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District 52 race is one of Oregon�s costliest By Dani Dodge Jackson County�s State Representative District 52 race � pitting Republican Jane Hunts against Democrat Alan Bates � is shaping up to be one of the most expensive races in the state. The district has a slight Democratic edge in voter registration, but has vacillated between Republican and Democratic representation for years. With the Democratic incumbent Judy Uherbelau pushed out by term limits this year, interest groups and the parties are shoveling money at District 52 candidates. "It�s because it�s so close," said Southern Oregon University political science professor Don Laws. "The Republicans have won it in the past, and they have a very good candidate and see this as a district to win, and the Democrats see it as one they have to keep and that�s why the money comes." Hunts, a businesswoman, was the top money-getter, collecting $100,510 thus far in the general election. Bates, a physician, collected $73,554. But Bates began the general election with $27,551 left over from his primary campaign, while Jane Hunts started with only $6,427 � which comes close to evening the playing field. Bates so far has spent $47,043, while Hunts has spent $57,895. Only in a few northern representative districts has more money been collected by the Republican and Democratic contenders. Statewide, the representative candidate with the most campaign funds is Alan Brown, a Republican running for the largely Lincoln County District 4 with $138,304. Candidates for state and local elections filed their first contribution and expenditure reports with the county and state elections offices this week. These are the first reports filed in the general election and cover transactions up to Sept. 28. In the local legislative races, Republicans are out-collecting their Democratic opponents in each district. The biggest discrepancy is in District 46, where residents are much more likely to see ads and signs for incumbent Republican Susan Morgan than her opponent, Democrat W. Earl Calhoun. She has raised $28,982 and began the general election with $22,677 in her coffers. Her opponent has collected $1,740, and started with $1,341. In the race for District 50, incumbent Republican Rob Patridge has collected $34,776 and his opponent, Democrat Barbara Davidson: $10,410. In the open seat in District 51, Republican Cherryl Walker has collected $57,431 to her Democratic opponent Lon Holston�s $8,294. "Republicans represent wealthier people and so it�s no surprise that they get more money," said Oregon State University political science professor Bill Lunch. "Except in heavily Democratic districts where the Republicans are not competitive ... it�s a rarity when a Democrat outspends a Republican." He noted that except for in Ashland, "Democrats just aren�t competitive in Southern Oregon." Still, the Jackson County commissioner race pitting incumbent Democrat Sue Kupillas against Republican Cleve Wright isn�t the lopsided battle seen in most of the legislative districts of Jackson County. Wright has collected more money ($15,402) than Kupillas in the general election ($7,075), but her beginning cash balance was $6,600 higher because of money she collected and didn�t spend in the primary. Wright�s biggest contributor is Denny Chancler, the owner of Chancler Equipment Co. Inc. who displays a sign in his equipment yard questioning Medford police�s truthfulness. Chancler has given Wright $3,040. Kupillas doesn�t have any big donors like Chancler, although she did get one $1,000 contribution from retired Central Point businessman Herbert Sutton. In District 52, a big portion of Hunts� funds are coming from the Republican Party or groups that give exclusively to Republican candidates. She�s received $30,000 from Oregon Victory Committee, which supports Republicans; nearly $30,000 from Majority 2000, the Republican House Caucus Committee; and another $10,000 straight from the Oregon Republican Party. But Bates also has raked in a few big contributions from specific interest groups. He received $5,000 or more from Oregon Right to Die, the Low Income Dental Political Action Committee, the Oregon Education Association, Oregon nurses, and the 21st Century Fund. Here is a list of contributions: District 52 Alan Bates: Total contributions: $73,554; total expenditures $47,043; beginning balance $27,551. Contributions over $499: Oregon AFSCME Council 75 ($500); Amalgamated Transit Union Division 757 ($500); Boise Cascade Corp. ($2,500); Cape Education Fund ($10,250); CARE ($500); Black, Chapman, Webber, and Stevens ($1,000); AFL/CIO Committee on Political Education ($2,000); Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde ($750); Future PAC ($2,038.9); HOOPS PAC ($1,000); Humane Oregon PAC ($500); IBEW Education Comm. ($1,000); Narcissa D. Kelley, Ashland retired ($1,000); Debra Lee, Medford attorney ($500); Low Income Dental PAC ($5,000); John McClendon, Ashland retired ($1,000); NARAL ($500); OEA People for Improvement of Education ($6,800); ONPAC ($7,300); Oregon Health Care Association ($2,500); Oregon Optometric ($1,000); Oregon Right to Die ($5,000); Plumbers and Steamfitters ($500); Richard Roy, Portland physician ($500); Stoll, Berne, Lokting & Shlachter, Ashland attorneys ($1,000); The 21st Century Fund ($10,000). Jane Hunts: Total contributions: $100,510; total expenditures $57,895; beginning balance $6,427. Contributors over $499: L.D. Josephson, Gold Hill retired ($500); AOLPAC ($1,000); David A. Hawkins, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. CPA ( $500); Oregon Victory Committee ($30,000); Oregon Forest Industries ($5,000); Oregon Family Farm PAC ($500); Oregon Nurseryman�s PAC ($500); David Lowry, Talent fruit company owner ($500); John Schleining Ashland investor ($750); Oregon Beverage PAC ($1,500); PGE employee candidate assistance fund ($500); Oregon Restaurant Association ($1,000); P.I.A.-Oregon-PAC ($500); Safeco Corp ($1,000); Oregon Smith Fund ($2,000); Avista Corp. ($500); Timber Products Associates Inc. ($500); Oregon Petroleum Marketers ($500); Credit Union Legislative Action Fund ($500); Lodge PAC ($500); Idaho Power ($800); Ag-Pac ($2,500); Pope and Talbot Inc., Portland paper mill ($500); Oregon Auto Dealers Association ($500); Citizens for Lane Shetterly ($500); Park Pac ($1,300); Arco Products ($1,000); Associated Oregon Loggers AOL-PAC ($500); Center for Citizen Leadership ($5,500); Oregon Republican Party ($10,000); R.J. Reynolds North Carolina tobacco company ($1,000); Majority 2000 ($29,350); Boise Cascade ($500); Pill Punch ($2,400); District 50 Barbara Davidson: Total contributions $10,410; total expenditures $3,700; beginning balance $4,993. Total contributions over $499: WIN-PAC ($1,000); Jean Maack, Medford retired ($823); Oregon Education Association ($930); Medford Education Association ($2,000); Future PAC ($1,100); Rob Patridge: Total contributions: $34,776. Total expenditures: $13,810; beginning balance: $7,580. Contributions more than $499: Oregon Forest Industries ($1,000); Oregon Soft Drink Political Action ($2,000); Ore-Pac ($1,000); Waste Management ($500); PGE Employee Candidate Assistance Fund ($500); Oregon CPA/LAC ($500); OALPAC ($500); Oregon Optometric ($1,000); Oregon Restaurant Association ($1,500); Oregon Faculties PAC ($500); AIA Oregon PAC ($500); Georgia-Pacific ($500); Oregon Smith Fund ($500); COPAC ($500); Oregon Petroleum Marketers Association PAC ($500); LodgePAC ($500); Oregon Beverage PAC ($1,000); Weyerhaeuser ($500); Oregon Nurserymen�s PAC ($500); Oregonians for Affordable Housing ($500); Idaho Power ($500); Credit Union Legislative Action Fund ($1,000); TP Associates ($500); Oregon AEA PAC ($500); Amalgamated Transit Union ($500); Oregon Insurance PAC ($500); Oregon Health Care Association PAC ($500); Center for Citizen Leadership ($1,000); Avista Corp ($500); Oregon Realtors PAC ($500); Pope & Talbot ($500); AOLPAC ($500); R.J. Reynolds ($500); Brown and Williamson Tobacco Corp. ($500); PG&E Corp. ($500); Jerry Lausmann, Medford KOGAP ($500); Oregon Republican Party ($500); 7-Eleven ($507); Rogue Regency Inn ($500); Michael D. Rydbom, Ashland commercial real estate manager ($500). District 51 Lon Holston: Total contributions $8,294; total expenditures $7,411; beginning balance $876. Contributions more than $499: Oregon State Fire Fighters Council ($640); Black, Chapman, Webber and Stevens, Medford law firm ($500); Lonn W. Holston, candidate�s father ($1,000); Dave McMillian, Jacksonville employee of Signs Etc. ($3,243); IBEW Educational Committee ($500). Cherryl Walker: Total contributions $57,431; total expenditures $47,162; beginning balance $4,213. Contributions over $499: Oregon Bankers PAC ($1,000); Oregon Medical Association PAC ($1,000); Oregon Auto Dealers Association PAC ($2,000); Oregon Farm Bureau PAC ($500); Pac/West Communications ($500); Oregon Health Care Association PAC ($1,000); Oregon Beverage PAC ($2,000); Lena Walker, Austin, Colo. retired ($1,000); Citizens for Lane Shetterly ($1,000); Oregon Forest Industries ($5,000); Oregonians for Affordable Housing ($2,000); Associated Oregon Loggers Inc. ($500); Oregon Victory Committee ($10,000); Ore-Pac, ($1,271); Portland General Electric Employee Candidate Assistance ($500); Waste Management ($500); Oregon COA/LAC ($500); Oregon Optometric PAC ($1,000); American Insurance Association PAC ($500); Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde ($750); Associated Builders and Contractors ($500); Oregon Nurserymen�s PAC ($500); LodgePAC ($500); Weyerhaeuser ($500); Credit Union Legislative Action Fund ($1,000); Oregon Soft Drink PAC ($2,000); Park PAC ($1,000); Idaho Power ($500); TP Associates Inc. ($500); Oregon Restaurant Association ($500); Oregon Smith Fund ($500); Oregon Insurance PAC ($500); Oregon Realtors PAC ($500); Oregon PERS Retirees PAC ($500); Oregon Nurses PAC ($1,000); Safeco Corp. ($500); Center for Citizen Leadership ($1,500); Oregon Petroleum Marketers ($500); Oregon Republican Party ($500); Majority 2000 ($1,600); Committee to Elect Rob Patridge ($826 in-kind donation). District 46 W. Earl Calhoun: Total contributions $1,740; total expenditures $1,519; beginning balance $1,341. Contributions over $499: none. Susan Morgan: Total contributions: $28,982; total expenditures $7,708; beginning balance $22,677. Contributions over $499: Ore-PAC ($1,000); Idaho Power ($800); Pope & Talbot lumber mill ($1,000); Oregon Optometric PAC ($1,000); Association Oregon Loggers ($500); Park Pac ($1,300); Harold Huffman, Canyonville logging company owner ($500); Superior Lumber ($2,000); Roseburg Forest Products ($1,500); Keller Lumber ($1,000); John Shirtcliff, Myrtle Creek oil jobber ($500); Oregon Beverage PAC ($1,000); Avista Power ($500); Oregon Soft Drink ($2,000); C&D Lumber ($500); Oregon Faculties PAC ($500); Oregon Nursery PAC ($500); Amalgamated Transit Union ($500); Oregon Auto Dealers Association ($1,000); Oregon American Electronics ($500); Safeco Corp. ($500); Oregon Realtors ($500); Oregonians for Affordable Housing ($1,000); Oregon Restaurant Association ($2,000); R.J. Reynolds tobacco company ($1,250); Brown and Williamson tobacco company ($500); Weyerhaeuser ($500); Associated Oregon Loggers ($1,000); 7-Eleven Stores ($757); Oregon CPA Legislative Action ($500); Oregon Republican Party ($500); Center for Oregon Leadership ($1,500). County Commissioner Sue Kupillas: Total contributions $7,075; total expenditures $4,743; beginning balance $8,215. Contributions over $499: L.D. Josephson, Gold Hill self-employed ($500); Georges St. Laurent Jr., Vancouver, Wash. property company president ($500); Herbert Sutton, Central Point retired ($1,000); Robert MacLellan, Medford restaurateur ($500); Ron Anderson, Eagle Point rancher ($500). Cleve Wright: Total contributions $15,402; total expenditures $9,992; beginning balance $1,618. Contributions more than $499: DC Parts, trucking part company ($500); Denny Chancler, Medford equipment company owner ($3,040); Brian Washburn, Medford retired police officer ($2,000); Katrina Hennewinkle, Jacksonville physician assistant ($550); Rainbow Ridge Ranch in Central Point ($2,000); Power Signs in Medford ($500); Cleve Wright Investigation Co. ($1,000). Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.