Boatright Backed By Pacs Rathdrum Senator Leader Among Those Who Filed Late

Sen. Clyde Boatright, R-Rathdrum, has raised $3,680 toward his re-election bid, nearly all of it from political action committees and businesses.

Boatright’s top contributions were $500 each from Timber-PAC and the Idaho Hospitality and Sports Committee, which is affiliated with Coeur d’Alene hotelier and businessman Duane Hagadone.

Boatright was the top fund-raiser among seven North Idaho legislative candidates who filed their campaign finance reports Wednesday and Thursday, missing Tuesday’s deadline.

Other late filers included Sen. Mary Lou Reed, D-Coeur d’Alene, who reported no fund raising this year but $2,610 left over from last year; Rep. Jeff Alltus, R-Coeur d’Alene, who reported no campaign fund raising or expenditures since January; and Rep. Marv Vandenberg, D-Coeur d’Alene, who reported just $50 in contributions this year but a $1,083 carry-over from last year.

Alltus, Reed and Vandenberg are unopposed in Tuesday’s primary election, but Boatright faces two challengers.

Boatright has garnered far more in campaign contributions than either of his Republican challengers, but challenger Tom Daugherty reported more money to spend, thanks to a $4,000 infusion of his own money.

Challenger Ian James also relied mostly on his own money to generate $1,840 in campaign cash.

Boatright’s report shows the first-term incumbent has spent nearly $2,000 on radio advertising and more than $500 on newspaper advertising. He also bought lists of voters in Kootenai and Bonner counties and printed up postcards.

His opponents have spent most of their money on signs and fliers, although Daugherty still had $3,500 of his $4,000 in the bank as of May 12, the close of the reporting period.

Major contributors to Boatright included:

Pacificorp Idaho State PAC, $350; Idaho Sugar Beet Growers PAC, $300; Dan Flanagan of Coeur d’Alene, $250; Idaho Forest Industries, $250; ASARCO, $250; Idaho Medical PAC, $200; Idaho Association of Realtors, $200; Idaho Cable TV Association, $200; Crown Pacific, $100; and IDABANKPAC State Fund, $100.

Boatright also received two $100 contributions from Victoria Paulson and Hap Hilbish, and six smaller contributions totaling $280. He had $675 in campaign funds left over from last year.

Other late-filing candidates reported little or no fund-raising.

, DataTimes