Brokaw Winning Fundraising Race Among Commissioner Candidates

By Michael Andersen, The Columbian, Vancouver, Wash.

Apr. 20–In the race to succeed retiring Clark County Commissioner Betty Sue Morris, Democrat Pam Brokaw’s fundraising is lapping the field.

Brokaw, of Ridgefield, brought in more cash through March 31 than all her opponents put together, state records show.

Including donated services, Brokaw raised $22,106. As for her three registered Republican opponents, Matt Swindell of Ridgefield raised $11,221, Brad Lothspeich of Felida $10,401 and Tom Mielke of Battle Ground $100.

The other declared candidates, Republican Robert Nichols of Barberton and Bridget Schwarz of the Fairgrounds, an independent, hadn’t yet registered with the state campaign finance disclosure office. Under a March court ruling, all six candidates will be on a single primary ballot Aug. 19 in northern Clark County, including Hazel Dell, Felida, Battle Ground and Ridgefield. The top two vote-getters, regardless of party, will advance to the Nov. 4 general election, where all the county’s voters will choose a winner.

In the last commissioner race, in 2006, Democrat Steve Stuart won after outraising Republican Bruce Hagensen $260,000 to $88,000.

That was almost certainly the most expensive victory in county history. Only 2005, when Stuart and Mielke each raised about $200,000, cost more overall this decade.

Stuart endorsed Brokaw last month in a video prominently placed on her Web site.

Unions donate to Brokaw

Brokaw, a former state Legislature candidate and the director of an Orchards-based affordable-housing nonprofit group, said she spends a lot of time raising money, using the iPhone her campaign bought in January.

“I’ll call early in the morning, I’ll call later in the afternoon,” she said. “I’ll call on the weekends.”

Almost a quarter of Brokaw’s cash, $5,000, came from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 48.

Brokaw drew smaller amounts from unions representing Vancouver and Portland transit drivers and Clark County’s health workers and from dozens of individuals, including many local Democratic activists.

Builders favor Swindell

Swindell, a Ridgefield city councilman who works for Summerplace Homes in Battle Ground, drew at least 87 percent of his donations from real estate, development, construction, or engineering companies and their employees.

Swindell said Friday that he expects to broaden that base as the campaign continues.

“You go first to the people you’re closest to and the sphere of influence that you’re in, and you start working outward,” he said.

Swindell didn’t draw as many donations as his best-funded opponents, but his were bigger: his average was $326, compared to Brokaw’s $220 and Lothspeich’s $147.

Swindell, who’s in his first competitive race, said he’s held several fundraisers but doesn’t have a firm fundraising goal.

Swindell said he’s gotten used to asking supporters for money.

“It’s all about believing in yourself,” he said.

Morris backs Lothspeich

Lothspeich, a Felida resident and former Hazel Dell fire chief who has the endorsement of the outgoing Morris, didn’t draw any donations over $500.

“Lots of little ones is as good as one big one, I guess,” he said Friday. “I haven’t approached a lot of companies at this point.”

His biggest donations include $500 each from iQ Credit Union’s political action committee, from each of his parents, and from family friends Ed and Dolly Lynch.

Ed Lynch, a Vancouver businessman, is chairman of a group opposed to the proposed Cowlitz tribal casino near La Center.

Lothspeich said the U.S. Supreme Court ruling ordering a top two primary puts Brokaw at a disadvantage, since the top two primary vote-winners in the conservative north-county district might both be Republicans.

“I think she’s probably working a lot more than she was before,” he said.

Lothspeich said he hopes to raise at least enough for one mailing to the district’s voters, which he said would cost about $16,000 to $17,000.

Slow start for Mielke

Mielke, a former state representative who narrowly lost to Morris in 2002 and Stuart in 2004, said he’d only raised $100 by April because he’d been distracted by family issues.

His mother nearly died in February, he said, and his father died in March.

“I’ve had a rough year,” he said.

Mielke, of Battle Ground, started the race with $3,000 from his last campaign, and said he’s used some to pay for a poll of possible voters.

He said voters will see him as the most conservative candidate in the race, and that he intends to start raising money soon.

“It’s the way we weigh our priorities, and in my case, my family comes first,” he said.

Bob Richter, a retired businessman whose $100 check was Mielke’s only donation before March 31, said he’s liked and respected the man since they were next-door neighbors in the mid ’90s.

Richter said he’s already got Mielke bumper stickers on his three cars.

“As soon as I have a sense that he’s going to make a run at something, I’ll send him a few bucks,” he said. “I will send him more.”

Michael Andersen covers Clark County government: 360-735-4508 or michael.andersen@columbian.com.

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Copyright (c) 2008, The Columbian, Vancouver, Wash.

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