PORT ANGELES — Democratic state House of Representatives candidate Mike Chapman has far outdistanced two Aug. 2 primary election opponents in raising campaign contributions.
So far, with 24th District voters contemplating ballots they began receiving last week, Democrat Tammy Ramsay of Hoquiam and Republican George Vrable of Port Ludlow have ceded the money race to the Port Angeles-area Clallam County commissioner.
Ballots mailed
Ballots were mailed to more than 93,000 district voters Wednesday and are due at county courthouses by 8 p.m. Aug. 2 or must be postmarked by that date.
The top two vote-getters will advance to Nov. 8 general election regardless of party affiliation.
Chapman has raised $47,514 in his quest for the 24th District Position 1 House seat being vacated by Kevin Van De Wege of Sequim, who is running for Hoquiam resident Jim Hargrove’s soon-to-be-vacant 24th District state Senate position.
That includes an $18,466 in-kind donation from the House Democratic Campaign Committee for polling data.
Ramsay has raised $4,647, while Vrable has garnered $2,741, according to the candidates’ campaign contribution and expenditure filings with the state Public Disclosure Commission as of Friday.
The district covers Clallam and Jefferson counties and the northern half of Grays Harbor County, with 78 percent of voters from Clallam and Jefferson.
Chapman, a four-term Clallam County commissioner, points out that his opponents have not attended League of Women Voter forums — which were canceled when he was the only candidate to accept the invitation.
He said he is not taking anything for granted.
Working hard
“I’ve been working really hard,” said Chapman, 53.
“I’ve been talking to a lot of people, knocking on a lot of doors.”
That’s about 5,000 doors, to be more exact, Chapman said, adding that he’s concentrated mostly on Jefferson County followed by Grays Harbor and Clallam.
“I’ve represented Clallam County for 16 years,” he said.
“I have to introduce myself to a lot of people.”
Chapman has generated his 158 contributions in part through a fundraising letter he sent to about 200 people he counts as supporters from his races for commissioner.
Ramsay contributors
Ramsay’s campaign has been funded mostly by donations from outside the 24th District.
Ramsay’s largest single contributions among the 28 she has listed are $500 from Kenneth Newby of Fresno, Calif., and $400 from Integrity Labs LLC of Olympia, which offers “quality assurance cannabis testing,” according to the company’s Facebook page.
Her top expenditures in $3,099 in expenses include $721 for yard signs, campaign buttons and campaign T-shirts.
Ramsay spent $82 for “hotel used on the campaign trail” April 13 at the Olympic View Inn in Sequim and $100 for hotel room at the Port Townsend Inn on April 26.
She also spent $1,188 in April for a campaign portrait, campaign buttons, yard signs, remit envelopes and a campaign meeting — $77 — at a Seattle restaurant.
She spent $101 for a Democratic meeting and food drive at the Super 8 Port Angeles hotel June 1
She could not be reached for comment.
Vrable contributions
Vrable, age 72 by Nov. 8, has six contributors, including $500 each from Steve Crosby of Port Townsend and the Jefferson County Republican Central Committee of Chimacum.
His other contributions include $400 from the Gun Owners Action League of Bellevue and $1,000 from The Reagan Fund, which is the state House Republic Leadership Political Action Committee.
His $572 in expenditures includes $292 for yard signs from Signs on the Cheap of Austin, Texas, and $109 for business cards from Printery Communications of Port Townsend.
Vrable had little to say Friday about his campaign.
“I hope it’s going well,” he said before refusing further comment.
Chapman contributions
Chapman has gained the endorsement of Democratic Party organizations in Clallam, Jefferson and Grays Harbor counties.
He also has received $2,000 from Rayonier Inc. of Jacksonville, Fla.; $1,000 each from the Washington Education Association Political Action Committee and the Washington Forest Protection Association; and $2,000 from the Harry Truman Fund, a political action committee tied to the House Democratic Campaign Committee.
His $26,500 in expenditures include $1,687 for newspaper advertising in Port Angeles and Port Townsend and a $100 fee to participate in the Rhododendron Festival parade.
They also include $5,545 to Chinook Consulting of Shelton.
The campaign consulting company specializes in direct-mail and television advertising for state Democratic Party candidates.
It boasts having “defeated more incumbent legislators than any other firm,” according to its website.
“We have never lost an incumbent,” it adds.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
