Commission candidates raise more than $30K ahead of primary
Vying for their party’s nomination in a four-way race, Republicans have spent about as much as they’ve raised. Meanwhile, the lone Democrat has marshaled resources for the General Election.
The five candidates now competing for an open seat on the Albany County Commission have raised $30,000 and spent more than $22,000, initial campaign finance filings show.
Four of those candidates are Republicans seeking their party’s nomination in the Primary Election Tuesday. Among them, Chris Cleven and Troy Heien have spent nearly as much as they’ve raised, leaving less than $1,000 between them for the General Election. Thad Hoff and Julie McCallister have done no fundraising, spending a respective $9,500 and $2,800 of their own money.
Meanwhile, Brian Harrington, a Democrat running unopposed in the primary and assured of his presumptive nomination, has amassed more than $12,000. He has spent nearly $5,000 of that to date, leaving the majority to be spent in the two and a half months between Primary and General Election Days.
The majority of Harrington’s cash — nearly $10,000 of it — came from individual donations. He is the only commission candidate for which this is true. The bulk of Cleven’s cash comes from a $1,500 loan, while the bulk of Heien’s comes from his own pockets.
Like Mike Selmer, the sole Democrat competing for an open state senate seat, Harrington also received a $1,000 boost from his party. Whichever Republican emerges victorious from the primary is likely to be helped along by their party once they become the official nominee.
The winner of this year’s race will join one Democrat and one Republican to fill out the three-member Albany County Commission; the party that wins the seat wins control of the county government.
Polls open at 7 a.m. Tuesday. Voters can find their sample ballot and polling place through the Albany County Clerk’s website.
Brian Harrington (Democrat)
Raised: $12,136
Spent: $4,976
Average donation: $120
Own money: $155
Contribution breakdown:
$405 — Immediate family/personal
$9,905 — Individual
$1,000 — Political Party
$826 — In-kind
Top donors:
$1,000 — Albany County Democratic Party
$1,000 — Gail Shive, Laramie resident
$1,000 — Trevor Houser, California resident
$500 — Brett Kvenild, Laramie resident
$400 — Danica Mrozinsky, Laramie resident (in-kind)
Chris Cleven (Republican)
Raised: $2,275
Spent: $1,977
Average donation: $100
Own money: $0
Contribution breakdown:
$500 — Individual
$275 — In-kind
$1,500 — Loans
Top donors:
$200 — Joel Senior, Laramie resident (in-kind)
$200 — Beth Clingman, Laramie resident
Troy Heien (Republican)
Raised: $3,665
Spent: $3,199
Average donation: $165
Own money: $3,005
Contribution breakdown:
$3,515 — Immediate family/personal
$150 — Individual
Top donors:
$3,005 — Troy Heien (self)
$350 — Kaleb Heien
$160 — Jacob Heien
Thad Hoff (Republican)
Raised: $9,501
Spent: $9,501
Average donation: N/A
Own money: $9,501
Julie McCallister (Republican)
Raised: $2,822
Spent: $2,822
Average donation: N/A
Own money: $2,822
Money & politcs…bedfellows