Master Builders donate to judge's campaign

By JEREMY PAWLOSKI | • Published August 07, 2008

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THE OLYMPIAN

A political action committee for Olympia Master Builders has spent $45,680.24 to support Thurston County Superior Court Judge Gary Tabor’s re-election campaign against Prosecuting Attorney Ed Holm.

The money spent on Tabor by People’s Choice for Leaderhip has gone toward a large postcard listing Tabor’s qualifications that was mailed to county voters and ads on Intercity Transit buses.

People’s Choice for Leadership’s sole contributor is “Progress for Our Community,” a political action committee for Olympia Master Builders.

Tabor said he was unaware the PAC had spent the money on him until after the fact.

“I didn’t solicit any of this,” Tabor said. “I wasn’t consulted, and I didn’t know what it would be.”

Will Stakelin, government affairs director for Olympia Master Builders, said that’s by design. Under the state Public Disclosure Commission’s rules on judicial expenditures, independent spending on candidates must be made without informing or consulting a candidate.

For more on the story, see The Olympian Friday.