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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Following their campaigns’ cash

City Council candidates raise $188,000 for races

Heading into the final weekend before the election, Spokane City Council candidates have raised about $188,000 for their campaigns.

That’s more than the $125,000 candidates raised in 2007 – when council candidates had to jockey for contributions at the same time mayoral and City Council president hopefuls also were in the mix. But it’s less than the $206,000 council candidates gathered in 2005.

Here’s a summary of what the candidates have raised, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission, as of Friday morning:

Representing south Spokane

Mike Allen

Raised: $29,873

Plus: Realtors Quality of Life Political Action Committee spent $17,434 in support of Allen by paying for a mailing.

Top contributors:

Avista Corp., $2,000

Monroe Court Limited, $2,000

Continental One, $2,000, in-kind

Spokane Entrepreneurial Center, $150 plus $1,545, in-kind

Marcus DeWood, $1,500

Why the contributors might care about the race: The Realtors’ contribution represents the largest amount given in support of any Spokane City Council candidate this year. Allen voted in favor of changing rules to allow big-box construction near Ferris High School. Although the Spokane County Republican Party opted not to endorse Allen, he has been backed by many business-oriented interests that often contribute to Republicans. The Spokane Entrepreneurial Center was founded by Steve Salvatori, who is running in next year’s GOP primary for the county commission. Allen was one of six council members who voted in favor of allowing DeWood’s proposed office tower near the courthouse to be 150 feet tall even though height rules would have limited it to 35 feet. DeWood and his wife, Luann Padghan, own Monroe Court. Padghan is listed as Continental One’s registered agent.

Jon Snyder

Raised: $46,713

Top contributors:

Hamilton Studios, $5,811, in-kind

Out There Monthly, $5,293, in-kind

Inland Northwest Leadership Political Action Committee, $4,015

Spokane Fire Fighters Union, $2,500

Washington State County and City Employees, Local 270, $1,000

Why they might care: Allen has voted against a few union employee contracts, including Local 270’s, which includes 5 percent annual wage increases. Snyder, who owns and publishes Out There Monthly, has been endorsed by the Spokane County Democratic Party. The Inland Northwest Leadership committee’s contributors include many names familiar to Democratic politics, including state Rep. Timm Ormsby. Hamilton Studios is owned by Don Hamilton, a frequent contributor to Democratic causes.

Representing northeast Spokane

Mike Fagan

Raised: $9,997

Top contributors:

Monroe Court Limited Partnership, $1,000, plus $250 in-kind

Signs for Success, $781, in-kind

Spokane County Republican Party, $500

Michael Dunmire, $500

Why they might care: The GOP backed its endorsement of Fagan with a contribution. Dunmire is a retired businessman from Woodinville, Wash., who has contributed heavily to statewide anti-tax initiative campaigns led by Tim Eyman and Fagan.

Amber Waldref

Raised: $40,988

Top contributors:

Don Hamilton, $8,685, in-kind

Inland Northwest Leadership PAC: $4,016

Spokane Fire Fighters Union, $5,000

Washington State Council of County and City Employees, $2,000

Avista Corp., $1,000

Why they might care:

Like Waldref, many unions have criticized Eyman’s and Fagan’s proposed state Initiative 1033, which is also on Tuesday’s ballot.

Representing northwest Spokane

Karen Kearney

Raised: $12,915

Top contributors:

Spokane Fire Fighters Union: $3,000, plus $558 in-kind

Washington State Council of County and City Employees: $1,000

Charlotte Benjamin, $750, in-kind

Why they might care: Kearney has criticized McLaughlin’s votes against some city union contracts, including Local 270’s.

Nancy McLaughlin

Raised: $39,831

Top contributors:

The Masters Touch, $4,951, in-kind

Avista Corp.: $2,000

Monroe Court Limited Partnership, $1,500

Continental One, 2,000

Cynthia Zapotocky, $1,000

Why they might care: McLaughlin won Avista’s support, despite her vote against Mayor Mary Verner’s Sustainability Task Force report. The task force was chaired by an Avista vice president, Roger Woodworth. The Spokane County Republican Party, which is led by Zapotocky, had questioned Avista’s motives , but McLaughlin said she disagreed with the party’s suggestions about the utility. McLaughlin voted in favor of allowing DeWood’s proposed office tower.