(Ray) Hunkins Gains in Fundraising (The WY Republican Gubernatorial Nominee}

Cheyenne Wyoming Tribune-Eagle ^ | 09-07-06 | Wingert, Kevin

[Theodore R.]

Hunkins gains in fundraising Challenger Ray Hunkins outraised Gov. Dave Freudenthal in August, but the governor retains the bigger war chest.

By Kevin Wingert

rep3@wyomingnews.com

CHEYENNE - In the month of August, the Republican gubernatorial challenger raised $17,000 more than the Democrat incumbent in the same period.

"We were very pleased from the support we got from individuals in Wyoming in the month of August," Republican Ray Hunkins said. "We're running a grassroots campaign, and the grassroots are responding."

During this latest and next-to-last filing of campaign receipts prior to the Nov. 7 general election, Hunkins raised $77,872.67 to Gov. Dave Freudenthal's $60,856.04.

Freudenthal still has a commanding lead in overall fundraising with a war chest of $644,477.26. Hunkins' campaign fund sits at $273,559.89.

"I am grateful for each and every contribution that comes in because campaigns are extremely expensive to run these days - media, in particular, is incredibly expensive," Freudenthal said in a news release. "Our opponent for the general election has the benefit of receiving what appears to be unlimited financial support from his party, so we will have to work extra hard to make sure we have the funds to get our message out in the coming weeks."

Hunkins pointed to the political action committee money Freudenthal has received thus far - $132,450, or roughly 21 percent of his overall funding - and said it begs a question.

"He's awash in special-interest money," Hunkins said, adding that people should be asking what the expectation is of those special-interest groups that gave money. "Anytime you've got ($132,450) of union and industry money that comes in to support an incumbent, it raises the question of why?"

Hunkins said he would be asking and looking for answers to those questions during the general election campaign.

Freudenthal cast the funds raised in a different light.

"The number of folks who have given money to this campaign indicates to me that, for the most part, people think Wyoming is on the right track," Freudenthal said in the news release.

State auditor

In the state auditor's race, Republican Rita Meyer held a commanding lead over her opponent in total money accumulated.

But for the month of August, Democrat Bill Eikenberry outpaced Meyer by donating $11,072.30 to his own campaign.

He then challenged Meyer to run on her own money, alone, and not accept campaign contributions.

"I'm not taking campaign money of any sort; I'd ask her to do the same," Eikenberry said.

Meyer, who raised $7,880 in August, said, "I would say this: Number one, I'm a working girl; and number two, I don't have that kind of personal wealth to fund my own campaign."

Eikenberry said accepting contributions of any kind could lead to the appearance or actual potential for abuse.

"It's hard," Eikenberry said of running a campaign without contributions. "But I think it's important that the public realizes and believes that there is not a hint of impropriety."

Meyer said she could not understand what he based his claim on.

"I'm not sure what he's alluding to when he's talking about the opportunity for abuse," Meyer said. "The state auditor provides oversight for money already appropriated by the Legislature. In terms of those appropriations, the auditor simply sees that those monies are spent based on statute and the intent of the Legislature."

She noted all the statewide races featured candidates who were accepting campaign contributions.

"Is he questioning all of our character?" she asked.

Supt. of public instruction

Democrat Michelle Hoffman still held more than twice the campaign funds of her competitor in the race for superintendent of public instruction.

At the end of the month of August, her war chest was $37,000.70.

"It's looking pretty up as we're going into the final stretch," Hoffman said. "A lot of people in education are supporting me, and that says a lot right there ... they're looking for change."

Republican Jim McBride, who has raised a total of $16,355.79, questioned the nature of Hoffman's money.

"I think that's an interesting comment. Certainly I don't agree with that perspective," McBride said. "I do know that some of her contributors are people I let go."

He noted that she had made several loans to herself and that many of the individuals in education who supported her were people whose jobs McBride had terminated or contractors who had not had their contracts renewed under his command.

McBride was appointed to the position of state superintendent to fill the vacuum left when the previous superintendent, Trent Blankenship, abruptly left in the middle of his term to take a job in Alaska amid accusations of mishandling state funds and abusing his position of authority.

McBride said that he has not sought contributions from those employed in Wyoming's education system, as he believed that would be improper.

"It's an issue of integrity," McBride said. "I'm the superintendent of schools, I'm in the job and I'm practicing. It could be perceived as coercion of some sort."

State treasurer

While Republican Joe Meyer raised only $2,105 in the month of August for his campaign, he's going up against a competitor whose total war chest is $35.47.

Meyer has raised a total of $34,300.

Ron Redo, the Democrat challenger in the race, donated the $35.47 to his own candidacy.

[Theodore R.]

Hunkins is doing the best he can in a difficult year for the GOP -- he might have won had he been the nominee in 2002.