PORT ANGELES — Democrat Mark Ozias’ efforts to unseat Jim McEntire, a Republican county commissioner, has garnered him substantially more in contributions than his opponent in preparation for Election Day on Tuesday.
Ozias also received the top single contribution from any source, and it was from his own party.
In raising $32,830, Ozias received $6,500 from the Clallam County Democratic Central Committee, according to state Public Disclosure Commission records as of Friday.
He recorded 272 individual contributions; McEntire had 109.
In contrast, McEntire — who is running for his second four-year, Sequim-area District 1 position — has raised $23,835.
McEntire’s largest single North Olympic Peninsula contribution is $950 each from Dahlgren Logging Inc. in Forks and Interfor U.S. Inc. in Port Angeles.
The Sequim Association of Realtors PAC-Olympia also contributed $950 to his campaign.
Ozias, the executive director of the Sequim Food Bank in his first run for political office, said he is striving for name recognition and is proud of his fundraising efforts.
“We need to work harder for that name recognition,” he said.
“Mostly I’m pleased with all the individual residents of the county who made contributions of all different sizes.”
McEntire, a political veteran who was a Port of Port Angeles commissioner before being elected as a county commissioner, shrugged off the disparity in funding.
“Money is important, but it’s certainly not everything,” he said.
“I’ve got sufficient money to do what I need to do to communicate with voters and that sort of thing.”
His largest single expenditure of 34 listed expenditures was $3,999 for postage for a mailer.
Among his expenses was $682 to Kokopelli Grill in Port Angeles for catering his campaign kickoff. It was his ninth highest expenditure.
“I did not just want a cheese-and-crackers kind of thing,” McEntire said.
“If I am asking for significant contributions, I need to be hospitable about it.”
Ozias’ highest single expenditure was $2,557 for the design of a mailer.
Ozias’ expenditures included three payments to Bill Dole of Port Angeles totaling $3,750 for campaign management and for Dole to be his campaign manager.
They were Ozias’ third through sixth highest expenditures of 82 listed in his PDC filings.
Ozias — who bested Bryan Frazier, a Sequim Democrat, in the primary to reach the general election — employed Dole until shortly after the primary, Ozias said.
“Not having had any experience, I knew I had to get up to speed quickly,” Ozias.
“I knew I was going to need help.
“Mostly, I learned about doorbelling, to tell you the truth.”
McEntire did not receive any contributions from the Clallam County Republican Party, but no worries, he said.
“Most of my support comes from individuals over time, individuals and business groups, groups that are interested in somehow or another pushing the economy ahead,” he said.
Dick Pilling, county Republican Party chairman, said party officials encourage individuals to donate to their candidates of choice but do not contribute to candidates as an organization.
“It’s not that we don’t have any confidence in Jim,” Pilling said Friday.
“It’s just that individuals end up contributing more money.”
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
