Kennedy wins fund-raising race in CdA

Coeur d’Alene council hopeful Mike Kennedy broke the city’s fund-raising record, collecting a total of $20,714 in his bid for an office that pays $8,400 per year.

That’s $6,212 more than the previous record of $14,502 set in 1997 by former Mayor Steve Judy.

Kennedy added $7,269 to his war chest in October, which put his total at nearly three times more than that of his two challengers combined.

So far Kennedy has spent $14,714, mostly on mailings, including $650 of his own money for a phone survey.

Candidates in Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls filed reports this week showing how much their campaigns have raised and spent prior to Tuesday’s election.

Kennedy received three $1,000 contributions in October: One from the local chapter of the International Association of Fire Fighters and two from his cousin, actor Sean Astin and his wife, Christine.

Kennedy is in a three-way race with Planning Commissioner Mary Souza and former city employee Dan Yake for Councilman Ben Wolfinger’s open seat .

Souza has raised $4,574, including $1,000 from Fred LeClaire. LeClaire is a partner in Quest Development, which is building the Copper Ridge subdivision on Canfield Mountain and plans to ask the city to approve an adjoining housing development on the hillside.

Four donations are from the attorney and Sanders Beach property owners involved in a lawsuit filed by the city last year to determine whether the popular beach is private or public. Attorney John Magnuson gave $200, as did property owner Robert Cliff. Sanders Beach property owner Gerald Frank, who listed a Veradale, Wash., address, gave $250 as did his company, Greenacres Gypsum and Lime of Greenacres, Wash.

Frank refused to comment on his contributions.

Souza also received $200 from Meckel Engineering and Surveying. In the previous reporting period, she received a $650 in-kind donation from her sister-in-law for developing a campaign Web site.

Souza has spent $1,400 for items such as newspaper and radio advertising.

Yake has raised a total of $2,969 including a $250 personal loan. He has spent all but $7.20 of the money on newspaper advertising. Coeur d’Alene Realtor Sharon Culbreth contributed $100 and David and Susan Schreiber gave $50.

Councilwoman Deanna Goodlander, who is running against former planning commissioner Susie Snedaker, raised a total of $7,988, including separate $250 donations from Black Rock Development, Grossglauser Construction Inc., Eagle Ridge Builders and North Idaho Builders. She’s spent $1,511 on printing and radio ads.

Snedaker raised $2,104, including a $250 personal loan. She also received $100 donations from the Kootenai County Democratic Women’s Association and city Planning Commission Chairman John Bruning. She has spent $380 on signs.

Councilman Woody McEvers raised $600 while his challenger Steven Foxx hasn’t raised or spent any money.

McEvers received $500 from the local firefighters association and two nonitemized contributions totaling $100. So far he hasn’t spent any money.

In the Coeur d’Alene mayoral race, Mayor Sandi Bloem raised $6,350 compared with challenger Joseph Kunka’s $50.

Bloem received $500 donations from Realtor John Beutler, Schneidmiller Realty and Realtor Jack Beebe. Kootenai County Commissioner Katie Brodie gave $100 while Riverstone developer John Stone gave $250.

Bloem has spent $1,449 on yard signs, decals and radio ads.

In Post Falls, former Councilwoman Jackie McAvoy has raised $2,385 – more than her two challengers – although $1,600 of it is a personal loan. The Idaho Association of Realtors and Knudtsen Chevrolet each gave $250 and Concerned Businesses of North Idaho has pledged $500. So far she has spent $2,088 on marketing and newspaper advertisements.

McAvoy is in a three-way race against incumbent Councilman Joe Bodman and former Councilman Joe Doellefeld.

The only money Doellefeld has is $698 that he has loaned himself but not yet spent.

During the preceding period, Bodman’s report showed he had raised $700. The most recent filing shows a $54 balance but doesn’t detail how the money was spent. Bodman could not be reached for comment.