As of Friday, incumbent Auburn Mayor Pete Lewis had raised a total of $32,861.28 and spent $24,411.45 in his bid for election to a third term, according to the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission’s Web site.
Lewis’ opponent in the race, City Councilmember Virginia Haugen, has not filed any C3s or C4s, forms that, respectively, list cash receipts and monetary contributions, and summarize all receipts and expenditures.
Haugen’s campaign manager, Mark Silberling, said Thursday that Haugen does not expect to spend more than $5,000 on her campaign; therefore, she is not required to file anything beyond a C1 candidate registration form.
The PDC allows several reasons for candidate not to file the disclosure forms, including the following:
• The candidate intends to raise and spend a small enough amount that electronic filing of the C3 and C4 forms is not required;
• The candidate has selected the mini-reporting option, with limits on the amount of contributions and expenditure, and the C3 and C4 reports aren’t required.
Lewis’ filings show monetary contributions from four of the current Auburn City Councilmembers, Nancy Backus, Lynn Norman, Sue Singer and Rich Wagner. Councilmember Bill Peloza is heavily involved with the mayor’s reelection committee and said he has given money but his contribution does not show up on the forms. Councilman Gene Cerino has not given money but said he has endorsed Lewis.
Former Mayor Chuck Booth and former councilmember Fred Poe have donated to Lewis’ campaign. He is supported as well by the business and real estate community, with contributions from Puget Sound Energy, the Affordable Housing Council, Seattle King County Realtors, Emerald Downs President Ron Crockett, Carpenters Local 1797 and Aerospace Machinists Industrial No. 751 (Boeing) among many others.
The Lewis campaign’s largest expenditures to date have been $1,760.27 spent on postage on July 17. It has spent $1,587.75 on yard signs.
Silberling, co-owner with wife Jana of Left of Center Salon on Harvey Road, said that the Haugen campaign’s greatest expense to date has been yard signs.
He questioned why Lewis has felt the need to raise and spend so much money.
“We’re holding meetings and get-togethers in people’s homes,” Silberling said. “It’s a real grass-roots effort. It doesn’t cost much, and it’s been very effective.”
Lewis does not feel a reason to apologize for raising campaign money.
“That is how much I’ve collected, and the folks that contributed to my campaign expect me to use it for my campaign, and I will do so,” Lewis responded. “I don’t think it’s my problem if they don’t have as many contributors.”
