Earling campaign response on independent campaign expenditures

Published 5:08 pm Monday, October 31, 2011

After I reported on the $26,720 in independent expenditures on behalf of Edmonds mayoral candidate Dave Earling from the National Association of Realtors, I posted responses from incumbent Mayor Mike Cooper who said that the Realtors were trying to buy the election, and from retiring City Councilman Steve Bernheim, who said the independent expenditures made a mockery of campaign finance laws.

Here is a counter-response from Earling’s son, Eric Earling on behalf of his father’s campaign:

“It’s unfortunate Mike Cooper has resorted to these desperate attacks in a last-ditch attempt to reverse course in a race he is losing. He was a decisive loser in the primary, with less than 40 percent of voters backing him. Recent drama in his Administration has clearly not helped make the case to voters that he deserves more time in office.

“While independent groups have the right under Washington and Edmonds law to make expenditures outside the control of candidates and their campaigns, we know these facts about two candidates for mayor: Mike Cooper is being outspent by Dave Earling in this race because Dave Earling has received an incredible influx of contributions from individuals in Edmonds interested in new leadership.

“While 70 percent of Dave Earling’s contributions come from Edmonds, only 38 percent of Mike Cooper’s do. And, while 84 percent of Dave Earling’s dollars raised come from individuals, only 44 percent of Mike Cooper’s dollars raised come from individuals. In fact, 46 percent of Cooper’s dollars raised come from unions outside of Edmonds, meaning Cooper has raised more money from unions outside of Edmonds than from individuals who live in Edmonds. Furthermore, Mike Cooper has given his own campaign almost $14,000 after finding so few people in Edmonds willing to support him in the wake of the primary and after recent events.

“The simple truth is people in Edmonds are not supporting Mike Cooper. That’s why he lost the primary. That’s why he has been unable to raise money from individuals in Edmonds. And that’s why he’s resorting to these desperate and false attacks in the closing days of this race. I think we all thought we could expect more from someone who has been on the ballot nine out of the last eighteen years in Edmonds.”

Evan Smith can be reached at schsmith@frontier.com