PORT ANGELES — Challenger Mark Nichols has raised twice as much as Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney William Payne in an aggressive effort to unseat his fellow Republican, according to filings Tuesday with the state Public Disclosure Commission.
Nichols, the county land-use hearings examiner, has raised $40,914, more than any candidate in any of the Nov. 4 general election races in Clallam and Jefferson counties.
Of his 214 contributors, 53 of the top-donating 55 are from outside the North Olympic Peninsula, with more from the Washington, D.C., area than from Port Angeles and Sequim combined.
“I’ll take support from any source that does not create a conflict of interest,” Nichols said.
Payne, 57, of Sequim has raised $19,674, with most of his contributions from the North Olympic Peninsula, though 10 of his top 15 contributors are not from Clallam or Jefferson counties.
Nichols, 42, of Port Angeles outpolled Payne in the “beauty contest” primary, 52 percent-48 percent, or 7,117-6,611, for the four-year position.
But as a challenger of a sitting prosecuting attorney, “it’s necessary to raise money in order to get your message out, so I’ve welcomed their support,” Nichols said.
He also noted he has more Clallam County contributors than Payne — 64 vs. Payne’s 26.
“That speaks volumes to the level and amount of local support I am receiving,” Nichols said.
Nichols, who has received donations from $5 to $950 from the Washington D.C., area, said he has been helped with fundraising by a brother, Rob, who lives in that area and has been helped with fundraising by other family members on the West Coast.
Payne said Tuesday he has not reviewed his opponent’s campaign fundraising records, saying he doesn’t “analyze the numbers,” but acted astonished when told Tuesday that Nichols had spent $29,157 to defeat him.
“That’s amazing,” he said, adding that he was not aggressively seeking donations.
“Mine are just family and law school friends that I know,” he said.
“I’m proud of the fact that I believe, except for my family and friends, that most of my donations and support comes from Clallam.
“It’s a local race and has local impact, and I can’t imagine why you would have contributions from out of state or much less out of county.”
Payne said he has not sent out any campaign fundraising letters but has held a few meet-and-greet gatherings.
Payne was appointed by commissioners in a 2-1 vote in January over Nichols, then the acting prosecutor and former chief deputy prosecutor who had also applied for the position.
Nichols was the chosen successor of retiring prosecuting attorney Deborah Kelly, who has donated $950 to Nichols’ campaign
“I am the incumbent, and that has advantages more than anything,” Payne said.
“It speaks highly of the actions of the county commissioners, who worked with Nichols for seven years and did not pick him.”
Nichols responded that Payne “was not chosen by a vote of the people but in effect by one commissioner.”
Commissioners Jim McEntire and Mike Doherty voted for Payne, while Commissioner Mike Chapman was opposed.
The candidates expenditures differed dramatically.
Payne, a board member of the Olympic Medical Center Foundation, said he sponsored a team for the foundation’s Sonny Sixkiller golf tournament for $2,000 that advertised his campaign.
He also spent more than $2,000 on signs and ran radio and newspaper ads.
Nichols paid more than $5,500 to Laurel Black design for website and logo design services and graphic design work.
His campaign’s 171 expenditures have included radio and newspaper advertising, endorsement decals, photography, signs and sign materials, T-shirts, parade candy and food expenditures of more than $1,500 that included $2.47 from a Wendy’s fast-food restaurant.
Ballots for the Nov. 4 general election were mailed out to voters Oct. 15.
A list of Nichols’ and Payne’s campaign contributions and expenditures is at http://tinyurl.com/PDN-Campaigndollars.
Nichols donors
Below are contributors from the North Olympic Peninsula who have donated $100 or more to Nichols’ campaign:
■ $950: Deborah S. Kelly, Donald L. Kelly, Port Angeles
■ $200: Patricia M. Rosand, Port Angeles; Team Crystal Clean LLC, Sequim
■ $150: Susan Blevins, Port Angeles; Kathleen F. Benedict, William L. Benedict, Sequim
■ $100: Jacquelyn Witte, Sequim; Stanton R. Creasey, Gary R. Smith, Danetta Rutten, Port Angeles; Diane Edwards, Forks; Robin V. Poole, Beaver
Payne donors
Below are contributors from the North Olympic Peninsula who have donated $100 or more to Payne’s campaign:
■ $1,900: Jamestown S’Klallam tribe, Sequim
■ $950: McMenamin and McMenamin PS, Port Angeles
■ $500: Joe D’Amico, Sequim
■ $250: Julia Hightower, Sequim
■ $200: Clair Koenigsaecher, William Paulbitski, Sequim
■ $150: Andrew R. Romansanto, Sequim
■ $100: Jacques Dulin, Kathryn Grosz, Robert McGonigel, Allan Millet, Pamela Newman, Luther Sweetster, Red Tozzer, Sequim; Noah Harrison, Port Townsend; Bill Peach, Forks; Tamara Wooldridge, Claudia Cookson, Port Angeles.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
