Candidate finance reports out

BOISE – Campaign finance reports are out in legislative races, and a few North Idaho races have seen heavy fundraising.

Topping the list is the third-time rematch between Rep. Eric Anderson, R-Priest Lake, and Democratic challenger Steve Elgar of Sandpoint, who lost to Anderson by only a fraction of a percentage point two years ago after a narrow loss in 2004. The two candidates combined have raised $106,345 to campaign this year. Elgar took the prize for the most cash on hand at the close of the campaign finance reporting period on Sept. 30: Nearly $40,000.

Interestingly, the top campaign spender so far in North Idaho legislative races is Sen. Joyce Broadsword, R-Sagle, who had spent $36,687, though her Democratic challenger, Rand Lewis, has run a decidedly low-budget campaign. She’s followed by Anderson, at $31,896; and Sen. John Goedde, R-Coeur d’Alene, who’s spent $30,445. He faces a challenge from Coeur d’Alene attorney Ken Howard.

Here are the numbers:

District 1

Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, raised $8,640 during the latest campaign finance reporting period, $33,560 year to date. She’s spent $19,692 and has $15,538 cash on hand. Her biggest donor this period was the Idaho Republican Party, giving $1,250, followed by three PACs that gave $1,000 each: Idaho Loggers PAC, The Idaho PAC, and the Senate Republican PAC. Keough belatedly found out she’s unopposed when her opponent withdrew.

Rep. Eric Anderson, R-Priest Lake, has raised $55,085 so far this year, which is almost equaled by his Democratic challenger, Steve Elgar, who’s raised $51,620. Anderson’s spent $31,896, while Elgar had spent just $11,835 at the close of the reporting period, leaving him with $39,785 on hand. Anderson’s biggest donors this period were one couple and nine different organizations that each gave him $1,000, including Idaho Power Co. and Potlatch Corp. Elgar’s biggest donors, each giving $1,000, were five individuals and one PAC, the PAC for Education.

Rep. George Eskridge, R-Dover, has raised $14,375 this year and spent $9,757, while his Democratic challenger, Tom Hollingsworth, has raised $8,020, including $4,151 he loaned to his own campaign, and spent $7,864. Hollingsworth’s largest donation was $750 from the Boundary County Democrats; Eskridge’s was $1,500 from the Idaho Republican Party.

District 2

Sen. Joyce Broadsword, R-Sagle, has heavily outraised her Democratic challenger, Rand Lewis, who’s raised only $1,298 year-to-date, including a $560 loan to his own campaign. Broadsword has raised $46,845 and spent $36,687. Her biggest contribution was $2,000 from the Idaho Republican Party; among her expenses was $1,120 for a donation at the Benewah Junior Livestock Show. Rep. Mary Lou Shepherd, D-Prichard, is unopposed.

Rep. Dick Harwood, R-St. Maries, has raised $12,165 this year, including a $1,569 loan to his own campaign, and spent $13,321, but with his carry-over from previous years still has $5,869 cash on hand. His largest contributions were $1,000 each from AGRA-PAC and the House GOP Caucus. His Democratic challenger, C.J. Rose, has raised $21,604 and spent $19,349, including a $5,160 loan to her campaign that she repaid. Her biggest donations were $1,000 each from the PAC for Education and two individuals.

District 4

Yes, I’m skipping Districts 3 and 5, because those races are unopposed; but you can see the full reports online at the Idaho Secretary of State’s Web site. In the District 4 Senate race, independent Jeremy Boggess has raised and spent just under $2,000, all his own money.

Meanwhile, Sen. John Goedde, R-Coeur d’Alene, has raised $54,660 and spent $30,445. His list of contributors goes on for seven pages, with numerous PACs and businesses giving $1,000 apiece, including the for-profit education firm K12 of Herndon, Va., and an individual: State Board of Education President Milford Terrell. Goedde is chairman of the Senate Education Committee. His biggest contribution this period was $2,000 from the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee.

Goedde’s Democratic challenger, Ken Howard, has raised $28,056, including $8,111 in loans to his own campaign, and spent $25,141. His four-page list of contributions is topped by $1,000 each from six individuals, one PAC and one law firm.

Rep. Marge Chadderdon, R-Coeur d’Alene, has raised $13,300 this year and spent just $3,086. AGRA-PAC and the House Republican Caucus were her biggest donors this period, at $1,000 apiece. She has a $1,000 debt carried over from the previous period. Her Democratic challenger, Bev Moss, has raised and spent just $250.

Rep. George Sayler, D-Coeur d’Alene, has raised $26,223 this year, and spent $12,724. His list of donations stretches for eight pages, with many for $100 or less. His biggest donations this period were $1,000 each from the PAC for Education and the Coeur d’Alene Tribe. Sayler’s Republican challenger, Jim Hollingsworth, had not filed his campaign finance report at press time. The reports were due Oct. 10, but only had to be postmarked by that date.

For all the details, go to the Secretary of State’s Web site, www.idsos.state.id.us, click on “Elections, Lobbyists and Campaign Disclosure,” select “Campaign Finance & Disclosure” and then click on “Current Election Cycle 2008.” It’s all there.