Posted: March 24, 2008

MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL POLITICS, PART II

Got money? No one gets elected without it. Here is a summary of the state of the financial state of legislative candidates in key races.

Office

Democrat

Balance

Republican

Balance

What counts

10th Senate

Bethany Hall-Long

 $11,605

Steve Amick

 $7,493

Amick has been warned for years he could get a real challenger, and this could be it. If Rep. Hall-Long runs, the cost is sure to skyrocket

16th Senate

Harold Stafford

 $2,153

Colin Bonini

 $1,343

In what was supposed to be a showcase race between Bonini and a labor ex-secretary, the money doesn't indicate it. Advantage to Bonini 

17th Senate

Brian Bushweller

 $24,191

Jim Hutchison

 0

Retiring Sen. John Still and Bushweller combined to spend $250K in '04. A new battle royale between Bushweller and Hutch  probably won't get any cheaper  

 

 

 

 

 

 

7th Rep

Bryon Short

 $17,770

Jim Bowers

 $35,966

 Look at those dollars. This isn't just a rematch of the '07 special election, it's a cage match

9th Rep

Rebecca Walker

 $2,220 

Dick Cathcart

 $10,905

Walker came within 600 votes in '06 but did no fund raising in '07. A shortfall on money translates into another shortfall on votes 

18th Rep

Mike Barbieri

 $269

Terry Spence

 $1,699

Call the speaker "Soft Touch Spence," who collected $28K in '07 and blew it all. Not a problem because his '06 opponent frittered the year away, too

24th Rep

 

 

Bill Oberle

 $1,101

 Oberle took zero donations and spent down his account. Is he running or isn't he?

27th Rep

Earl Jaques

 $2,713

Vince Lofink

 $9,098

The money that matters in this race is the $1.2 mil Lofink's son took from the state. Will the voters make Lofink pay?

28th Rep

Bill Carson

$7,090 

Christine Malec

 $3,394

Malec will need a lot more if she is to turn the tables on Carson, who defeated her 2-1 in an '07 special election

29th Rep

Trey Paradee

 $2,859

Pam Thornburg

 $12,047

Thornburg has a solid down payment for a firewall against Paradee, who is banking on his roots in a Kent County Democratic family

31st Rep

Darryl Scott

 $10,209

Nancy Wagner

 $21,705

Under threat, Wagner will need every cent she can get to defend herself from attacks of double dipping and nepotism

32nd Rep

Brad Bennett

 $23,207

Donna Stone

 $26,552

The comparable bankrolls show Bennett is serious about trying to oust Stone from the seat his dad once had

41st Rep

John Atkins

 $6,257

Greg Hastings

 $14,274

Atkins changed parties to run. Now the voters have to decide if he changed his life enough to earn his seat back

Source: Campaign finance reports as of Dec. 31. Incumbents are highlighted

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