Attorney Mike Spencer has raised nearly three times as much money as Acting Chief Criminal Deputy Katie Svoboda in his bid to take back the Prosecutor’s Office.
For Spencer, a rush of direct mailings and newspaper and radio ads is about overcoming a 10-point deficit to Svoboda in the primary election.
By raising more than $32,000 and financing his campaign mainly by himself, he’s turned the Prosecutor’s Office election into one of the most expensive county races ever, eclipsing this year’s county commission contest and county races dating back several years, according to filings with the state Public Disclosure Commission. As a single candidate, he may very well have raised more money than any other single candidate in recent county history.
“I really didn’t realize that this could be one of the most expensive county races when I went into this,” Spencer said.
County Commission candidate Vickie Raines is no slouch herself, raising more than $25,000.
As a comparison, both Terry Willis and Wes Cormier, together, raised about $25,000 when they ran against each other in 2012.
And Raines has raised more than when Al Carter unsuccessfully fought to retain his seat when he was challenged by Herb Welch. Carter raised $20,000 at that point — and had to fend off $14,000 in marketing spending by Welch and $7,700 from an independent expenditure group that purchased ads to convince people to vote against Carter.
You’d have to go back to 2008 to when Willis and then-county commissioner candidate Ken Estes faced off to get the kind of dollars raised that the county is looking at today, when Willis raised about $28,000 and Estes, now Montesano’s mayor, raised $25,000. Prior campaigns, dating back to 2000, typically saw candidates raising between $10,000 to $20,000, according to PDC filings.
Fast forward to today, and both Spencer and Raines have an overwhelming advertising presence — and challengers that aren’t keeping pace dollar-for-dollar.
COUNTY RACES
Spencer has raised at least $32,082, although the actual numbers will likely be higher once up-to-date filings come in. He wasn’t sure how much more money would be added when the filings are updated. The “in-kind” reports show that Spencer has self-funded $19,177 in direct mailings, newspaper ads and T-shirts. He’s also loaned his campaign $3,684 and donated another $2,000 himself. Beyond what he’s labeled as in-kind expenditures, he’s reported spending about $6,000 from donations to fund more print advertising and yard signs. But the expenditure reports do not yet list current radio ads, extra print advertisements that have appeared or extra direct mailings. Spencer has sent at least three mailings out.
Besides himself, his biggest donor is his own law firm at $950, with his partners contributing an extra $1,450 combined. Other large donors are Five Star Dealerships at $500 and Attorney Wayne “Tiger” Hagen at $500.
“I haven’t personally solicited any money at all,” Spencer said. “If I don’t win, I’m going to feel bad, but I’ll feel bad for the county because I am putting my money where my mouth is in order to do what I need to do to turn around that office. This is something I really want — and I’m proving it with my own money. Maybe I’m not going to have the kitchen I was going to remodel, but I’ve been defending my record or experience. I’ve been defending all these untrue rumors.
“Some have generously donated voluntarily to my campaign, but, other than a select few, I have not solicited funds other than having contribution information on my campaign website,” Spencer added. “No telephone calls or mailings. This decision was made to avoid possible criticisms that future decisions as Prosecuting Attorney could be influenced by campaign contributions. I have borne the substantial costs of this campaign largely on my own. … The false allegations of my opponent’s supporters have required me to spend an inordinate amount of money in refuting those false claims, which otherwise would have been unnecessary. It would be interesting to note if prior campaign’s expenditures have been adjusted for inflation.”
Svoboda has raised $10,880 with $1,168 of personal funds and taking a $2,000 loan. She says she probably has another $1,000 that will show up when the filings are updated. She has 75 donors on her list compared to 29 for Spencer. Her top donor is the Grays Harbor Democrats, which has given her $1,425. Joan Newman gave her campaign $500, as did attorney Vini Samuel. She also lists other donations from attorneys and law enforcement.
“I’m too fiscally responsible to spend that much money on an election,” Svoboda said. “I guess that’s the difference between being in the private sector and being in the public sector. I’m used to having to deal with public dollars, so I’m more tight with my money — and we’ve run a really effective campaign so far.” Both Spencer and Svoboda are running as Democrats.
Raines, who isn’t running with a party preference, has raised $25,858 — bringing in an extra $6,000 since she finished first in the four-way primary election, where expenditure reports show she spent most of her money. During the primary she raised more money than all three of her challengers combined.
“I had to spend the money in the primary because I just wasn’t sure how it would turn out,” Raines said. “I was less known in the Hoquiam area than I am county wide.”
She faces Republican Keith Olson, who has raised $9,777 — about $4,000 more than during the primary.
Olson’s top donor is his dad, John Olson, who gave $1,140; followed by Darrel Bell, described as being retired from Aberdeen, who has given $1,000. His filings show he’s raised $2,290 from four “low-cost fundraisers.” He’s also personally given his campaign $762.
The county assessor race is seeing
Incumbent county Assessor Rick Hole has spent roughly twice what challenger Dan Lindgren has. Hole, running as a member of Neither Party, has raised $12,583, and he spent a good chunk of it in the primary to survive the three-way contest. Lindgren has raised $6,174, but didn’t spend much of it in the primary.
Hole has self-financed most of his campaign, utilizing $8,753 in personal funds. His top donors are his parents, Rick and Patricia Hole, who gave a combined $1,500.
Lindgren, a Democrat, has given his campaign $692. His top donors include $675 from the Grays Harbor Democrats and $325 from Mike Burgess, the owner of Dairy Queen. He also had a “low-cost fundraiser,” which raised $871.
STATE RACES
Across the legislative districts, incumbents have dominated the fundraising effort.
State Rep. Kevin Van De Wege, D-Sequim, doesn’t have a challenger, but still raised $80,265. He’s spent $54,864.
State Rep. Steve Tharinger, D-Sequim, raised $78,642 — and spent not even half of that at $31,992. His challenger Thomas Greisamer has raised and spent about $9,000.
State Rep. Dean Takko, D-Longview, raised $105,837 and spent $58,837. His challenger David Steenson has raised and spent about $2,500.
State Rep. Brian Blake, D-Aberdeen, raised $108,313 and spent $47,393. His challenger Hugh Fleet has raised $1,729.
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