More than $750,000 has poured into campaigns for the Snohomish County Council, the most ever, according to observers.
Much of the money is expected to be spent on a blitz of ads, now that absentee ballots for the Nov. 8 general election are on their way to the majority of county voters.
“It’s unprecedented, obviously,” said Cliff Bailey, a Republican on the first County Council in 1980 who later served two terms in the state senate.
“I don’t remember ever seeing this amount of money being poured into county races,” said Bailey, an election observer for more than 50 years. “I’ve seen it in national races, but never in county races.”
Republican incumbents lead the pack with $564,000 raised by council members John Koster, Jeff Sax and a new political action committee made up of builders.
Two key Democrats, District 4 incumbent Dave Gossett and Sax challengers Dave Somers, have raised about $170,000 – less than one-third the Republicans have in backing.
In 2001, by comparison, $397,000 was spent by the candidates. Gossett spent $57,000, Somers spent $67,000, Sax spent $132,000, Koster $141,000.
“There’s significantly more money being spent than four years ago,” Gossett said. “There’s obviously a lot of interest in this election.”
Land developers and real estate companies are among the biggest contributors for each of the incumbents: Gossett, Sax and Koster.
Organizations that are strong advocates for protection of forest and fish, the Tulalip and Upper Skagit Indian tribes and Washington Conservation Voters, gave to Somers’ campaign.
The race among Sax, Somers and independent Greg Stephens for District 5 is seen as the most competitive. Sax unseated Somers in 2001 and faces a rematch in a district that hasn’t re-elected an incumbent since the mid-1980s.
The 3-2 split on the Republican-controlled County Council could shift with this election.
The amount of cash being invested in the campaigns shows “how important this race is,” Sax said.
“It’s not just important on county issues. Voters want to see the state heading in a more conservative direction.”
As evidence, Sax pointed to high vote counts for Republicans Dino Rossi and Rob McKenna.
Sax said it’s hard to get his views to voters. “We need money to get our message out,” Sax said.
Campaign mailings only last as long as it takes to carry them from the mailbox to the recycle bin, he said.
Bailey disagreed. “The best way to get the message out is to doorbell.”
Sax’s campaign was boosted by about $58,000 spent on direct mail and radio ads by an independent political action committee formed by builders called Quality Communities.
“We think Jeff has done a great job to balance the issues, and we look at that race as an important race this election cycle,” said David Toyer, spokesman for the committee and a vice-president for real estate developer Barclays North. “That’s why it’s getting our attention.”
The committee’s fundraising arm, Coalition for Quality Communities, has raised $117,000 in cash from 17 companies and funneled most of the money into the spending arm. More will likely be channeled.
Both political action committees were formed by Barclays North and other home builders. Money has come primarily from Everett, Lake Stevens and King County-based builders.
Barclays North leads with $30,000, plus $5,300 for staff to operate the committee. Other top donors included $25,000 from Woodinville-based Universal Land Construction Co. and $10,000 from Pacific Ridge Homes in Everett.
“It’s important to ensure we have good leadership in Snohomish County, that’s why the investment is being made,” Toyer said.
The builders in the Quality Communities group are interested in affordable housing, transportation, education, “things we believe are good for a whole for local economic development,” he said.
One political action committee opposing Sax emerged this month – Snohomish Citizens for Ethical Leadership. The group has $21,200 from Washington Conservation Voters and has posted a Web site that grills Sax.Toyer said he chafes when critics accuse developers of quid pro quo, a “this for that” payoff, when builders give money to campaigns.
“The second a developer spends money, they’re buying something of influence from council member, that’s what always seems to be said,” Toyer said.
“There are so many other groups out there that represent divergent interests and spend money in elections.”
Sax said county permit rules have been streamlined to help both “mom and pop” and developers.
Land is in short supply, and that means larger development companies are more active, and donating more to campaigns, Sax said.
Herald writer Scott North contributed to this report
Reporter Jeff Switzer: 425-339-3452 or jswitzer@heraldnet.com.
Campaign cash
The 2005 Snohomish County Council campaigns have received cash and in-kind contributions totaling more than $750,000.
Top donors to the Democrat and Republican incumbents include the Master Builders of King and Snohomish Counties (through the Affordable Housing Council), Pacific Ridge Homes and Washington Association of Realtors PAC.
About $280,000 given directly to the County Council candidates came in checks larger than $1,000.
District 1
(Marysville, Arlington and Stanwood)
John Koster (R, incumbent)
Raised: $230,744
Spent: $149,925
Suzanne Smith (D)
Raised: $18,048
Spent: $14,419
District 4
(Mill Creek, Mountlake Terrace and Bothell)
Dave Gossett (D, incumbent)
Raised: $81,077
Spent: $27,754
Eva Davies (R)
Raised: $5,565
Spent: $3,836
District 5
(Snohomish, Monroe, Maltby, Lake Stevens)
Jeff Sax (R, incumbent)
Raised: $211,404
Spent: $142,042
Dave Somers (D)
Raised: $94,415
Spent: $67,153
Greg Stephens (I)
Raised: $1,675
Spent: $113
Coalition for Quality Communities PAC
Raised: $122,249
Spent: $100,684
Quality Communities PAC
Raised: $102,205
Spent: $51,269
Coalition for Quality Communities raised money from builders and gave it to Quality Communities, which spent the money on mail and radio ads supporting Jeff Sax
Snohomish Citizens for Ethical Leadership
Raised: $21,200 from Washington Conservation Voters
Spent: $0, but has a Web site opposing Sax
Source: State public disclosure records
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