Republican nets $192,000 while opponent Workman draws $43,990 in state Senate race

By Tom Searls
Staff Writer

State Sen. Vic Sprouse has easily raised more money for his re-election than any other state Senate candidate — including perennial cash-raising king Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin.

“Earl Ray isn’t in as tough a contest as I am,” Sprouse, a Charleston Republican and Senate minority leader, said Wednesday.

Candidates for all state offices have filed their first general election campaign finance reports with the secretary of state’s office, revealing where much of their financial support is coming from.

Sprouse faces Margaret Workman, a former state Supreme Court justice, for the 8th District seat, one of two Kanawha County Senate seats up for election this year.

He has raised more than $192,000 for the year, and has $139,083 remaining with less than two months to go. By comparison, Tomblin, who as Senate president has traditionally been the biggest fund-raiser in the upper chamber, has raised $141,685 for the year.

“I’m not a bit surprised,” said Workman. “I think you could rightfully call Vic Sprouse the poster boy for special interests money.”

Sprouse noted he has received more than 700 donations of less than $100, showing he has support across the board.

“We’ve been blown away by our ability to raise money across the state,” he said.

Workman has $21,119 in her campaign coffers, having raised $43,990 and spent $22,870 for the year. In the past three months, she has raised $17,835, with more than $15,000 of that coming from a fund-raiser held at a Charleston law firm.

Sprouse said that shows a “striking difference between myself and my opponent,” saying her donations come from trial lawyers.

“It’s pretty apparent who’s supporting Margaret’s campaign and who is supporting my campaign,” he said.

While there are hundreds of small donations to Sprouse, many of the maximum $1,000 contributions have come from those involved with the coal industry. Don Blankenship, the chief executive officer of Massey Energy, made a $1,000 donation, as well as three members of the Addington family, a Kentucky family that owns AEI Resources and Seven Peaks Mining.

A number of Sprouse’s large donors are from Kentucky, some from Pennsylvania and even Indiana.

“I have asked the coal industry, the manufacturing industry and the health care industry to donate,” Sprouse said.

Workman said Sprouse has always taken large amounts of special-interest money, especially from the coal, gambling and insurance industries.

Massey Energy recently partnered with another group to purchase bankrupt Horizon Natural Resources mines, including one at Cannelton in Kanawha County. Massey has traditionally laid off unionized miners and hired new workers. Up to 200 West Virginia miners stand to lose their jobs because of the buyout, while about 500 retirees in the state will lose their benefits.

Sprouse said he has not spoken with Blankenship “specifically about Horizon,” but said he wants to keep all possible jobs in the Kanawha Valley.

AEI also had a stake in Horizon, Workman said.

“I frankly find it outrageous these companies can stiff these workers, but they can still slide money all over people who are in their pockets like Vic Sprouse,” she said.

Rusty Webb, the other Republican running for a Kanawha County Senate seat, had some of the same big donors. He has raised more than $62,000 for his race against Dan Foster, a retired Charleston doctor. Both are members of the House of Delegates.

Webb, a Charleston attorney, reported having $36,789 on hand.

He raised more than $14,000 at a fund-raiser that featured former Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon, who charged $1,000 for expenses.

Democrat Foster reported having $44,301 remaining for the race. He has raised more than $94,000 for his campaign and spent almost $50,000.

The two men are running for the seat being vacated by state Sen. Larry Rowe, D-Kanawha.

To contact staff writer Tom Searls, use e-mail or call 348-5192.