Spending adds up for local election races
Political contributions to local election campaigns have exceeded $180,000 so far this year, with expenditures approaching $120,000.
Those numbers come from campaign finance reports filed with the Flathead County Clerk and Recorder Office and the Commissioner of Political Practices in Helena.
The contentious race for county sheriff accounted for about a quarter of the contributions.
Finance reports for Undersheriff Mike Meehan indicate that he's raised slightly more than $22,000, while spending almost $20,000. Roughly 200 people have contributed to his campaign.
Similarly, building-company manager John Weaver reported receipts of just under $22,000, with expenditures of about $15,000. He received contributions from about 175 people.
Sheriff's Detective Commander Bruce Parish reported contributions of $2,745 from about 25 people, with expenditures of $1,988.
Together, the three Republican sheriff's candidates raised almost $47,000 while spending more than $38,000.
By comparison, the dozen Flathead County commissioner candidates together reported total contributions of $55,413, with expenditures of $34,504.
That was for 10 of the 12 commissioner candidates. As of Friday, Corey Pilsch had not filed a finance report; Kip Willis indicated that he expected to receive less than $500 in contributions, so he wasn't required to file a report.
The deadline for filing pre-primary finance reports was May 25.
Several of the commissioner candidates are financing their own campaigns. Kathy Robertson, for example, contributed or loaned $13,500 of the $15,080 she reported in total receipts; she had spent $10,888.
Kim Fleming reported contributions of $9,275, all of which she contributed or loaned herself. Similarly, Don Avery contributed the entire $2,525 his campaign reported. Pam Holmquist contributed $3,764 of her campaign's $5,269.
Only three of the commissioner candidates had more than 20 individual contributors.
Dave Reynolds raised $2,010 from about 20 people while Brian Fulford raised $3,302 from 33 people. Dale Lauman topped the list, raising $8,900 from about 100 individuals; he contributed another $2,000 himself. He reported $8,901 in expenditures.
The only legislative race that attracted substantial funding was the Republican race in Senate District 5. Don Loranger raised $22,555 from about 90 individual contributors, including $5,500 that he contributed himself, with total expenditures of $21,149. Verdell Jackson raised $9,745 from about 45 contributors; it wasn't clear how much he contributed himself.
Reporter Bill Spence may be reached at 758-4459 or by e-mail at bspence@dailyinterlake.com