Kelley holds $8,000 funding edge over Fudge in supervisor race

Funding statements next due in May
By DOUG McCASLAND, Staff Writer
Though Fourth-District Supervisor Paul Kelley started with a
more than $28,000 lead, his challenger, Debora Fudge now trails the
three-term incumbent by just $8,040. Both candidates were required
to file financial statements with county election officials last
week.
The incumbent reported having $28,836 cash on hand prior to the
reporting period that began Jan. 1. Kelley said most of that total
came from small donations in recent years, especially at a
fund-raiser on his last birthday in November.
For the actual reporting period, Fudge has so far raised almost
twice as much campaign money as her opponent. Fudge received
$43,165 in cash donations during the approximately three-month-long
period, compared to $22,369 for Kelley.
The two will be on the June 6 ballot in the Fourth Supervisorial
district, which includes Healdsburg and Windsor. Kelley is running
for his fourth term in office and is serving as Chairman of the
Board of Supervisors. Fudge is currently on the Windsor Town
Council. The next term of office for the supervisor begins in
January 2007. With only two candidates, the race will be decided in
June, even though it is a primary ballot.
Among Kelley’s 55 donations are $1,000 from the North Sonoma
County Republican Club and the same amount from the North Coast
Builders Exchange. The average donation was $406.
&#8220I’ve got a broad supporter base – individuals,
landowners, vineyard and winery owners,” Kelley said.
&#8220Basically (the donations are) from people who believe I’m
a leader who will continue to get the highway widened, protect
their property rights, build youth facilities.”
The 108 donations to Fudge’s campaign included one for $1,000
from Fred Euphrat, who ran unsuccessfully for the same seat against
Kelley in 2002. The IBEW electricians union gave $500. Other major
contributors included Lou Preston of Preston Vineyards of Dry
Creek, and Ridgely Evers. The average donation was $399.
&#8220I had quite a few smaller donations,” Fudge said.
&#8220The smallest was five dollars. There were $1,000
donations from vintners and friends – they weren’t from
gravel-mining companies and construction companies and home
builders.”
Fudge recently opened her 800-sq. ft. campaign office in an
older retail center on Old Redwood Highway in Windsor, north of
Shiloh Road. She has printed bumper stickers and has launched a
series of postcard mailings.
Fudge said she expects both candidates to raise about $200,000
each. This is the same as in the 2002 election between Kelley and
Euphrat, she said.
&#8220You tend to get more money the closer you get to the
election,” she added.
Kelley’s campaign office opened on March 1, in the Larkfield
Shopping Center, where his campaign office has also been located in
past election years. &#8220Our campaign is vigorously
underway,” Kelley said. &#8220We’ve been visiting different
groups and discussing the issues.” He expects roadside signs to
begin popping up in mid-April.
Fudge reported entering the campaign with no funds at hand.
The next deadline for the candidates to report campaign
contributions is on May 25.