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Final tally: Republicans far outspend Democrats By PETER WONG SALEM -- Fueled by business contributions, Republican Jane Hunts of Trail has raised almost $100,000 in her bid to unseat Democratic Rep. Judy Uherbelau of Ashland in Tuesday's general election. Republicans also have raised and spent more than Democrats in campaigns for Jackson County's two other Oregon House seats, which have no incumbents running. The candidates have filed their final pre-election reports of contributions and spending with the secretary of state. Secretary of State Phil Keisling said Friday that 16 House candidates raised more than $100,000 each -- none in Southern Oregon -- and 37 others more than $50,000 each. They include Republicans Hunts, Rob Patridge of Medford, Jason Atkinson of Jacksonville, Susan Morgan of Myrtle Creek in District 46 and Rep. Carl Wilson of Grants Pass in District 49. The race in District 52, which covers eastern Jackson County, has attracted the most money -- though it probably will be short of the record $280,000 spent by Democrat Nancy Peterson and Republican Jerry Barnes in 1992. Hunts, a businesswoman, has collected $92,723 and spent $90,787 during the fall campaign. Uherbelau, a lawyer seeking her third term, has raised $50,365 and spent $45,144. Hunts has received contributions of $10,000 from the Oregon Victory Committee, a political action committee of business interests that gives to Republican non-incumbents, $6,500 from the Oregon Restaurant Association, and $5,000 from Central Point developer Herb Sutton. Uherbelau's largest contributions this period were $2,000 each from Future PAC of House Democrats and the Oregon Nurses Association. Uherbelau agreed to a voluntary spending limit of $40,000, but Hunts did not, so Uherbelau is not bound by the limit. Hunts said her heavy spending in the form of five direct-mail brochures and television ads was necessary to overcome Uherbelau's name recognition. But a couple of her direct-mail brochures drew criticism for their negative tone. Legislative candidates as a whole have raised $6.9 million so far for general-election campaigns and $4.4 million for primary campaigns. That total of $11.3 million surpasses the 1994 record of $10.8 million, and the 1996 total of $3.4 million raised under limits that the Oregon Supreme Court threw out in 1997. "Competition for elected office increasingly appears to be a financial arms race," Keisling said. "Until we implement an effective system to reform campaign finance, I've no doubt that even more candidates next time will spend $200,000 or more to secure a part-time office that pays $1,200 a month." Republicans also led Democrats in raising and spending money for campaigns for the county's other House seats. Patridge has raised $50,000, more than 10 times the amount raised by Democrat Melody Kolb in their campaign for Medford's District 50. Atkinson raised $1 for every $3 raised in the spring by Republican primary opponent Larry Frank. But Atkinson has raised more than $3 for every $1 collected by Democrat Lon Holston of Central Point in their fall race for the District 51 seat covers southwest Jackson County and part of Josephine County. Atkinson, older son of three-time congressional candidate Perry Atkinson of Medford, got nearly half his contributions this period from two people. Shilo Inn owner Mark Hemstreet and Columbia Helicopters owner Wes Lematta, both backers of conservative candidates and causes, each gave $7,650 to Atkinson's campaign. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1998, Medford, Oregon USA