Spires, Nelson top fundraisers in primary

The two biggest fundraisers in the 2008 primary campaign were Blaine Spires and Dave Nelson.

According to financial disclosure forms filed with the Douglas County Clerk's Office on Tuesday, Spires raised $21,800 and Nelson raised $21,295 in their races for Douglas County Commission. Spires is challenging incumbent Doug Johnson in District 3 and Nelson is running against Greg Lynn for the District 1 seat being vacated by Jim Baushke.

Spires' largest single contributors are his in-laws Michael and Gerdy Hayes who donated $10,000 to his campaign. Minden engineer Rob Anderson donated $5,000 to the campaign and Spires spent $3,200 of his own money. Other donors included Budge Brown with $2,000, Alton Anker with $1,000 and a half-dozen $100 donations from individuals.

Johnson raised $11,673, of which $5,000 came from the Sustainable Growth Committee. He also received a $1,000 from James Joseph and $1,000 from L.F. Israel. He also received $750 donations from the Topaz Lodge and Sierra Pacific Power Co.

Nelson's biggest donation was $10,000 from Carl and Marilyn Malkmus and $5,000 from the Sustainable Growth Committee. He also received $2,500 from Judy Sturgis and a number of smaller donations.

His opponent, builder Greg Lynn raised $12,295, of which $11,097 was his own money. He also received a donation from Clarence Burr of $200 and one from Bruce Reavis of $250.

District 5 commission candidate Mike Olson raised $14,899 for his campaign, including a $5,000 donation from Big George Ventures and $5,000 from Big George president Raymond Sidney. A&A Construction donated $1,000. Olson received several smaller donations from Ray Tomales, William Olson, Richard Gardner and Bruce Reavis.

Olson's running against Stuart Posselt, who raised $11,550 in donations. His chief donor was the Sustainable Growth Committee with $5,000. He loaned his campaign $4,500 and received a donation of $1,000 from L. and M. Israel and a $500 donation from John Richardson.

All six candidates are Republicans.

The Democratic primary for District 5 saw the candidate who both raised and spent the least money for the commission race. Engineer George Thiel reported he neither raised, nor spent any money.

His opponent Nancy Epstein raised $4,995.41, including a donation of $500 from Jessica Ledbetter and $500 from the Douglas County Democratic Central Committee.

Expenditures for the six Republican primary candidates ranged from a low $8,756.66 raised by Johnson to $14,955.05 for his opponent Blaine Spires. The incumbent said that was more than he'd spent on his 2004 election campaign.

Nelson outspent Lynn $14,220 to $10,559, according to their disclosure forms. Olson spent $14,302.25 compared to Posselt's undetermined amount. Posselt was the only commission candidate to mail in his disclosure form, which had not arrived at the county on Wednesday.