $12,248 $14,370 NOTE: Rinehart dropped out of the race last month.
Source: State Public Disclosure Commission.Associated Press