HELENA – Attorney General Steve Bullock has kept his lead in the money race among gubernatorial hopefuls, as candidates for statewide office on Thursday filed their campaign finance reports for the final three months of 2011.
Among Republicans, former U.S. Rep. Rick Hill, state Sen. Jeff Essmann and former legislator Corey Stapleton led a crowded field of nine candidates in fundraising for the quarter.
The filing deadline for candidates for governor and other statewide races came as the 2012 campaigns start to ratchet up with the new year. Primary elections are on June 5, with the general election scheduled for Nov. 6.
In the race to replace term-limited Gov. Brian Schweitzer, Bullock’s campaign reported raising $160,691.12 between October and December. That brings the total amount he has raised to $549,242, topping candidates from either party.
The Democrat spent $78,062.67 during that period and has $279,667.23 left in the bank.
Bullock is counting on using much of that war chest for the general election campaign. His only competitor for the Democratic nomination, state Sen. Larry Jent of Bozeman, reported raising just $12,444.99 for the quarter and has $6,958.04 left.
On the Republican side, Essmann emerged to challenge Hill as top the GOP money earner for the quarter. Essmann reported raising $85,892 for the three months, compared to Hill’s $81,399.18.
But this is Essmann’s first report period, while Hill has been raising funds for some time. Hill has raised $462,271 to date and has $283,694 still in the bank, leaving Essmann and the $72,821.30 he has left with some ground to make up.
Stapleton also reported high numbers for the quarter, with his campaign bringing in $96,310 in that period. But $10,000 of that was donated by Stapleton, and the candidate previously loaned his campaign $50,000. Stapleton has more than $100,000 in the bank.
Ken Miller, a former state senator, reported bringing in $41,237 in cash and in-kind donations, a total that included more than $5,100 donated by Miller himself and his family, plus in-kind donations such as the use of campaign office space owned by them.
Some GOP candidates helped keep their bids alive by loaning cash to their campaigns.
Security consultant Neil Livingstone reported taking in $37,955, with $27,500 from a personal loan. He had $13,472.42 left at quarter’s end.
Another big self-donor was Drew Turiano, a real estate investor and former science fiction author who loaned his campaign $23,000. That represented the bulk of the $24,750 he reported receiving for the quarter. After spending $22,531.93, Turiano has $2,218 left in the bank.
Former transportation director Jim Lynch, who resigned his post last year, also gave his campaign a boost with a $3,170.85 loan. He reported receiving a total $23,260.96 for the quarter and has $13,778.85 left.
Another Republican, Robert Fanning, reported raising $4,754 for the quarter and has $1,003 in the bank.
The commissioner of political practices had not posted the reports of the final GOP candidate, Jim O’Hara, by Thursday evening.
In the race for attorney general, former legislator Jesse Laslovich and Montana Department of Labor attorney Pam Bucy are competing for the Democratic nomination. Laslovich has more than $69,500 in the bank, while Bucy has more than $72,000 left.
The Republican candidate, state Sen. Jim Shockley, reported raising $13,520 for the quarter and has more than $55,000 in the bank.
Among the other statewide incumbents, State Auditor and Insurance Commissioner Monica Lindeen reported raising about $7,960 to hold more than $36,000 on hand in her re-election effort. The report for her Republican challenger, state Sen. Derek Skees, had not been posted by Thursday evening.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau raised another $27,381 in the quarter for her re-election effort, leaving her with more than $56,878 on hand. Challenger Sandy Welch reported raising $11,005 for the quarter and having $8,766 in the bank.
Secretary of State Linda McCulloch raised about $10,500 in the quarter to hold a total of almost $38,500 in her re-election account. One of her Republican challengers, Scott Aspenlieder, brought in about $10,735 and held more than $28,600 in the bank.
The other GOP candidate, Brad Johnson, reported bringing in $4,480 and having $2,809 left.