PARKERSBURG - The acting governor and a Morgantown businessman lead Democratic and Republican gubernatorial candidates in fundraising for the reporting period, according to financial disclosures filed with the West Virginia Secretary of State.
Acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has raised and spent more than the five other Democrats seeking the party's nomination, reporting contributions of $776,708 for the period ending on Tuesday. He has raised more than $1.8 million for the campaign and has spent $1.346 million so far, Tomblin's report said.
On the Republican side, Bill Maloney, a Morgantown businessman who designed the systems that saved trapped miners in Pennsylvania and in Chile last year, raised $239,099 for the campaign, $99,054 of which for the reporting period. He has spent $426,594, the most of the eight candidates on the Republican ballot.
Former secretary of state Betty Ireland, the frontrunner for the Republican nomination, according to Public Policy Polling, has raised $140,959 so far. She reported $57,485, which includes in-kind donations of $2,855, for the period and has spent $116,612 so far.
Mark Sorsaia, a Putnam County prosecutor, has raised $43,325 for the entire campaign. He listed expenditures of $58,453 so far and raised $13,971 for the period.
The other Republicans raised far less.
Sen. Clark Barnes has raised $4,700 so far and has spent $49,737.
Delegate Mitch Carmichael raised $7,622 and $4,571.
Cliff Ellis raised $1,912 and has spent $1,460. Larry V. Faircloth has raised $9,475 for the campaign and spent $37,018.
Ralph Clark raised nothing for the period and the campaign, but has spent $5,651.
Money is flowing on the Democratic side that includes the leadership in the House and Senate and two statewide elected officers. Tomblin, who leads in the same Public Policy Polling survey that gives Ireland the lead among Republicans, leads in both money raised and money spent.
House Speaker Rick Thompson has raised $895,026 for the campaign to date and spent $578,391. He raised $226,982 for the period.
Treasurer John Perdue raised has raised $806,411 for the campaign and has spent $622,155. He raised $211,071, which includes $9,057 in in-kind contributions, for the period.
Secretary of State Natalie Tennant has raised $348,387 so far and has spent $286,919. Tennant raised $131,862 for the period.
Acting Senate President Jeff Kessler has raised $167,104 for the entire campaign and has spent $152,543. he raised $72,200 for the period, which includes $1,585 in in-kind contributions.
Arne Moltis of Kanawha County has raised $1,160 for the period and $5,310 for the entire campaign. He has spent $5,310.
Preprimary disclosures were due Tuesday. Early voting for the May 14 special primary election is under way.
