OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Three months after his first quest for governor came to an end in 1996, Jay Inslee began draining the $6,000 surplus in his campaign account.
He first sent a $1,000 contribution refund to himself as well as money to his wife and in-laws. After a little more cash came in from unused media buys, he managed a handful of other refunds a few weeks later, sending cash to his parents and his two brothers and four other supporters.
His account was then empty.
An Associated Press review of more than 1,000 pages of campaign finance records spanning 25 years found that Inslee has meticulously managed his campaign cash while relying heavily on his closest allies instead of average voters. It’s something happening in this year’s race for governor, in which he holds a fundraising lead in part because of money raised from political action committees and the state party.
