slides: Oregon Candidates and Their Biggest Donors
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Monday, November 03, 2014
GoLocalPDX News Team
Oregon is one of only five states in the country with no limits on campaign contributions and it’s reflective in the hundreds of thousands of dollars that poured into statewide candidates' pockets this election cycle.
As voters complete their ballots by Election Day on Nov. 4, they might want to take note of who gave candidates the most money and who might have their ear if they’re elected. From Nike Chairman Phil Knight’s $250,000 donation to Gov. John Kitzhaber to a $33,000 individual contribution for state senate candidate Dave Dotterer, it’s clear big money is a player this election season.
“It (limitless campaign contributions) creates a breeding ground for corruption,” said Daniel Weiner, counsel in the democracy program at the Brennan Center for Justice at the New York University School of Law. “The pressure is going to be enormous when they later come calling for favors.”
Oregon is one of just five states - Missouri, Utah and Virginia and Nebraska - with no limits on how much an individual, political action committee or corporation can donate to a candidate.
“It can skew candidates’ perspectives,” Weiner said. “If there’s no limit then you spend all your time trying to raise money from big donors and those are the people you talk to. You don’t spend time talking to the little guy and that’s going to impact your policy.”
Candidates for federal office are subject to federal campaign contribution limits. For example, an individual can only give up to $2,600 to each candidate in the election cycle. Individuals can also only give up to $34,400 to a national party in a calendar year.
Though Oregon might not top lists for most corrupt states, it doesn’t mean money doesn’t factor in, officials said.
“Quid pro quo corruption is very hard to prove,” Weiner said. “It’s very hard to document specific instances of that. Our history is full of evidence that it’s fairly common place. I think it’s indisputable that at least money buys access and when you have large contributions.”
Left Out
In addition to the quid pro quo that big campaign money can result in, the high dollars can also be discouraging, experts and advocates say.
“Overwhelmingly we see that there’s a lot of public concern in Oregon and actually around the country about the distorting influence of big money,” Common Cause Executive Director Kate Titus said.
Critics argue that big money donations mean more often than not wealthy people with wealthy connections will run for office, leaving others out in the cold. And it can discourage those who might donate a little, making them feel that their voices are not being heard, Weiner said.
“There is lots of anecdotal evidence, at least, that people feel all the money flowing into our system has deprived them of their own voice,” he said. “More and more people are asking why should I even bother voting.”
An Upside
But limitless campaign contributions are not all bad, experts say.
Because the money goes directly to candidates, it’s more often disclosed and usually clearer who is donating.
“In Oregon, more money might mean more open (elections),” Weiner said. “That money is at least transparent.”
While most states and the federal government limit or prohibit corporations giving money to candidates, Oregon allows it. Republican candidate for governor Dennis Richardson, for example, got his biggest contribution from Seneca Timber Co. at $235,000, according to a new website called HackOregon.org, which is dedicated to “lifting the veil of local campaign finance."
“Yet Oregon isn’t among the corrupt states in the country,” said Ilya Shaprio, senior fellow of constitutional studies at the Cato Institute. “That might be a good example for the federal system.”
Shapiro argues that limiting campaign contributions does nothing to solve political corruption.
“The states around the country that don’t have contribution limits, there’s no correlation to the states that are the most corrupt,” he said. “If what’s going on in Oegon works for Oregon and the people are confident and secure in their political process I don’t see any reason to change it.”
Finance Reform
Oregon’s limitless campaign contributions are set in the state constitution and cannot be changed without a public vote. In 2006, voters considered a ballot measure to limit campaign contributions.
But confusion over two measures resulted in no action, Titus said. The measure that would have strictly limited contributions - $500 in statewide races and no contributions from unions or corporations - passed. But the measure giving the state the authority to enact the limits failed.
An effort to bring campaign contribution limits back is in the works for the 2015 legislative session, Titus said.
“Contribution limits is one of the key tools in the campaign finance reform,” she added.
Titus said officials and advocates are working on a bill that would ask lawmakers to refer campaign contribution limits to the ballot.
Weiner said campaign contribution limits could only help Oregon.
“The fact that Oregon isn’t, you know, one of the most corrupt states, doesn’t mean that its politics wouldn’t be better if there were reasonable contribution limits,” Weiner said.
Related Slideshow: Slideshow: Oregon Candidates’ Biggest Donors
Oregon candidates rake in the big bucks this election cycles. Oreogn is one of just four states with no limit on the amount of campaign contirubtions that individuals, PACs, corporations and others can donate to candidates. The result is some big money from a select few.
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Governor
Oregon Governor Race
John Kitzhaber, Democrat
Top Donor: Nike Chairman Phil Knight
Contribution: $250,000
Dennis Richardson, Republican
Top Donor: Seneca Jones Timber Co.
Contribution: $235,000
Photo credit: Votesmart.org
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U.S. Senator Race
Jeff Merkley, Democrat
Top Donor: League of Conservation Voters
Contribution: $83,625
Monica Wehby, Republican
Top Donor: Plummer Forest Products
Contribution: $15,600
Photo credit: Votesmart.org
Correction: Wehby's biggest donor has been updated from an earlier slide to Plummer Forest Products, not the League of Conservation Voters.
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U.S. Representative Race, Congressional District 1
Suzanna Bonamici, Democrat
Top Donor: National Education Association
Contribution: $15,000
Jason Yates:
N/A
Photo credit: Votesmart.org
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U.S. Representative Race, Congressional District 2
Greg Walden, Republican
Top Donor: Votesane PAC
Contribution: $45,750
Aelea Christofferson, Democrat
Top Donor: Primary Wave Media
Contribution: $4,000
Photo credit: Votesmart.org
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U.S. Representative Race, Congressional District 3
Earl Blumenauer, Democrat
Top Donor: Genesee & Wyoming
Contribution: $16,500
James Buchal, Republican
N/A
Photo credit: Votesmart.org
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U.S. Representative Race, Congressional District 4
Peter DeFazio, Democrat
Top Donor: Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
Contribution: $12,500
Art Robinson, Republican
Top Donor: Renaissance Technologies
Contribution: $7,800
Photo credit: Votesmart.org
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U.S. Representative Race, Congressional District 5
Kurt Schrader, Democrat
Top Donor: Blue Cross Blue Shield
Contribution: $18,500
Tootie Smith, Republican
Top Donor: Value in Electing Women PAC
Contribution: $7,500
Photo credit: Votesmart.org
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Oregon State Senate District 20
Alan Bates, Democrat
Top Donor: Mid Rogue Management Services, LLC
Contribution: $24,500
Dave Dotterer
Top Donor: Stephen M. Greenleaf
Contribution: $33,000
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Oregon State Senate District 4
Floyd Prozanski, Democrat
Top Donor: Altria Client Services, Inc.
Contribution: $8,000
Cherly Mueller, Republican
Top Donor: Friends of Ted Ferrioli
Contribution: $2,000
Photo credit: Votesmart.org and courtesy of the Cherly Mueller website
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Oregon State Senate District 6
Lee Beyer, Democrat
Top Donor: Nike, Inc.
Contribution: $6,500
Michael P. Spasaro, Republican
Top Donor: The Leadership Fund
Contribution: $5,439
Photo credit: Votesmart.org
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Oregon State Senate District 8
Sara Gelser, Democrat
Top Donor: Oregon State Fire Fighters
Contribution: $4,835
Betsy Close, Republican
Top Donors: Dennis Franks, Seneca Jones Timber Co., Frank Timber Resources
Contribution: $10,000
Photo credit: Votesmart.org
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Oregon State Senate District 10
Jackie Winters, Republican
Top Donor: Kerley Properties LLC
Contribution: $30,000
(Running Unopposed)
Photo credit: Votesmart.org
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Oregon State Senate District 11
Peter Courtney, Democrat
Top Donor: Nike, Inc. and Affiliates
Contribution: $22,000
Patricia Milne, Republican
Top Donor: L.E. Tokarski
Contribution: $12,500
Photo credit: Votesmart.org and courtesy of the Patricia Milne website
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Oregon State Senate District 13
Ryan Howard, Democrat
Top Donor: Rendered LLC
Contribution: $3,065
Kim Thatcher, Republican
Top Donor: Kroger
Contribution: $2,500
Photo credit: Votesmart.org
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Oregon State Senate District 15
Chuck Riley, Democrat
Top Donor: Citizen Action for Political Education
Contribution: $184,000
Bruce Starr, Republican
Top Donor: Stimson Lumber Co.
Contribution: $87,000
Photo credit: Votesmart.org
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Oregon State Senate District 17
Elizabeth Steiner, Democrat
Top Donor: Joshua Steiner
Contribution: $40,000
John Verbeek, Republican
Top Donor: The Leadership Fund
Contribution: $2,235
Photo credit: Votesmart.org
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Oregon State Senate District 20
Jamie Damon, Democrat
N/A
Alan Olsen, Republican
Top Donor: RAI Services Co.
Contribution: $8,000
Photo credit: Votesmart.org
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Oregon State Senate District 26
Robert Bruce, Democrat
Top Donor: Friends of Chip Shields
Contribution: $8,750
Chuck Thomsen, Republican
Top Donor: Nike, Inc. and Affiliates
Contribution: $6,376
Photo credit: Votesmart.org
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Oregon House of Representatives District 1
Jim Khlar, Democrat
N/A
Wayne Krieger, Republican
Top Donor: Altria Client Services
Contribution: $5,000
Photo credit: Votesmart.org
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Oregon House of Representatives District 2
Natasha Bjornsen, Democrat
Top Donor: Sara Byers
Contribution: $500
Dallas Heard, Republican
Top Donor: Heard Family LLC
Contribution: $8,750
Photo credit: Votesmart.org and Ballotpedia.org
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Oregon House of Representatives District 3
Tom Johnson, Democrat
N/A
Carl Wilson, Republican
Top Donor: [pk] Strategies
Contribution: $3,158
Photo credit: Votesmart.org. Wilson photo not available
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Oregon House of Representatives District 4
Darlene Taylor, Democrat
N/A
Duane Stark, Republican
Top Donor: Linda Pitchford
Contribution: $5,000
Photo credit: Votesmart.org. Taylor photo not available
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Oregon House of Representatives District 5
Peter Buckely, Democrat
N/A
Nick Card, Republican
Top Donor: Richard Card, Pacific Power Products
Contributions: $1,500
Photo credit: Votesmart.org and courtesy of the Nick Card website
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Oregon House of Representatives District 9
Caddy McKewon, Democrat
N/A
Casey Runyan, Republican
Top Donor: Oregon Firearms Federation PAC
Contribution: $1,000
Photo credit: Votesmart.org
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Oregon House of Representatives District 11
Phil Barnhart, Democrat
Top Donor: Nike, Inc. and Affiliates
Contribution: $6,000
Andy Petersen, Republican
Top Donor: Freres Lumber Co. Inc.
Contribution: $10,000
Photo credit: Votesmart.org and courtesy of the Andy Petersen website
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Oregon House of Representatives District 12
John Lively, Democrat
N/A
Christopher Gergen, Republican
Top Donor: Maria Weitzel
Contribution: $800
Photo credit: Votesmart.org
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Oregon House of Representatives District 13
Nancy Nathanson, Democrat
Top Donor: Pacific Source Health Plans
Contribution: $3,000
Laura Cooper, Republican
N/A
Photo credit: Votesmart.org
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Oregon House of Representatives District 14
Val Hoyle, Democrat
N/A
Kathy Lamberg, Republican
Top Donor: Discount Windows
Contribution: $1,000
Photo credit: Votesmart.org
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Oregon House of Representatives District 16
Dan Rayfield, Democrat
Top Donor: Nelson & MacNeil, P.C.
Contribution: $2,500
Jacob Vandever, Republican
Top Donor: Jacob Vandever
Contribution: $750
Photo credit: Votesmart.org
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Oregon House of Representatives District 18
Scott Mills, Democrat
Top Donors: Future PAC, House Builders
Contributions: $2,527
Vic Gilliam, Republican
N/A
Photo credit: Votesmart.org
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Oregon House of Representatives District 19
Bill Dalton, Democrat
N/A
Jodi Hack, Republican
Top Donor: Mountain West Investment Corp.
Contribution: $5,000
Photo credit: Votesmart.org
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Oregon House of Representatives District 20
Paul Evans, Democrat
Top Donor: Danton Wagner
Contribution: $4,500
Kathy Goss, Republican
Top Donor: AOI Prosperity PAC
Contribution: $55,000
Photo credit: Votesmart.org
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Oregon House of Representatives District 21
Brian Clem, Democrat
Top Donor: Scott Campbell
Contribution: $6,091
Beverly Wright, Republican
N/A
Photo credit: Votesmart.org and courtesy of the Beverly Wright Facebook campaign page
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Oregon House of Representatives District 22
Betty Komp, Democrat
Top Donor: Nike, Inc.
Contribution: $8,520
Matt Geiger, Republican
Top Donor: Stimson Lumber Co.
Contribution: $49,000
Photo credit: Votesmart.org
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Oregon House of Representatives District 23
Wanda Davis, Democrat
Top Donor: Wanda Davis
Contribution: $750
Mike Nearman, Republican
Top Donor: Mike Nearman
Contribution: $3,934
Photo credit: Votesmart.org
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Oregon House of Representatives District 24
Ken Moore, Democrat
Top Donors: Future PAC, House Builders
Contributions: $8,925
Jim Weidner, Republican
Top Donor: Eli Lilly & Co.
Contribution: $7,000
Photo credit: Votesmart.org
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Oregon House of Representatives District 25
Bill Post, Republican
Top Donor: John A. Duke
Contribution: $35,000
Chuck Lee, Independent
Top Donor: Larry E. Tokarski
Contribution: $20,000
Photo credit: Votesmart.org
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Oregon House of Representatives District 26
Eric Squires, Democrat
N/A
John Davis, Republican
Top Donor: James Bisenius
Contribution: $11,000
Photo credit: Votesmart.org
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Oregon House of Representatives District 29
Susan McLain, Democrat
Top Donor: Nona Scott
Contribution: $5,475
Mark Richman, Republican
Top Donor: Crazy Finger Design Group, Inc.
Contribution: $21,000
Photo credit: Votesmart.org
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Oregon House of Representatives District 30
Joe Gallegos, Democrat
N/A
Dan Mason, Republican
Top Donor: Crazy Finger Design Group, Inc.
Contribution: $21,000
Photo credit: Votesmart.org
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Oregon House of Representatives District 31
Bradley Witt, Democrat
N/A
Larry Ericksen, Republican
Top Donors: Robert Spiers, Summit Mfg., Inc.
Contribution: $1,000
Photo credit: Votesmart.org and courtesy of Larry Ericksen's LinkedIn page
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Oregon House of Representatives District 34
Ken Helmand, Democrat
N/A
Brenden King, Libertarian
Top Donor: Republic Action LLC
Contribution: $300
Photo credit: Votesmart.org
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Oregon House of Representatives District 37
Gerritt Rosenthal, Democrat
Top Donor: David Gwyther
Contribution: $43,200
Julie Parrish, Republican
N/A
Photo credit: Votesmart.org
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Oregon House of Representatives District 40
Brent Barton, Democrat
N/A
Steve Newgard, Republican
Top Donor: Reynolds American, Inc.
Contribution: $10,000
Photo credit: Votesmart.org
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Oregon House of Representatives District 41
Kathleen Taylor, Democrat
Top Donor: Nathaniel Klipper
Contribution: $25,000
Timothy McMenamin, Republican
Top Donor: Timothy McMenamin
Contribution: $22,900
Photo credit: Votesmart.org
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Oregon House of Representatives District 42
Rob Nosse, Democrat
Top Donor: Joint Council of Teamster No. 37
Contribution: $3,000
Timothy Crawley, Republican
N/A
Photo credit: Votesmart.org and courtesy of the Timothy Crawley website
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Oregon House of Representatives District 44
Tina Kotek, Democrat
Top Donor: Northwest Grassroots and Communications, Inc.
Contribution: $12,600
Michael Harrington, Republican
N/A
Photo credit: Votesmart.org
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Oregon House of Representatives District 50
Carla Piluso, Democrat
Top Donor: Ethan Krow
Contribution: $1,555
Dan Chriestenson, Republican
Top Donor: Promote Oregon Leadership PAC
Contribution: $53,400
Photo credit: Votesmart.org
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Oregon House of Representatives District 51
Shemia Fagan, Democrat
N/A
Jodi Bailey, Republican
Top Donor: Stimson Lumber Co.
Contribution: $40,000
Photo credit: Votesmart.org
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Oregon House of Representatives District 52
Stephanie Nystrom, Democrat
Top Donor: Nystrom Engineering
Contribution: $5,000
Mark Johnson, Republican
N/A
Photo credit: Votesmart.org
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Oregon House of Representatives District 54
Craig Wilhelm, Democrat
Top Donor: Lisa Wade
Contribution: $7,000
Knute C. Buehler, Republican
Top Donor: James Young
Contribution: $180,000
Photo credit: Votesmart.org
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Oregon House of Representatives District 55
Richard V. Phay, Democrat
N/A
Mike McLane, Republican
Top Donor: Advantage Professional
Contribution: $27,500
Photo credit: Votesmart.org. Phay photo not available
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Oregon House of Representatives District 58
Heidi Van Schoonhoven, Democrat
N/A
Greg Barreto, Republican
Top Donor: Loren Parks
Contribution: $30,000
Photo credit: Votesmart.org
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