Serving Whitman County since 1877

Three 9th District incumbents send funds elsewhere

Despite not having an opponent among them, the three Republican legislators in the 9th District have raised almost a half-million dollars worth of funds for re-election campaigns.

Most of those funds have been redirected to help other Republican candidates win or protect seats in the legislature.

“It’s no secret most of my surplus has gone back into the (Senate Republican Campaign Committee),” said Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville.

Rep. Joe Schmick, R-Colfax, and Rep. Susan Fagan, R-Pullman, both turned surplus funds over to the House Republican Campaign Committee.

As of last week’s filings with the state Public Disclosure Commission, Schoesler had received $191,695.36 in donations and spent $153,310.06; Schmick received $121,838,42 and spent $85,541.19, and Fagan received $57,301.80 and spent $23,554.15.

“If I do any more spending this year, it’ll be to introduce myself to the new voters down there,” said Schoesler.

All three said they have spent campaign funds this year travelling to introduce themselves in new segments of the 9th District that were added around Pasco after the state’s redistricting plan that followed the 2010 U.S. Census.

“We have 30,000 new constituents down in Pasco that we have to introduce ourselves to,” said Fagan.

Pasco replaced Cheney, Medical Lake and the Valleyford areas of Spokane County in the 9th District, making for longer campaign trips.

“That’s pretty tough with gas at $4 a gallon,” Rep. Schmick noted.

 

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