With days left until the Nov. 5 general election, information from the Public Disclosure Commission shows that only a few local candidates have reported donations or money spent during their campaigns as of Oct. 29.
Two Port Orchard city council candidates have reported donations. Kim Punt, running for the council’s Position 2 seat, reported $2,910 raised, while Councilman Fred Chang reported $3,472 raised for his re-election campaign for the Position 6 seat.
Bek Ashby, who is running against Punt, and Eric Gonnason, running against incumbent Councilman Jerry Childs for the at-large seat, have not reported any contributions with the PDC. Childs also has not reported any campaign donations.
Chang, who is running unopposed, is the lone candidate who reported money spent. He reported $745 has been spent on his campaign.
Councilman Rob Putaansuu, also running unopposed, has not reported any donations or spending with the PDC.
In the election for the South Kitsap School District Board of Directors, none of the three candidates have reported any donations with the PDC.
Candidate Rebecca Diehl is running unopposed for the District 4 seat, currently held by Kathryn Simpson, who decided not to seek re-election. Diehl has not reported any campaign donations.
Incumbent school board member Chris Lemke and challenger Jeff Lakin, seeking the District 3 post, have not reported any campaign donations or money spent.
In the West Sound Utility District commissioner’s race between Jeannie Screws and James J. Hart, neither candidate has reported any donations.
Also not reporting any campaign donations are South Kitsap Fire and Rescue commissioner candidates Dale “Dusty’ Wiley or Paul A. Golnik, seeking the District 2 and 5 seats, respectively.
Roadways in South Kitsap have been peppered with campaign signs from local candidates and political groups.
According to Lori Anderson, PDC communications and training officer, when a candidate register his or her campaign, a reporting option is selected.
“Under the mini reporting option, the candidate can raise and spend up to $5,000 plus the filing fee without having to report any receipts or expenditures to the PDC, provided that no contributor other than the candidate gives more than $500,” Anderson said. “The candidate would be able to self-fund the entire $5,000.”
She said candidates who do not want to self-impose these limits select full reporting and report all expenditures, including money spent on campaign signs.
“The only exception would be if the signs were left over from a previous campaign — in this case the previous campaign would have reported the expenditures,” Anderson added.
