P.S.: What Do Contributions Say?

I’m closing up shop tonight with two key campaign finance disclosure statements left to be filed in Coeur d’Alene — Mike Kennedy’s and Dan Gookin’s. The filing deadline isn’t until 5 p.m. Monday. But about half of the Coeur d’Alene candidates and seven of eight of the Post Falls candidates already have filed their finance paperwork. You can find links to those statements below. I’ll be surprised if both Kennedy and Gookin fail to bring in at least as much money as Deanna Goodlander ($6299) has. They say money is the mother’s milk of politics. Judging from the disclosure statements, the mother’s milk is flowing stronger in Coeur d’Alene than Post Falls. But it isn’t flowing all that much more. Goodlander’s status as the most vulnerable probably primed the pump for her from individuals who don’t want Gookin to hold city office. Kennedy’s status as the main target of local Repubs should help with fundraising for those who value his collaborative skills. Gookin’s status as standard bearer for the town’s anti-LCDC activists should attract money, too. I can’t wait to see those two finance reports.

Question: Do you view the dollar amount raised by candidates from individuals outside of themselves and their families as an indication of community support or lack thereof?