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House candidate Wallace raised $23,000 in late 2009

She says no 'personal fortune' to tap like top fundraiser Heck

By Kathie Durbin
Published: January 16, 2010, 12:00am

State Rep. Deb Wallace raised nearly $23,000 for her congressional campaign — including $2,000 from U.S. Rep. Brian Baird, the incumbent she seeks to replace — in the last two weeks of December, according to filings with the Federal Elections Commission.

Wallace, a Vancouver Democrat, formally filed for 3rd Congressional District seat Dec. 24, just 15 days after Baird announced he would not seek a seventh term. During the final two weeks of the year, she also received $2,400 each from Vancouver philanthropists David and Patricia Nierenberg.

Denny Heck, Olympia businessman and former Democratic state legislator, is the clear front-runner in the congressional fund-raising sweepstakes so far. Heck issued a press release Jan. 12 saying he had about $215,000 in his campaign chest, including $100,000 of his own money and $115,000 he raised in the final eight days of 2009. He said he would release a detailed report by the Jan. 31 deadline.

Wallace noted that she raised her money from more than 50 donors. Unlike Heck, she said, she has no “personal fortune” to tap.

“Like many in the 3rd District, my middle-class family comes from middle-class means,” Wallace said in a statement. “Some candidates may be able to spend more on their own campaigns than we can, but no one is going to spend more time or work harder than me.”

Heck said he had “no desire” to respond directly to Wallace’s jibe.

“I like and respect Deb,” he said. “I congratulate her for her hard work to date. I think we are all enriched by many voices speaking out at this time.”

Republicans David Castillo and Jon Russell, both of whom entered the 3rd Congressional District race before Baird announced he would not run, have not yet filed end-of-the year reports.

Castillo, an Olympia financial consultant and former Bush administration official, reported raising $53,874 and spending $11,987 as of Sept. 30.

Russell, a Washougal city councilor and owner of a family clinic, raised $18,310 and spent $5,959 by Sept. 30. His contributions included $1,300 in anonymous $20 donations he collected at an Olympia Tea Party event on Sept. 12.

Olympia peace activist Cheryl Crist, who also ran against Baird in 2008, reported having $2,730 on hand as of Sept. 30.

Four other candidates for the seat have submitted no campaign contribution and expenditure reports to the FEC for the period ending Dec. 31. They are state Sen. Craig Pridemore, D-Vancouver, who filed for the seat Dec. 31; state Rep. Jaime Herrera, R-Camas, who filed Jan. 12; Democratic Hispanic activist Maria Rodriguez-Salazar of Vancouver, who filed Jan. 8; and David Hedrick of Camas, a Republican ex-Marine, who filed Nov. 18.

Reports for the first quarter of 2010 are due April 15.

Kathie Durbin: 360-735-4523 or kathie.durbin@columbian.com.

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