Timber Shores Up Politics Industry Is Biggest Contributor To Legislative Campaigns

FOR THE RECORD: 10-30-96 ID Alan Wasserman, Democratic candidate for an Idaho state House seat in District 3, received campaign contributions from himself and his family totaling $350, or 13 percent of his large contributions through Sept. 30. An article in Tuesday’s paper reported incorrect figures.

The timber industry is the single biggest interest financing North Idaho legislative campaigns, according to a new analysis prepared for The Idaho Spokesman-Review.

Labor came in second, with political parties running a close third. But candidates outspend all three with money from their own and their families’ pockets.

Two political science professors at Boise State University said the interest-group contributions - 52 percent of the money - aren’t surprising. They reflect the area’s dominant economic interests, said Gary Moncrief and Jim Weatherby.

But the drain on candidates’ personal finances seems high. Moncrief said that problem can hit challengers harder than incumbents. “I think that’s a very real problem in the campaign finance system,” he said. “It’s difficult for challengers to get money.”

The analysis was prepared by United Vision for Idaho, a non-partisan group that’s studying the role of money in Idaho politics. It analyzed contributions over $50 made to North Idaho legislative candidates through Oct. 10.

Twenty percent of the candidates’ over-$50 contributions could not be attributed to a particular interest group; most of those were from individual citizens. The rest were broken down into 18 categories.

The candidate or his or her family was the No. 1 source, accounting for more than $41,000 of the $225,608 in contributions. That’s 18 percent.

The timber industry donated about $18,000, or 8 percent. Labor unions gave $16,950, or 7.5 percent, and political party sources gave $15,109, or 7 percent.

Education and resort interests were tied with 4 percent each, while mining and agribusiness were way down at 2 percent apiece.

The cost of running a legislative campaign in North Idaho has ballooned, said Jim Hansen, a former state senator and executive director of United Vision for Idaho. When interest groups begin pouring in money, “It becomes a money chase,” Hansen said. “People will then start tapping into their own personal and family money…The whole process just drives the cost up.”

North Idaho’s most expensive legislative races this year are the senate races in District 4 ($40,399 between the two candidates), District 2 ($38,359) and District 1 ($31,131).

Here’s what the analysis showed in North Idaho races.

District 1

Sen. Tim Tucker, D-Porthill, got no timber money - it all went to his challenger, Republican Shawn Keough. Keough got 30 percent of her over-$50 contributions from the timber industry, or $6,549. Eight percent of her money came from party sources. Tucker received 31 percent ($2,000) from education interests, 18 percent from party sources and 11 percent from labor.

In the race for an open House seat, Democrat Harvey Rush Balison raised 80 percent of his major contributions, or $3,581, from himself. Republican John Campbell, who had raised only $275, got $100 of that from the Republican Party.

District 2

Sen. Clyde Boatright, R-Rathdrum, himself was the source of 23 percent of his money ($5,000), with 10 percent from timber and 9 percent from party sources. But Boatright since has received $7,000 from a national Republican committee. Challenger Larry Kenck got 73 percent of his money from labor, $10,100.

Rep. Wayne Meyer, R-Rathdrum, got 18 percent of his money from political party sources, and 15 percent from himself. Challenger Marc McGregor reported no fund raising.

District 3

Sen. Gordon Crow, R-Hayden, got 14 percent of his campaign fund - $3,050 - from resort interests, because of an in-kind contribution from Hagadone Hospitality related to a Coeur d’Alene fund-raiser. Eleven percent of Crow’s money came from party sources, 10 percent from timber and 9 percent from the health care industry. Crow’s challenger, Democrat Sam Sears, got 45 percent of his money from education interests ($1,000) and 14 percent from labor.

Sen. Marv Vandenberg, D-Coeur d’Alene, received 20 percent from education interests ($1,500) and 16 percent from labor. His challenger, Republican Jim Clark, had 9 percent from party sources and another 9 percent from the finance and real estate business, but 66 percent - $6,485 - is his own money.

Rep. Jeff Alltus, R-Coeur d’Alene, received 26 percent ($700) from health care interests, 17 percent from mining interests and 11 percent from retail or other businesses. Democrat Alan Wasserman got 25 percent of his money from himself or his family ($650), and 12 percent from party sources.

District 4

Sen. Mary Lou Reed, D-Coeur d’Alene, received 18.5 percent of her money from labor, but more than half - 58 percent - couldn’t be attributed to a particular interest. That’s $9,125. Her challenger, Republican Jack Riggs, got 44 percent ($7,358) of his money from himself or his family.

Rep. Tom Dorr, R-Post Falls, put in 25 percent of his over-$50 contributions himself ($1,000). Sixteen percent came from the mining industry, and 15 percent from political party sources. His challenger, Democrat Larry Watson, came up with 66 percent himself ($8,000). Eight percent of his money came from education interests.

Rep. Don Pischner, R-Coeur d’Alene, raised 16 percent ($1,000) from mining, 12 percent from party sources and 11 percent from himself. Challenger Don Heikkila put in 52 percent himself ($799), and got 42 percent from party sources.

District 7

Sen. Marguerite McLaughlin, D-Orofino, had 12 percent ($1,100) from health care sources, 12 percent from tobacco and alcohol interests and 11 percent from agribusiness. Republican John Ferris put in 34 percent himself ($642), got 26 percent from retail or other businesses, and 16 percent from party sources.

Rep. Chuck Cuddy, D-Orofino, took 13 percent ($1,224) of his major contributions from his own pocket, got 13 percent from energy or waste interests, and 11 percent from retail or miscellaneous businesses. His challenger, Republican Homer Ferguson, has raised little money, half of it ($151) his own.

Rep. June Judd, D-St. Maries, put in 19 percent ($946) of her own money, and collected another 19 percent from timber sources. Republican Patrick Petrie relied on his own money for 73 percent ($1,385), and collected $300 - 16 percent - from party sources. U.S. Taxpayers Party candidate Arthur Burbank’s campaign funds ($979 total) are 70 percent his own.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS North Idaho legislative candidates have received $225,608 in contributions over $50. Here’s a breakdown of that money by source:

Not attributable to any single interest: 20 percent ($45,066) Self or family: 18 percent ($41,540) Timber: 8 percent ($17,999) Labor: 7.5 percent ($16,950) Political party sources: 7 percent ($15,109) Education interests: 4 percent ($8,500) Resort interests: 4 percent ($8,500) Health care: 3 percent ($7,850) Retail/miscellaneous businesses: 3.5 percent ($7,954) Technology or telecommunications: 3 percent ($7,650) Finance, investment, real estate: 3 percent ($7,100) Energy/waste: 3 percent ($6,700) Builders/contractors: 3 percent ($6,250) Railroad/transport: 3 percent ($6,150) Tobacco and alcohol: 3 percent ($5,940) Mining: 2 percent ($5,800) Agribusiness: 2 percent ($4,688) Ideological groups: 2 percent ($3,995) Lawyers/lobbyists: 1 percent ($1,867)

Source: United Vision for Idaho

Contributions of less than $50 are not itemized on campaign finance reports. This analysis covers contributions through the Oct. 10 finance report filed with the state.