Assembly incumbents lead in money race

Paul Clinton

The two Republicans seeking re-election to the State Assembly from

Newport-Mesa have far out-raised and outspent their Democratic

challengers, finance reports show.

Ken Maddox, the sitting Assemblyman who would represent Costa Mesa

if re-elected, has raised $127,370 so far, according to a report

filed Friday. Maddox currently represents the 68th District, which

was redrawn in 2001 to include Costa Mesa.

Colleague John Campbell, who represents Newport Beach in the

Assembly, has raised considerably more. In a report filed Monday,

Campbell showed he has raised $233,296.

While he has raised an amount that is considered to be moderate

for an Assembly seat, Maddox has also spent a considerable amount.

Maddox, facing a candidate with little name recognition outside of

Garden Grove, has spent $129,194.

Campbell, who is running against Democrat John Kane and

Libertarian Paul Studier, has also spent nearly as much as he has

raised, using $221,298 of his war chest.

A chunk of the expenditures by both men have gone to help elect

other Republican candidates, they have said.

Maddox challenger Al Snook, who has unsuccessfully run for several

other offices, has only raised $9,595 so far. Snook, a Democrat,

filed his report Oct. 1.

Doug Scribner, the Libertarian challenger, didn’t raise the

required $1,000 to file a campaign finance report. Studier did not

raise that amount, either.

Winning in a Republican-leaning district against a well-known

incumbent will be a longshot for Snook, who has struggled to raise

funds. Maddox himself acknowledged that he hasn’t raised as much in

his war chest as other Assembly candidates.

“He’s not working the streets,” said Jim Benson, Snook’s

treasurer, of the sitting Assemblyman. “He feels he has it wrapped

up.”

Maddox, first elected to the Assembly in 2000, also holds a

considerable sum in his campaign treasury. Even with the

expenditures, he still has $113,045 on hand. Snook holds only $970.

Campbell is also cash rich, with $145,672 in the bank.

Even though he enjoys the many benefits of an incumbent seeking

reelection, Maddox said he has struggled to raise cash since he is a

member of the minority party in the Democrat-controlled Legislature.

“It’s always much more challenging for the minority party to raise

more,” Maddox said. “Business dollars follow power.”