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39 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, November 18, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend October 27, 2004 Dist. 3 race is second costliest in Oregon Bates, Wright campaigns gather $750,000 in battle for state Senate seat By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune Southern Oregon’s state Senate District 3 candidates have raised almost $750,000 in contributions, making theirs the second-most expensive Senate campaign in Oregon. Sarah Wetherson, research associate with the nonprofit organization Money in Politics Research Action Project, said Democrat Alan Bates and Republican Jim Wright together have amassed about 18 percent of all the money raised for Senate races in the state — $4.2 million — which already is more than a half-million more than the same period in the last Senate election. "It’s the second-highest money-gathering race out there," she said. "It shows how both sides feel there’s a lot at stake." Both parties worry that this Senate district could change the balance of power in the Legislature. The last legislative session had 15 Republicans and 15 Democrats in the Senate. In other hotly contested races, Senate District 25 in Fairview has attracted the most money in the state, where the candidates have raised $901,899 so far. Advertisement In Senate District 5, in the Coos Bay area, the candidates have raised $724,967, the third-highest. Wetherson said her nonpartisan organization’s calculations are based on the Oregon secretary of state’s most recent contribution and expense reports for candidates, but also includes any war chest amassed during the primary. Wright, at $429,817, has raised the most in the local Senate race, with large contributions from the Republican Party, timber and business groups. Bates has received $314,325, primarily from Democratic Party, health and union groups. "It’s a ridiculous amount of money," said Bates. For a job that pays $1,283 a month, Bates said it’s hard to believe he will likely spend $400,000 before the election is over. Reviewing the list of contributors for him as well as for Wright, Bates said he didn’t see anything out of line, considering the background of the candidates. "For Jim, the usual, and on my side, the usual," he said. The cost of running the campaign worries him, and Bates said it points to the need for spending limits and a shorter election season. "We need campaign finance reform," he said. Burke Raymond, campaign manager for Wright, said, "It’s a shame that this much money is spent on a campaign for a state Senate seat. It points out just how important the race is not just in the district, but in the state. Both parties have put a lot of money into the campaign because, he said, "This race could well decide who controls the Senate." He said that if either party currently had a stronger majority in the Senate, then this race wouldn’t be generating this kind of interest. Candidates are spending the money on mailers and advertising in radio, television and newspapers. Wetherson said that at the same point in the 2002 election, $3.6 million had been raised by all Senate candidates compared to $4.2 million today. "It seems like this is more than just adding inflation into the mix," she said. She said it underscores how difficult it is for candidates to mount a successful campaign when so much money is required. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Contributions and expense reports The Secretary of State’s office recently released contributions and expense reports for the Nov. 2 general election. These reports do not include the amounts from the primary election. One more report will be filed after the election. Alan Bates Total Contributions (from 6/8/04 to 10/17/04): $265,144.76 Major contributors: Oregon Affairs Optometric Public Affairs Council of Milwaukie, $1,000; Doctors for Healthy Communities, $15,000; Oregon Health Care Association of Portland, $30,000; Amalgamated Transit Union of Portland, $1,000; Tuality Medical Equipment and Supply of Hillsboro, $1,000; International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Educational Committee of Washington, D.C., $1,000; Democracy for America of Burlington, Vt., $3,500; Oregon League of Conservation Voters, $16,228.47; Oregon Nurse political action committee of Tualatin, $20,000; Senate Democratic Leadership Fund of Portland, $54,330.29; AFSCME Local 3580 of Portland, $2,000; NARAL Pro-choice of Portland, $5,000; and Planned Parenthood, $7,000. Jim Wright Total contributions (from 6/8/04 to 10/17/04): $380,576.52 Major contributors: Oregon Victory Political Action Committee, $50,000; The Maentz Agency Inc. of Medford, $6,700; The Leadership Fund of Salem, $37,234.23; Roger Beyer for Senate, $5,000; Independent Electrical Contractors of Oregon of Tigard, $1,500; Oregon Forest Industries Council of Salem, $20,000; Oregon Auto Dealers Association of Portland, $10,000; Oregon Restaurant Association, $15,000; ABC State PAC, $5,000; Oregon Concrete and Aggregate Producers Association of Salem, $18,000; pharmaceutical executive Jed D. Meese of Ashland, $2,500; Anheuser-Busch Companies Inc. of St. Louis, Miss., $5,000; Oregon Soft Drink of Salem, $3,000; Southern Oregon Employer’s Council of Medford, $3,000; Oregonians for Affordable Housing, $16,000; AOJ Center for Citizen Leadership, $17,750; 7-Eleven Inc. of Dallas, Texas, $1,500; Comnet Marketing Group Inc. of Medford, $3,675. For more detail about the reports, visit www.sos.state.or.us on the Web. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities