Richardson takes in $3.2 million in three months

Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson, a fundraising powerhouse, took in more than $3.2 million for his re-election in the past three months.

Combined with nearly $8.4 million he raised earlier, the latest contributions reported on Tuesday bring the total the governor has collected to almost $11.6 million in monetary and in-kind donations since 2003 in his bid for a second term.

Republican challenger John Dendahl has collected $205,316 in monetary contributions since the beginning of July, and another $10,247 in in-kind donations. That brings his total collections to $275,263 since the GOP plugged him into the race after the June primary, when the party's nominee, J.R. Damron, withdrew.

On campaign finance reports covering a period ending Oct. 2, Richardson said he took in more than $3.1 million, along with $123,534 in in-kind donations.

He spent $4.9 million during the period, compared to Dendahl's $71,359.

For the month of campaigning remaining before the Nov. 7 general election, Dendahl had $192,464 in the bank. Richardson's bank account topped $3.1 million.

The governor's big contributions were from organized labor: $100,000 each from the American Federation of Teachers and the Laborers Political League Education Fund.

He got several $50,000 donations, including from Controlled Recovery Inc. of Hobbs; Albuquerque real estate investment firm CAP II; the trial lawyers' political committee; and Indiana developer Bren Simon.

Contributors of $25,000 included philanthropist George Soros; the Drug Policy Alliance Network; Cattle Baron Restaurants in Roswell; the Service Employees International Union; Salt Lake City consulting firm Energy Solutions; and Paul Blanchard, president of The Downs of Albuquerque.

Dendahl's campaign got $25,000 from the Republican Governors Association, $10,000 from the state Republican Party, and $7,500 from the Santa Fe County party.

Dendahl's running mate, Sue Wilson Beffort, also turned over $20,000 from her campaign committee.

The biggest individual contributors to the Republican nominee included Albuquerque car wash owners John and Alice Jurkens, who gave $10,000, and Santa Fe investor Arthur Cinader, who gave $10,000. Giving $5,000 apiece were Brewer Oil Co. of Santa Fe; CSI Aviation Services of Albuquerque, Tom Growney Equipment of Albuquerque; and Merrion Oil and Gas of Farmington.

Reports from other top candidates in the Nov. 7 general election:

Attorney General

Democrat Gary King took in $627,263 including $50,000 his ranch loaned the campaign and $4,516 in-kind. He spent $456,114, and had $191,021 in the bank. His biggest contributors, at $25,000 apiece, included the Democratic Association of Attorneys General; Gov. Bill Richardson's campaign; Williams Bailey Law Firm of Houston, Tex.; and The Downs at Albuquerque, a race track. Sunland Park Land Development gave $15,000.

Republican Jim Bibb reported contributions of $483,443 and in-kind contributions of $8,239. He spent $451,126, and had $143,394 in the bank. His largest contributions included: $300,000 from the Republican State Leadership Committee; $25,000 from Houston businessman Bob Perry and $25,000 from Bob and Doylene Perry; $10,000 from the state Republican Party, and $10,000 from Seabird Aviation America in Albuquerque.

Land Commissioner

Incumbent Republican Pat Lyons collected $169,545 in contributions and another $14,270 in in-kind donations. He still had $342,762 in the bank. He spent $315,675 during the period. His biggest contributors, at $10,000 apiece, were Sunland Park race track owner Stan Fulton, Artesia oil and gas producer John R. Gray, and developer Forest City Covington.

Democratic challenger Jim Baca's campaign got a big infusion of cash from Richardson, with at least $40,000 from the Democratic governor's campaign committee. His contributions totaled $163,694 plus $1,412 in-kind; he spent $124,936 and had $45,735 in the bank. His other large contributions included $10,000 from Paoli, Pa., business executive Hansjoerg Wyss; $5,000 from Santa Fe investor Garrett Thornburg Jr.; and at least $3,000 from Lt. Gov. Diane Denish and her husband.

Treasurer

Republican Demesia Padilla reported contributions of $95,590, expenditures of $45,183, and a balance of $82,366. Her campaign had an unpaid debt of $5,000. Her biggest donations were $25,000 each from Houston businessman Bob Perry and Doylene Perry. She also got $5,000 from the political action committee of U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., and $3,000 each from the state Republican Party and Enchantment Eateries of Albuquerque.

Democrat James Lewis took in $83,565 in monetary contributions and $4,133 in in-kind contributions. He spent $30,714, and had $101,245 in the bank. His biggest contributor was the campaign of Gov. Bill Richardson, which gave him $10,000. He got $2,000 each from New York City lawyer Arthur N. Abbey and from Francisco Borges, chairman of the Hartford, Conn.-based Landmark Group.

Secretary of State

Republican Vickie Perea collected $156,973 and $26,281 in in-kind contributions. She spent $172,697 and had a balance of $62,365. Her biggest contributors, at $25,000 each, were Houston home builder Bob Perry and Doylene Perry. She got $10,000 from Seabird Aviation America of Albuquerque, and $5,000 from Select Milk Producers, an Artesia dairy firm.

Democrat Mary Herrera took in $69,149 in monetary contributions and $11,428 in in-kind contributions. She spent $8,356 and had $62,959 in the bank. Some of her largest contributions: $8,500 from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees in Washington, D.C.; $7,587 from Democratic political action committee ActBlue New Mexico; and $5,000 from Maloof Distributing of Albuquerque.

Auditor

Democrat Hector Balderas collected $80,085, including $30,000 he transferred from his legislative campaign account and $25,000 from Gov. Bill Richardson's campaign committee. He also got $2,500 from insurance examiner Nestor Romero, and $2,500 from the Geo Group, a Florida-based private prison firm, and $1,500 from Albuquerque lawyer Robert Fiser. He had no expenditures for the period.

Republican Lorenzo Garcia had contributions of $37,181, expenditures of $19,593 and a balance of $18,285. His biggest contributions, of $5,000 apiece, were from Houston home builder Bob Perry; Bob and Doylene Perry; and from the political committee of U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M.