North Dakota political candidates and parties filed pre-primary election campaign disclosure reports last week, and it appears the Democrats are as self-conscious as ever.
Though the state report only calls for the total taken in from contributions of more than $200, the party added, "there were 1,096 additional North Dakota people making contributions of $200 or less." The itemized donations totaled $195,997 and the overall total was $301,749.
The Republican Party's state report shows $197,864 in itemized (more than $200) contributions. The party's federal report shows total contributions of $220,270.
The pre-primary reports cover donations since the first of the year.
Deep pockets
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Both North Dakota political parties benefited from some large donations. Democrats received $25,000 from Leo J. Hindrey Jr., New York; $10,000 each from Vance Opperman, Minneapolis, and Don and John Tyson, Springdale Ark. They also got $10,000 from the Democratic National Committee and several donations from labor PACs in amounts of $5,000 and $10,000.
The GOP got $10,000 from the National Republican Congressional Committee, just under $7,000 from the Republican National State Election Committee, and $25,000 from its spring state convention.
Both parties got $5,000 each from the National Education Association PAC.
More bank money
Several North Dakota banks and insurance companies have made their own reports to the secretary of state about spending they are doing to gain a yes vote on the financial privacy referral.
The biggest is Community First Bankshares' report that it spent $14,334 for printing and mailing. Others -- banks in Mayville, Hettinger, Turtle Lake, Gackle and Mott, -- reported spending between $104 and $500 each.
If the walls could talk
A house near downtown Bismarck is about to go through a political metamorphosis.
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Tessa Gould, campaign manager for U.S. Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D., bought the house from Drew and Kathleen Wrigley last week, which means its seasonal political yard signs, interior conversations, and guests will now have a Democratic flavor instead of Republican. Drew Wrigley was, the state Republican party director from 1999-2000 and is now the state's U.S. attorney. He and Kathleen and their daughter, Quinn, moved a couple of weeks ago to a new house in south Fargo.
One of the first to tease Gould was state Insurance Commissioner Jim Poolman, a Republican who has a similar experience. He owns a north Bismarck house that was once the home of a Democrat attorney general, Nick Spaeth.
Honored
North Dakota State Auditor Robert Peterson's office has achieved national recognition. The National State Auditors Association has given it an "unqualified quality control review opinion" which signifies compliance with generally accepted government audit standards.
Readers can reach Forum Capitol correspondents Janell Cole at (701) 224-0830 and Don Davis at (651) 290-0707
