Donors to governors race giving in large chunks

By Brad Shannon | The Olympian • Published May 13, 2008

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Six months before the election, top gubernatorial candidates Dino Rossi and Chris Gregoire each have stockpiled more than $3 million in cash, and a large share of it comes from donors giving $1,000 or more.

A check of fundraising data with the Public Disclosure Commission on Monday shows Gregoire, a Democrat, had at least 1,671 donations of $1,000 or more. That included 93 donations from businesses or individuals of $1,600, the maximum allowed per primary or general election.

Those $1,000-plus donations were worth more than $2.5 million of the $6 million Gregoire reported receiving — if roughly a half-million dollars from the state Democratic Party is included.

Republican Rossi, who has made a big deal of having more than 32,000 contributors overall, had 1,461 donations of $1,000 or more. Those included 165 individuals or businesses that gave the maximum $1,600.

The donations of $1,000-plus were worth more than $1.95 million of the $4.4 million his campaign reported having received, including contributions from local GOP organizations.

Almost two weeks ago, Rossi took balloons to the home of Rhonda Ray Wells of Auburn to thank her for becoming the 30,746th contributor to what he is calling his "citizens' movement to change Washington."

In a video of his visit, Rossi says 62 percent of his donors are new to his campaign.

But actually, both campaigns are raising more than 40 percent of their funds from the relatively larger donors who give $1,000 or more at a pop.

"It's clear we do both get money from large donors," Rossi campaign spokeswoman Jill Strait said Monday. "But we do have, as I said, more than 32,000 individual donors. If you look at our average contribution, it's $88."

Gregoire's campaign has just less than 22,000 donors, and 6,353 gave money in April, Gregoire campaign spokesman Aaron Toso said.

"There is a lot at stake in this election. I think that is why so many people have gotten involved early on. We expect strong fundraising from here on out," Toso said.

Tough pace

But after collecting $1.3 million last month, he said it will be difficult to maintain that pace.

Larger donors to Gregoire include such names as former Supreme Court Justice Bobbe Bridge, trial lawyer Steve Berman, Starbucks executive Paula Boggs, Gregoire chief of staff Cindy Zehnder and longtime Republican William Ruckelshaus, who chairs the Puget Sound Partnership Leadership Council.

Ruckelshaus gave $1,250 to Rossi and $500 to Gregoire in 2003. He's given $3,200 this election cycle to Gregoire and none to Rossi. He did not return a telephone call for comment.

Larger donors to Rossi included investor Peter Overton; Jimmy Barrier, owner of the upscale Barrier Motors car dealership in Seattle; Brian and Colleen Frauenholtz, vice presidents of the Dwayne Lane car dealership; the Building Industry Association of Washington; and GM Nameplate, a business.

Gregoire set a Washington record for gubernatorial races in 2004 by raising $6.3 million. She has raised $6 million this time.

Her cash on hand, according to PDC reports filed Monday, was $3.86 million. Rossi took in $640,000 in April and has collected $4.45 million, with $3.08 million cash left on hand.