Where’s Waldo? Next To That Big Stack Of Money Republican Moderate Leads In Raising Funds For Governor’s Race

Little-known Republican Jim Waldo so far has collected more campaign money than anyone else in the crowded race for governor, state records showed Tuesday.

Waldo, who entered the contest early, has raised more money than his GOP rivals and far more than Democratic candidates. According to state Public Disclosure Commission records, the Tacoma lawyer and political moderate had raised $392,086 by Friday and still had $134,415 on hand.

Among Democrats, Bainbridge Island attorney Jay Inslee still leads the pack with $176,502. But the former congressmen raised less than the other Democratic hopefuls in the past month and had just $29,000 left in the kitty, according to disclosure filings this week.

Waldo, the most low-profile Republican in the race for the GOP nomination, will need every dime just to get his name on the lips of voters through personal appearances and advertisements.

Among other Republicans:

House Majority Leader Dale Foremen, a Wenatchee lawyer and grower, had raised $367,970 and showed a balance of $113,761.

King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng had raised $327,188 and had $46,107 cash on hand.

Former state senator Ellen Craswell of Poulsbo had collected $288,871 and had $14,871 remaining.

State Sen. Pam Roach of Auburn raised about $119,251 and spent all but about $25,500.

King County businesswoman Nona Brazier, a late entry, had raised $34,185 and spent much of it.

Here’s how Inslee’s competitors in the Democratic field are doing:

Senate budget chief Nita Rinehart and Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, who entered the race after Inslee, are tied for second in the battle for campaign funds with about $154,000 each. Rinehart still has about $53,000 in her treasury; Rice has about $83,000.

King County Executive Gary Locke has raised about $136,000 and still has $96,246 in the bank.

The candidates can collect no more than $1,100 from any single contributor before the Sept. 17 primary. There also is a $1,100 limit for the general-election campaign.

They can accept far more from political party organizations, but that cash isn’t expected to start rolling in until after the primary.

Campaign finance reports showed three other candidates for governor had raised virtually no money: Republican Bob Tharp of Vancouver, Democrat Bryan Zetlen of Seattle and Republican Nikou Gustobov of Seattle.