Democratic state Rep. Sharon Wylie holds a slight fundraising lead over Republican challenger Craig Riley in the race to fill a 49th Legislative District seat through the end of 2012.
Wylie, a former lobbyist for Clark County and a former Oregon legislator, was appointed in April to fill the seat of former Rep. Jim Jacks through the end of 2011. She had raised $32,915 in cash and in-kind contributions by the latest reporting deadline, according to filings with the Washington Public Disclosure Commission.
Riley, a Vancouver financial planner who ran unsuccessfully last year to unseat Democratic Rep. Jim Moeller in his 49th District reelection race, had raised $29, 864, all in cash contributions.
Wylie had spent $18,596 to Riley’s $21,658. Riley also reported a $700 loan.
Both candidates have raked in contributions from their respective parties in the only legislative race taking place this year in Clark County.
Riley reported a total of $10,000 in contributions from the House Republican Organizational Committee; $1,000 from the Reagan Fund, the committee’s political action committee; and $415 from the Clark County Republican Party. He also reported contributions of $800 each from Dan Barnes, Nancy Barnes and the Washington Affordable Housing Council.
Wiley received $3,500 from the House Democratic Caucus Campaign Committee. She reported contributions of $800 each from the Washington Indian Gaming Association, the Harry Truman Fund, the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 452 in Vancouver, the Maryland-based International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, Naral Pro Choice Washington PAC, National Women’s Political Caucus of Washington, Smith-Root’s Vancouver branch office, and a total of $1,600 from the Southwest Washington Electricians PAC Local 48. House Speaker Frank Chopp gave Wylie $500.
The two won’t face a primary contest but will face off in the Nov. 8 general election. The winner will fill the final year of Jacks’ two-year term.
Kathie Durbin: 360-260-4533 or kathie.durbin@columbian.com.
