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County incumbents outpace challengers in fundraising

Political parties, special interests lead donors

Final financial disclosures before the Nov. 8 election show support for La Plata County commissioner candidates comes from their parties and specific interests.

Gwen Lachelt, Democratic incumbent in District 2, reported $45,629 in contributions and $33,608 in expenditures for the 2016 election cycle, ending with $12,335 in the coffer by mid-October.

Most came from the La Plata County Democratic Party Central Committee, which donated a cumulative $8,500.

Michael McLachlan, former District 59 House representative and husband to Barbara McLachlan, who is trying to take the seat this year from Rep. J. Paul Brown, pledged $100. Barbara McLachlan gave an additional $155.

Lachelt also received support from some local officials: Durango City Councilor Dick White gave $255, and Julie Westendorff, District 3 county commissioner up for re-election this year, gave $25. County Assessor Craig Larson contributed $75.

Bruce and Lucy Baizel gave $180 to her campaign. Bruce Baizel is executive director of the Oil and Gas Accountability Project, a nonprofit Lachelt founded and formerly directed.

Small donations came from other environmental interests, including several individuals associated with Great Old Broads for Wilderness, San Juan Citizens Alliance, the Wilderness Society and the nonprofit think tank Conservation Economics Institute.

Lachelt’s challenger, Republican Lyle McKnight, recorded $32,477 in contributions and $35,749 in expenditures to date, with an ending balance of $1,272.

Among his supporters are David Peters, a retired oil executive, who contributed the largest sum of any individual: $2,890. Edward Brennan of Brennan Oil gave $400, and Trent Peterson, vice-president of GCC Energy, which owns a coal mine in Hesperus, pledged $100.

County planner Jim Tencza and State House Rep. J. Paul Brown each gave $100.

La Plata County Republican Central Committee was the largest donor, contributing $9,362.

In District 3, newcomer Kayla Story Patterson, a Republican, ended the reporting period with $639, having spent $19,964 and received $20,603.

Her largest donors were retired oil executive Dave Peters, $2,000, and Ignacio resident Mary O’Hara, $2,500. Patterson received numerous contributions from the ranching community.

La Plata County Republican Central Committee gave $9,075 to her campaign.

Incumbent Westendorff, a Democrat, ended the reporting period with $6,458, spent $28,944 and received $32,660.

A former Realtor, Westendorff received donations from individuals in the real estate community, as well as $2,500 from the Realtor Candidate Political Action Committee.

City Councilor Dick White gave $75, and Lachelt gave $100. Westendorff received an additional $250 from former state House Rep. Mike McLachlan and $50 from John Whitney, who works for U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet’s office.

La Plata County Democratic Party Central Committee gave $8,500.

Several issue committees also filed financial disclosures.

Yes for Roads and Bridges in La Plata County registered $5,720 in contributions, $3,158 in expenditures and an ending balance of $2,561. This committee was formed to advocate for a county property tax increase to fund road and bridge infrastructure.

Yes for DRO!, which favors a property tax increase to pay for improvements to the Durango-La Plata County Airport, raised $33,529, spent $30,000 and has an ending balance of nearly $3,500.

jpace@durangoherald.com



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