June 21, 2004

Gillespie, Beane top spenders

By BRETT DUNLAP

CHARLESTON - The incumbent Democrat in the 10th District House of Delegates was the top spender, according to the latest campaign finance statements filed with the secretary of state.

Post primary financial statements were due between June 5 and June 11, a month after the May primary election. However, Friday was declared a federal holiday for the funeral of President Ronald Reagan, so the deadline was extended to June 14.

Beane couldn't be reached for comment.

Norm Steenstra, executive director of the West Virginia Citizens Action Group, said House of Delegate races in Wood County are the least expensive in the state with candidates using radio and print advertising as well as direct mail. Campaign spending has been an issue of the group.

The most expensive campaigns in the state are being mounted in Kanawha County, Steenstra said adding candidates could easily spend $40,000 to $50,000 on their campaign.

The 10th District is comprised of three seats in the Legislature. Six candidates are running in November, three Democrats and three Republicans.

Dr. Fred Gillespie, a Republican candidate in the 10th District, was second on the spending ladder.

He won one of three slots in the primary to run in the November general election.

He reported $10,489.12 in expenditures and contributions of $10,489.12. His campaign has a zero balance.

Candidates who are not incumbents have to get their names out in the public, Gillespie said. Advertising - of which television is the most expensive - and other methods are expensive, he said.

''Running for office costs money,'' he said.

People complain about how much candidates spend, but Gillespie said he doesn't believe it is excessive. Wood County candidates spend far less than candidates in areas like Kanawha County running for the same office.

Gillespie said many people don't feel it is necessary to run for office and are not interested in government or what goes on in the state.

''I am a native of this state, and I am concerned,'' he said. ''I am willing to work at it.''

Gillespie isn't sure how much his campaign for the November election will cost him.

''It has been my experience running in the general election costs more than running in the primary,'' he said. Gillespie has run for the House of Delegates a number of times and was elected in 1998 for a two-year term.

Also winning in the Democratic nominations for the 10th District were Patrick Radcliff and Scott Wilkinson.

Radcliff spent $4,914.32 and reported $5,060 in contributions. He was left with a balance of $264.85.

Wilkinson did not have the most recent financial report filed, according to the secretary of state's Web site. Wilkinson could not be reached by phone Friday.

Delegate Tom Azinger, R-Wood, a winning candidate in the Republican 10th District primary, reported $1,306.92 in expenditures. He received $5,125 in contributions and other funding. He was left with a balance of $3,868.32.

Azinger, who has served in the House for almost 10 years, said being an incumbent helps with name recognition; however, people are constantly coming in and passing out of the voter pool so a candidate has to remain visible and accessible to voters.

''I am constantly meeting new people,'' Azinger said.

It takes some money to run a successful campaign, he said adding newspaper advertising was his biggest expense. Azinger spent $501.32 on advertising to The Parkersburg News and Sentinel, according to his campaign expense sheet.

''Whenever you make an expenditure, you hope to get as much bang for the buck,'' Azinger said. ''You have an obligation to spend it as responsibility as possible (since a portion of the money comes from contributors).

''You only have so much, you have to make it go as far as possible.''

Also winning in the Republican 10th District primary was incumbent Delegate John Ellem.

Ellem reported $3,714.52 in expenditures and $7,506.90 in contributions and other funding. He was left with a balance of $$3,792.38.

Financial disclosures from other 10th District candidates were:

Republican Preston (P.T.) Dabbs reported $80.85 in expenditures. He received $80.85 in contributions and other funding. He was left with a balance of $0.

• Democrat Linda Wytko-Goodwin reported $580 in expenditures. She received $580 in contributions and other funding. She was left with a zero balance.
• Republican Dennis S. Kimes reported $1,264.58 in expenditures. He received $1,830.32 in contributions and other funding. He was left with a balance of $535.74
• Democrat Steven D. Whitehair reported $1,711.96 in expenditures. He received $1,711.96 in contributions and other funding. He was left with a zero balance.
• Republican incumbent Delegate Everette W. ''Bill'' Anderson in the 8th District reported $4,372.11 in expenditures and $16,964.83 in contributions and other funding. He was left with a balance of $12,592.72.

Anderson won the primary against Republican Vernon Criss, who reported $1,269.59 in expenditures. He received $1,269.59 in contributions and other funding. He was left with a zero balance

In the 9th District, Democrat Jeff Lewis spent $4,406.04 to defeat Jim Marion for the party's nomination. Lewis, a Wirt County resident, received $5,345 in contributions.

Marion reported $1,189.36 in expenditures and $1,189.36 in contributions.

In the 9th District Republican race, incumbent Delegate Larry Border, 9th District, reported $1,597 in expenditures and $5,620.75 in contributions and other funding. He was left with a balance of $4,023.25.

Border defeated Tim Reed, who spent and received $369.34