Backlund leads funding race

Rep. Vic Backlund of Keizer has raised almost three times more than Republican challenger Kim Thatcher in their race for a Mid-Willamette Valley seat in the Oregon House, according to campaign finance reports filed Thursday.

Backlund has raised almost $90,000, compared with about $30,000 by Thatcher for their May 18 primary campaigns.

Backlund has received funding from an array of interest groups, including $10,000 from the Oregon Forest Industries Council, $8,500 from the Oregon Business Association and $3,000 from the Salem Education Association. He is a former teacher and coach who is seeking a fourth term.

Rep. Vicki Berger of Salem, who is unopposed for nomination to a second term in an adjoining district, gave Backlund $2,500 from her political committee.

Thatcher’s contributions came mostly from two groups: Oregon Citizens for a Sound Economy, which is targeting Backlund for his 2003 vote in favor of a budget-balancing tax increase that voters overturned earlier this year, and Your Kids, Your Schools, whose treasurer is public-school critic Rob Kremer.

The Backlund-Thatcher race has resulted in the most money raised for any of the contested Mid-Valley primaries for the Oregon House.

Reps. Jeff Kropf of Sublimity and Donna Nelson of McMinnville have raised more than their Republican primary challengers.

Contributions from political action committees also have fueled the bid of Rep. Jim Thompson of Dallas, an appointee bidding for a full term against four challengers. Brian Boquist of Dallas, a two-time Republican nominee for the 5th Congressional District seat, is largely financing his own bid against Thompson.

Mac Sumner of Molalla led four others in fund-raising efforts for the Republican nomination in District 18, and Al Shannon of Brooks led Chael Sonnen of Woodburn in fund raising for the Republican nomination in District 22.

Shannon is getting help from the political arm of House Republicans. Sonnen got help from Rep. Cliff Zauner of Woodburn, a Republican stepping down after two terms.

A look at the numbers

Listed below are total contributions and spending, and major contributors, through May 2 in primary contests for Mid-Willamette Valley seats in the Oregon House. Districts without primary contests (19, 20 and 21) are not listed.

House District 17

Republicans:

Jeff Kropf of Sublimity, incumbent: $41,195 raised, $30,104 spent, $31,121 on hand. $1,000 each from Associated Oregon Industries Center for Citizen Leadership, Dentists of Oregon PAC, Oregon Automobile Dealers Association PAC, Oregon Bankers PAC, Oregon Beverage PAC.

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: $15,063 raised, $11,204 spent, $3,870 on hand. $2,000 from Coalition for a Healthy Oregon (Oregon Health Plan contractors), $1,500 from Direct NW of Salem; $1,000 each from Oregon Bankers PAC, Oregon Certified Public Accountants PAC, Oregon Soft Drink PAC.

James Buchal of Hubbard: $5,260 raised, $3,241 spent, $2,019 on hand.

Mark Greenhalgh-Johnson of Silverton: Will raise and spend less than $2,000.

Doug Morgan of Silverton: $1,395 raised, $695 spent, $700 on hand.

Mac Sumner of Molalla: $19,996 raised, $18,096 spent, $1,901 on hand. $1,000 each from Anheuser-Busch Co., Oregon Automobile Dealers Association PAC, R.J. Reynolds Co.

Democrat:

Jim Gilbert of Molalla: No report filed.

House District 22

Republicans:

Al Shannon of Brooks: $18,225 raised, $14,437 spent, $3,788 on hand. $3,000 from Majority 2004, $1,000 each from Oregon Automobile Dealers Association PAC, Oregon Forest Industries Council PAC, R.J. Reynolds Co.

Chael Sonnen of Woodburn: $5,472 raised, $2,548 spent, $3,104 on hand. $1,345 from political fund of Rep. Cliff Zauner, R-Woodburn.

Democrat:

Betty Komp of Woodburn: $11,844 raised, $12,052 spent, $487 on hand. $2,000 from Salem Education Association.

House District 23

Republicans:

Jim Thompson of Dallas, appointed incumbent: $26,095 raised, $18,967 spent, $7,128 on hand. $1,000 each from Anheuser-Busch Co., Associated Oregon Industries Center for Citizen Leadership, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Dentists of Oregon PAC, Oregon Automobile Dealers Association PAC, Oregon Bankers PAC, Oregon Beverage PAC, Oregon Trial Lawyers Association PAC.

Brian Boquist of Dallas: $11,100 raised, including $10,400 loan to himself, $5,751 spent, $6,549 on hand.

Jackie Lawson of Dallas, Cheryl Lentsch of Monmouth, 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: $8,393 raised, $8,930 spent, $5,518 on hand. $500 from Pfizer Corp.

Frank Butler of McMinnville: $2,789 raised, $2,233 spent, $556 on hand.

Charles Mitchell of Yamhill: Will raise and spend less than $300.

Democrat:

Timothy Duerfeldt of McMinnville: $3,874 raised, $2,284 spent, $722 on hand. $300 from Future PAC (House Democrats), $200 from Teamsters Union.

House District 25

Republicans:

Vic Backlund of Keizer, incumbent: $85,902 raised, $56,739 spent, $56,206 on hand. $10,000 from Oregon Forest Industries Council PAC; $8,500 from Oregon Business Association; $3,000 from Salem Education Association; $2,500 each from Friends of Vicki Berger, Oregon Council of National Electrical Contractors Association PAC, Oregon Trial Lawyers Association PAC; $2,000 each from Coalition for a Healthy Oregon PAC (Oregon Health Plan contractors) and Willamette Dental Management Corp. of Beaverton; $1,500 from Nike.

Kim Thatcher of Keizer: $29,721 raised, $27,424 spent, $2,297 on hand. $9,821 from Oregon Citizens for a Sound Economy; $8,900 from Your Kids, Your Schools advocacy group; $1,000 from husband Karl Thatcher.

Democrat:

Roger Pike of Gervais: No report filed.

Peter Wong can be reached at (503) 399-6745.