Incumbents lead in fund-raising for primary
When it comes to raising money for contested party nominations to Mid-Willamette Valley seats in the Oregon House, it’s better to be in than out, according to finance reports filed Monday.
Reps. Vic Backlund of Keizer, Jeff Kropf of Sublimity and Donna Nelson of McMinnville have raised more than their challengers for the Republican nomination for new two-year terms in the May 18 primary.
Backlund faces a primary challenge for a fourth term from Kim Thatcher of Keizer, who is backed by Citizens for a Sound Economy, a group of tax critics. Nelson faces two primary challengers for a third term, and Kropf one primary challenger for a fourth term.
Rep. Jim Thompson of Dallas, who was appointed to his seat, also has raised far more than his four Republican challengers combined in his bid for a full term in the seat vacated by Lane Shetterly. Much of what he raised came in the form of a family loan.
If you can’t be in, it helps to have had your spouse as a former legislator.
Al Shannon of Brooks has received $5,000 from the political committee of House Republicans for his primary race for an open seat. His wife is Marylin Shannon, who was in the Senate from 1995 to 2001, and lost a primary bid for the same House seat to Cliff Zauner in 2000.
For the other open Mid-Valley seat that is being vacated by Tootie Smith, Mac Summer of Molalla and Chris Blackburn of Silverton have raised the most in the five-way race for the Republican nomination.
Reps. Billy Dalto, Dan Doyle and Vicki Berger, all Salem Republicans, have no primary challengers. Sens. Roger Beyer of Molalla and Gary George of Newberg, also Republicans, have no primary opponents.
Meanwhile, the parties are beginning to raise money for their biennial battles for majorities in each chamber.
In a Senate divided 15-15, the political committee of Senate Democrats raised $351,121 — more than three times the $107,332 raised by Senate Republicans. Democrats must defend six seats, Republicans 11.
In the House, where Republicans have a 35-25 majority and all seats are up for election, their political committee has raised $238,098, compared with $219,300 for House Democrats.
House Speaker Karen Minnis, R-Wood Village, has raised $107,715 through her own committee and $49,845 through the Speaker’s PAC. House Majority Leader Wayne Scott, R-Canby, has raised $90,039 through his committee.
The reports filed with the secretary of state are as of April 1. A second filing is due in early May.
A look at the numbers
Listed below are total contributions and spending, and major contributors, through April 1, in primary contests for Mid-Willamette Valley seats in the Oregon House. Districts without primary contests are not listed.
House District 17
Republicans — Jeff Kropf of Sublimity, incumbent: $20,030 from 2002 campaign, $34,546 raised, $19,774 spent, $34,802 on hand; $2,500 from ICE-PAC (chiropractors), $2,000 from Oregon Grocery Industry Association PAC, $1,000 each from Anheuser-Busch, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Fred Meyer, Oregon Bankers PAC, Oregon Business Leadership Council, Oregon Forest Industries Council PAC, Oregon Trial Lawyers Association PAC, Oregon Truck PAC, R.J. Reynolds Co. and Weyerhaeuser Co. Sarah Helen Arcune-Novy of Stayton will raise and spend less than $2,000. No Democrat is in the race.
House District 18
Republicans — Chris Blackburn of Silverton: $8,120 raised, $6,054 spent, $2,066 on hand; $4,600 from Direct Northwest of Salem. James Buchal of Hubbard: $1,760 raised, $1,132 spent, $628 on hand. Mark Greenhalgh-Johnson of Silverton will raise and spend less than $2,000. Doug Morgan of Silverton: $1,200 raised, $345 spent, $855 on hand; $445 from himself. Mac Sumner of Molalla: $13,595 raised, $10,254 spent, $3,341 on hand; $8,500 from personal loan, $500 from Oregon Plumbing Industry Political Endorsement (PIPE) Committee.
Democrat — Jim Gilbert of Molalla: $483 raised, $300 spent, $183 on hand.
House District 22
Republicans — Al Shannon of Brooks: $6,400 raised, $5,422 spent, $978 on hand; $5,000 from Majority 2004, political committee of House Republicans. Chael Sonnen of Woodburn: $1,739 raised, $487 spent, $1,252 on hand.
Democrat — Betty Komp of Woodburn: $695 from 2002 campaign, $7,805 raised, $4,354 spent, $4,146 on hand; $2,000 from Oregon Education Association, $1,500 from Women’s Investment Network PAC.
House District 23
Republicans — Jim Thompson of Dallas, appointed incumbent: $12,455 raised, $6,791 spent, $5,664 on hand; $3,890 loan and $150 contribution from Helga Thompson of Dallas, $1,000 from Pfizer Corp., $750 from ICE-PAC (chiropractors). Brian Boquist of Dallas: $400 raised and spent. Jackie Lawson of Dallas, Cheryl Lentsch of Monmouth and Jim Welsh of Dallas: Each will raise and spend less than $2,000.
Democrat — Dick Reynolds of Dallas will raise and spend less than $2,000.
House District 24
Republicans — Donna Nelson of McMinnville, incumbent: $5,956 from 2002 campaign, $2,600 raised, $3,334 spent, $5,222 on hand; $1,000 each from Anheuser-Busch and Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. Frank Butler of McMinnville: $1,739 raised, $487 spent, $1,252 on hand. Charles Mitchell of Yamhill: No filing.
Democrat — Timothy Duerfeldt of McMinnville: $371 from 2002 campaign, $2,925 raised, $1,562 spent, $1,734 on hand.
House District 25
Republicans — Vic Backlund of Keizer, incumbent: $26,970 from 2002 campaign, $22,515 raised, $7,282 spent, $42,203 on hand; $5,000 from Oregon Beverage PAC, $2,500 from Oregon Health Care Association (nursing homes), $1,000 each from Anheuser-Busch, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Oregon Bankers PAC, Oregon Restaurant Association PAC. Kim Thatcher of Keizer: $6,600 raised, $1,621 spent, $4,979 on hand; $3,400 in loans from various businesses, $1,000 from Steve Ross of Woodburn, manager of a construction company.
Democrat — Roger Pike of Gervais, no filing.
Peter Wong can be reached at (503) 399-6745.
