The Democratic challenger for the Mendenhall Valley raised more money than the Republican incumbent in October, but Rep. Cathy Muñoz still holds a big fundraising advantage.
On Tuesday, the treasurer of Parish’s campaign reported receiving $10,699.83 between Oct. 8 and Oct. 29. The treasurer of Muñoz’s effort indicated $4,850 in contributions during that period.
Muñoz maintains a huge cash advantage, however. Since fundraising began, her campaign has recorded more than $81,000 in receipts. Parish has received just under $38,000.
Tuesday was the one-week pre-election reporting deadline set by the Alaska Public Offices Commission, which monitors election spending.
Unlike other House races in Alaska, neither Parish nor Muñoz has reported receiving significant amounts of support from groups unaffiliated with their campaigns.
The Alaska Democratic Party spent $500 on anti-Muñoz online ads. Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii spent $480.58 in a pro-Parish direct mail campaign.
[Parish, Muñoz clash in statehouse debate]
In southern Southeast, independent incumbent Rep. Dan Ortiz is facing stiff competition from Republican Bob Sivertsen, and both are receiving extreme amounts of outside support.
Ortiz has seen $50,250 in spending from outside groups, while pro-Sivertsen campaigns have seen $21,045 in spending and anti-Ortiz spending totals $27,272.
More money doesn’t equal more votes on Election Day, but it is indicator of levels of support for a candidate and that candidate’s ability to garner name recognition.
Muñoz and Parish are competing to represent House District 34, which includes the Mendenhall Valley, but the race for House District 33 — downtown Juneau — includes only one candidate, incumbent Democratic Rep. Sam Kito III.
Kito reported receiving $1,595 in October contributions and has reported $15,793.44 in contributions for the entire campaign. Those figures come even though Kito faces no challenger on the ballot.
Kito, like Parish, benefited from minor third-party spending on his behalf.
For all three candidates, advertising and political signs were their biggest expense.
Muñoz’s biggest contributors were a group associated with the Teamsters ($1,000); the Alaska Mining Association PAC ($500); Gina Thorstenson ($500); John Hanrahan ($500); and Lynn Reinwand ($500). She also reported a $250 contribution from Anchorage Republican Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux.
Parish’s biggest contributors were the Alaska Democratic Party ($3,870.21); himself ($1,522); the Juneau Coalition for Pro-Choice PAC ($750); and Steve SueWing ($350), who has been coordinating his campaign.
[Muñoz outpaces Parish and the rest of the House in election fundraising]
Campaign organizations were also required to report receipts and expenses on Tuesday. The Juneau Pro-Choice PAC has spent $7,425.84 so far this campaign season; in October it sent donations to Ray Metcalfe (Democrat for U.S. Senate, $150); Steve Lindbeck (Democrat for U.S. House, $300) and Hillary Clinton ($50).
The Juneau Central Labor Council PAC reported spending $2,256 in the general election to date. In October, it contributed $500 to Vince Beltrami for state Senate (independent, Anchorage) and $500 to Dan Ortiz (independent, Ketchikan).
The Tongass Democrats have spent $109,510.91 this campaign season, but in October they reported no contributions to candidates.
The Capital City Republican Women have spent $27,152.86 this campaign season. Their sole listed October expense was for a fundraiser luncheon at the Prospector Hotel.
The Capital City Republicans have spent $10,197.32 this campaign season and listed no expenditures in October.
• Contact reporter James Brooks at 523-2258 or james.k.brooks@juneauempire.com.
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