There’s a new political action committee in town dedicated to supporting Clark County council chair candidate David Madore, and big names — and big money — are backing it.
The Keep Clark County Working PAC will support television advertisements for the Republican candidate, said its president, John Ley. The ads began airing Monday.
“We’re just doing independent expenditures in order to get some TV coverage for the chair race,” Ley said. By law, PACs are not permitted to coordinate or collaborate with the candidates they support.
So far, the PAC has raised $150,860, with $150,000 of it coming from two donors, according to the Public Disclosure Commission. The PAC has purchased $147,425 in political ads from New Jersey-based firm Jamestown Associates, which specializes in ads for conservative candidates.
Ken Fisher, founder and CEO of multibillion-dollar money management firm Fisher Investments, contributed $75,000. Clyde Holland, CEO of multifamily development and management company Holland Partner Group, also kicked $75,000 to the cause. Fisher Investments is based in Camas; Holland Partner Group is headquartered in Vancouver.
Fisher and Holland have backed other conservative candidates and causes in Clark County and Washington state this year, according to the disclosure commission.
Fisher has contributed $75,000 to conservative initiative king Tim Eyman’s I-1366 campaign, which would decrease the state’s sale tax from 6.5 percent to 5.5 percent unless the Legislature refers a constitutional amendment to the ballot requiring a two-thirds vote in the Legislature or voter approval to raise taxes.
He has also given $1,900, the maximum any donor can give to a single candidate, to Madore, as well as his opponent for chair, Republican Councilor Tom Mielke. He has also given $1,900 to county council District 2 candidate Julie Olson, also a Republican.
Holland, meanwhile, has given $300,000 to Eyman’s campaign. He’s also given $950 to Madore’s campaign, $1,900 to Olson’s campaign and $1,850 to county council District 2 GOP candidate Mary Benton.
Ley said the PAC’s greatest challenge will be setting Madore apart from his opponents.
“The big thing in our mind is to show the things David has done well,” Ley said.
The chair campaign is saturated with Republicans and former Republicans. Madore, Mielke, county Councilor Jeanne Stewart and Marc Boldt, a former Republican county commissioner running this year with no party affiliation, are all vying for the seat.
“All four are good names and respected in the community,” Ley said.
Also in the race is Democrat Mike Dalesandro, a current Battle Ground city councilor.
Madore’s own campaign already is shaping up to be one of the most expensive in the state’s local elections this year, coming in at 13th of more than 1,600 candidates running for local office. Madore has claimed $85,408 in campaign contributions. Of that, $70,536 is his own money. In 2012, Madore spent more than $300,000, largely self-financed, in a successful campaign for county commissioner.
Correction: A previous version of this story included an inaccurate contribution total for Keep Clark County Working. The story has been edited to reflect the error.
