PORT TOWNSEND — Mari Dressler, who is challenging longtime incumbent Kathy Hill for a seat on the Jefferson County Hospital District 2 commission, is spending more than any other candidate running for office in Jefferson County.
In her attempt to unseat Hill, Dressler, a retired registered nurse, is spending $4,863. Most of that, $3,004, is her own money.
Hill, who has served on the commission for 20 years, has received $515 in donations of $25 or less, generating far more single contributions than Dressler, not including her sole donation over $25, from Ray and Alva Kemery of Port Townsend, of $200.
Jefferson County Hospital District oversees Jefferson Healthcare hospital Port Townsend.
The district boundaries extend over all of Jefferson County, except for the Quileute reservation and Queets on the West End.
The two candidates in Tuesday’s general election have registered under the state Public Disclosure Commission’s “mini-reporting” requirement, which allows them to raise up to $5,000 without having to report the expenditures or contributions to the PDC. They cannot accept more than $500 from any single contributor.
Candidates who mini-report must make the records available for public review eight days before the all-mail-ballot general election.
Dressler’s largest contributor was Allan Harrison of Port Angeles, who donated $300, while Hill had one contributor over $25.
Own money
Both Hill, 64, who lists her occupation in the 2009 Peninsula Daily News Voter Guide as a hospital commissioner and a weight coach with Weight Watchers of North America, and Dressler, 63, are spending far more of their own money trying to get elected than they raised in donations.
Hill has generated $715 in cash donations.
She also received $750 in in-kind donations and is spending $3,269 of her own money to get re-elected.
Dressler has generated $1,278 in cash and in-kind donations, including Harrison’s $300, and loaned her campaign $3,005 to cover expenses.
Hill did not use yard signs to advertise her campaign.
“I’ve heard lots of people say they hate yard signs and you ignore them, and I think I just decided I wasn’t go to do yard signs,” she said.
Dressler said she had no choice, given Hill’s tenure as a hospital commissioner.
“What other method do I have to notify the electorate, the voters in the county, that I’m running?” Dressler said.
Contributions
Dressler’s contributions include a $71 in-kind donation from Jefferson County Prosecutor Juelie Dalzell for Web site work and $1,278 that consists of $300 — Allan Harrison, Port Angeles; $130 — eight donations of $20 or less; $100, Elsa Golts, Port Townsend; and Alan Coltharp, Chimacum; $75 — Patricia Scott, Port Townsend; $55 — Dora Whitaker, Quilcene; $50 — Judy Dreschler, Port Townsend; $99 — Brenda McMillan, Port Townsend; Shary Irwin, Port Ludlow; and Michael Hamilton, Port Townsend; $25 — Laura Simpson, Port Hadlock; Laura Barrett, Chimacum; Douwe Rienstra of Port Townsend; and Gerald Sandquist, Port Townsend.
Dressler’s expenditures include $2,596 for newspaper advertising, $804 for rack cards and $562 for yard signs.
Hill’s expenditures include $3,279 in newspaper advertising.
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Staff writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-417-3536 or at paul.gottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
