Win-win situations

OLYMPIA – Like a lot of state lawmakers running for re-election, Brendan Williams works hard to raise campaign cash.

The Olympia Democrat goes to fundraisers. He phones potential donors. His campaign Web site links straight to PayPal, with an easy option for monthly giving.

So far this year, the Olympia Democrat has raised an impressive $160,000.

What’s odd about all this?

Williams has no opponent.

And while he takes the prize for most fundraising by a legislator assured of victory on Election Day, he’s hardly alone in questionable shaking of the money trees. According to campaign finance reports, 34 Washington state lawmakers – all of them facing no re-election opponent whatsoever – have raised more than $2.4 million in campaign cash this year. That total mushrooms if you take into account the dozens more lawmakers facing long shot challenges from unknowns or fringe candidates.

Where’s the money go? Lawmakers keep some to spend on things – meals for constituents, office artwork– that the state won’t pay for. They bank money for the next campaign. Some donate money to charity.

Most of the cash, however, travels quickly to legislative campaign committees, which use it to help out candidates in tightly contested races, typically in the Puget Sound suburbs. Most donors will never know where their contribution ended up.

“I refer to it flat-assed as laundering money,” said former state lawmaker Don Brazier. “I think it should be outlawed. If a candidate is going to raise money, he should be raising it for him- or herself. Period.”

It’s perfectly legal for unopposed candidates to keep raising money, said Doug Ellis, assistant director of the state’s campaign-finance watchdog, the Public Disclosure Commission.

“They can raise money as long as they’re on the ballot,” he said, even if they’re the only one on that ballot.

Among legislators without even token opposition:

“ Rep. Timm Ormsby, D-Spokane, has raised $30,493 this year.

“ Rep. Larry Crouse, R-Spokane, has raised $46,611.

“ Rep. Joel Kretz, R-Wauconda, has raised $44,208.

“ and Rep. David Buri, R-Colfax, has raised $40,983.

All have transferred thousands of dollars this year to committees to help candidates in other races.

Where’s the money come from? Some is from individuals, ranging from $10 kitchen-table checks to the maximum $700 per election.

But much of the cash rolls in from political committees – lawyers, dentists, union members, builders, and so forth – or from companies like Wal-Mart, Microsoft, Eli Lilly and R.J. Reynolds, among many others. In many cases, incumbents or strong candidates don’t even have to ask for the money. The big checks just show up in the mail.

Sitting on a big war chest can scare off future challengers, said Western Washington University political science professor Todd Donovan. But shuttling the money to embattled colleagues boosts a lawmaker’s stature in the statehouse.

Even some local lawmakers with challengers are making large donations to the committees helping other candidates. Rep. John Serben, R-Spokane, has given $32,000 this year. Rep. Alex Wood, D-Spokane, Lynn Schindler, R-Otis Orchards and John Ahern, R-Spokane each gave $10,000.

“Basically, it’s being a team player,” said Kevin Carns, political director of the House Republican Organizing Committee, which has taken in more than $500,000 from state lawmakers recently. By helping colleagues in swing districts, he said, lawmakers expand their own party’s influence in Olympia.

Williams said that’s exactly what he’s trying to do for Democrats. A father with a young son, he said that the more Democrats there are in state government, the better he thinks his son’s life will be.

“I lie awake at night thinking about what more I can do to ensure that they (Democratic colleagues) return,” Williams said. “It’s really personal for me.”

Critics have long maintained that such donations are a way for lawmakers to buy influence for themselves in Olympia. Williams and Carns deny that.

“Each person raises money to the best of his or her ability, willingness to do so, and time available,” said Williams. “I don’t think it gives you any sort of advantage within the political process.”

“It’s definitely not a quid pro quo situation,” said Carns. There’s no rule that “if you transfer 100 grand you’ll be chair of Ways and Means. That’s just not how it works.”

Williams – named vice chairman of the House Judiciary Committee in this, his first term – said he’s just happy to help his Democratic colleagues.

“I think it’s going to be a great year for Democrats,” he said. “I’m happy to have made my own small investment in their success.”