Political Donations: Dave Earling Has Raised Twice as Much as Mike Cooper

In the race to become the next mayor of Edmonds, challenger Dave Earling has raised twice as much money as incumbent Mike Cooper, who was appointed to the position last year after the departure of Gary Haakenson.

Updated reports from the Public Disclosure Commission show that Earling has raised $61,510 to Cooper’s $30,550. Earling has spent $55,937 while Cooper has spent $23,308.

Under Edmonds law, the contributions are limited to $500.

Earling’s many contributions come from individuals and businesses and organizations, including: the Business Alliance for Snohomish County, the Affordable Housing Council (the political action committee of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties), Harbor Square Athletic Club, Lynnwood Honda, Magic Toyota, Woodway Mayor Carla Nichols, Windermere Real Estate of Edmonds, Washington Association of Realtors PAC and the Washington State Council of County and City Employees.

Earling has also received two independent expenditures from the Chicago-based National Association of Realtors Fund for $26,720. Independent expenditures are donations that are not sought by candidates.

Cooper’s contributions include four for over the legal $500 limit for Edmonds, and Cooper says he returned the difference to all four within 24 hours. They came from NW WA Building and Construction Trades Council, SEIU 1999 Northwest, SEIU Healthcare 775NW and the Seattle Fire Fighters PAC. Many of his $500 contributions come from unions, including the International Association of Firefighters, Machinists Council, Marysville Firefighters Local 3219 and the Sheet Metal Workers Local 86.

Among Cooper’s other contributions are those from Chermak Construciton, Chrystal’s Creations, the National Abortion Rights League, Strom Peterson, Pacific Northwest Council of Carpenters, John Lovick, Paull Shin, Adrienne Fraley-Monillas, Priya Sinha and Kimberly Cole.

Cooper has also contributed $9,700 of his own money to the campaign.

In City Council races, the most contributions have gone to the race between incumbent Diane Buckshnis and challenger Bob Wilcox for position No. 4.

Wilcox has raised $16,384 and spent $11,314, while Buckshnis has raised $12,516 and spent $12,253.

Among those giving $500 donations to Wilcox are the Affordable Housing Council, Harbor Square Athletic Club, KLN Construction and the Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters. Among the smaller donations were those from Snohomish County Fire District, Spadafora Development, Howard Chermak, Comstock Jewelers, Westgate Travel, Strom Peterson, Gary Haakenson, Carla Nichols, David Arista and Ron Wambolt.

In addition to its $500 donation, the Affordable Housing Council has also given Wilcox $1,600 in independent expenditures.

Buckshnis has received one $500 donation, from the Service Employees International Union. Among other contributions are those from the National Abortion Rights League, National Women’s Political Caucus, Michael Plunkett, 21^st District Democrats, Dave Page, John Lovick, Adreinne Fraley-Monillas, Joan Bloom, Barbara Chase and Jeff Stillwell.

In the contest for City Council position No. 6, Frank Yamamoto easily leads Alvin Rutledge since the latter has not solicited donations and, in fact, has no donations.

Yamamoto has raised $7,071. He has three $500 donations, from Jack Hoover, president of the Foundation for International Services; Jack Tawney, owner of Harbor Square Athletic Club; and from Gregg Jantz, owner of The Center in Edmonds. (Jantz writes a blog for Edmonds Patch.) Among Yamamoto’s other donations are from Allison Shields, park counselor for Lynnwood Parks Department, Strom Peterson, Snohomish County Fire District 1 Professional Fire Fighters IAFF Local 1997 PAC, J Rankin Jewelers, Chris Keuss, Darlene Stern, Gary Haakenson and Marianne Zagorski.

City Council position No. 7 pits incumbent Lora Petso against Darlene Stern. Stern has raised $11,270 and spent $9,606, while Petso has raised $2,203 and spent $569. Stern has also made a $1,000 personal contribution.

Petso’s contribution aren’t listed on the PDC site because she chose an option to limit the amount of donations she can receive.

Stern has four $500 contributions, including one from the Affordable Housing Council. Among other, smaller contributions are ones from the Edmonds Police Officers Association, Snohomish County District 1, Strom Peterson, Bob Wilcox and Chermak Construction.

The statewide elections are Tuesday.