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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Body found in Lake Siskiyou identified ... Driver in wrong-way crash allegedly intoxicated ... MPD promotes Scott Clauson to deputy chief ... Body found in Lake Siskiyou identified ... Driver in wrong-way crash allegedly intoxicated ... MPD promotes Scott Clauson to deputy chief ... ELECTION 2016 Michael Bloomberg donates $250,000 to secretary of state candidate Former New York mayor supports secretary of state candidate's role in gun legislation Comment By Kristena Hansen The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Kristena Hansen The Associated Press Posted May. 9, 2016 at 6:59 PM By Kristena Hansen The Associated Press Posted May. 9, 2016 at 6:59 PM » Social News PORTLAND — Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has dropped $250,000 into State Rep. Val Hoyle's campaign for Oregon secretary of state, raising the stakes in what's considered the hottest statewide race in Oregon's May 17 primary. Bloomberg is among the nation's most vocal proponents of gun control. A spokesman for the New York billionaire, Howard Wolfson, said the donation was prompted by Hoyle's role in helping pass Oregon's 2015 gun background-check law. "No one in the country has worked harder — or more successfully — to take on the NRA than she has," Wolfson said of Hoyle. The donation, made April 29, is the single largest in recent memory to a candidate for secretary of state, the second most-powerful position behind the governor that, despite the little attention it receives, has a big impact on Oregonians' lives by handling such things as elections, voter registrations and business-related filings. That, on top of another $100,000 donation from Washington D.C. political action committee Emily's List — which supports female Democratic candidates nationwide — just two days prior, puts Hoyle's fundraising ahead of her two prominent Democratic opponents ahead of next week's primary. Hoyle has raked in $587,000 in donations this calendar year so far, while State Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian is behind her with about $387,000. State Sen. Richard Devlin, whose years writing the state's budget is seen as an asset for the state secretary post, has raised $160,500 this year. It also means Hoyle, former majority leader of the House, clenched the biggest single donations to-date that both Emily's List and Bloomberg personally have made to an Oregon candidate for statewide or legislative office, records with the secretary of state's office show. Bloomberg's other personal donations include a $5,000 to Democratic Rep. Tobias Read in December and $2.13 million total to Vote Yes on 90, the PAC behind the "open primary" ballot measure that failed in 2014. He also funnels cash through his PAC, Everytown for Gun Safety, which gave former Gov. John Kitzhaber the same amount as Hoyle during his gubernatorial run in 2014 — representing more than half of the $450,000 total the PAC doled out to statewide campaigns that year. Cody Chasteen, Hoyle's campaign manager, said Hoyle's been in contact with Bloomberg's office for several months so the donation wasn't a surprise. "The timing of it was somewhat expected, and we're honored to have the support of Mr. Bloomberg," Chasteen said. Next Tuesday's primary will decide which Democrat will face off in November against one of the two notable Republican candidates — Kitzhaber's 2014 GOP opponent Dennis Richardson, and Lane County Commissioner Sid Leiken. Richardson has maintained a strong lead over Leiken's fundraising, with $287,000 donations this year so far compared to his opponent's $44,700. By Kristena Hansen The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Kristena Hansen The Associated Press Posted May. 9, 2016 at 6:59 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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