Race for state Senate pricey

Votes for state Senate in Spokane’s 6th Legislative District were among the most costly to candidates in the state for last month’s election.

Democratic challenger Chris Marr spent about $17 for every vote he collected on his way to winning the Senate seat from Republican Sen. Brad Benson, who spent about $9.65 per vote.

Some candidates spent much more overall. U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell spent $13.8 million at last count, and her Republican opponent Mike McGavick spent $10.8 million. U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris ran up bills of $1.8 million and her Democratic opponent Peter Goldmark spent $1.2 million.

But Cantwell and McGavick were running statewide, and McMorris and Goldmark ran in 11 counties. Marr and Benson were competing for about 53,000 votes in just a portion of Spokane County, so their costs per vote were much higher.

Marr’s per-vote spending was the most for any candidate in Spokane, and currently second in the state behind Republican Luke Esser, who spent about $19 per vote.

Marr arguably spent better. He won, Esser lost.

Skip Chilberg spent the least in Spokane, less than a penny per vote, in his successful campaign for county treasurer. His main expense was a filing fee of $770, which is set for offices at 1 percent of the job’s annual salary. Chilberg got into the race late and said recently he knew he couldn’t match Republican opponent Bob Wrigley, who ultimately spent about $17,500. So he went the other way and bought a few signs to wave while he stood on street corners.

Here are the top five biggest spenders per vote among candidates in Spokane County, and the five thriftiest campaigners who have filed expense summaries. Candidates in bold face won their races:

Top spenders

Chris Marr, 6th Legislative District Senate Democrat. $507,951 for 29,794 votes or $17.05 per vote.

Cathy McMorris, 5th Congressional District Republican, $1,840,926 for 134,967 votes or $13.64 per vote.

Mike McGavick, U.S. Senate Republican, $10,796,775 for 832,106 votes or $12.98 per vote.

Maria Cantwell, U.S. Senate Democrat, $13,719,527 for 1,184,659 votes or $11.66 per vote.

Peter Goldmark, 5th Congressional District Demcorat, $1,157,956 for 104,357 votes or $11.10 per vote.

Thriftiest campaigners

Skip Chilberg, Spokane County treasurer Democrat, $770 for 77,891 votes or just under 1 cent per vote.

James Flavel, Spokane County sheriff Democrat, $1,050 for 36,778 votes or 3 cents per vote.

Alex Wood, 3rd Legislative District House Democrat, $860.54 for 19,801 votes, or 4 cents per vote.

Vicky Dalton, Spokane County auditor Democrat, $5,837 for 96,006 votes or 6 cents per vote.

Jeanette Burrage, state Supreme Court nonpartisan, $34,031 for 403,255 votes or 8 cents per vote.