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.