Reid Ribble, one of 8 Republican candidates for 8th Congressional District, has fundraising lead – Green Bay Press Gazette and The Post Crescent
WASHINGTON — Former Kaukauna roofing contractor Reid Ribble has a sizable edge in fundraising among Republicans seeking to oust U.S. Rep. Steve Kagen, according to 2009 year-end campaign finance reports.
Ribblefinished the year with $115,739 in available cash, almost three times as much as his closest competitor, Marc Trager, a Howard physician who announced his candidacy in November to be the Republican candidate for the 8th Congressional District. Trager had $41,877 in cash at the end of December.
Of the eight Republican candidates, Ribble and Trager were among only five whose year-end reports were on file Monday at the Federal Election Commission. The reports were due at midnight Jan. 31.
Behind Ribble and Tragerin available cash were state Rep. Roger Roth, a nephew of former Rep. Toby Roth, who had $38,521 to spend; and former state Rep. Terri McCormick, who had $29,826.
Door County Board Supervisor and farmer Marc Savard raised $6,557 for the fourth quarter and had $4,104 in the bank at the end of the year.
The other Republican candidates are former Niagra Mayor Joe Stern, Brown County Supervisor and attorney Andy Williams and Kerry Thomas of Sayner in Vilas County.
The Republican contestants will face off in a Sept. 14 primary for the nomination to take on Kagen, of Appleton, who is seeking a third term.
Ribble raised just $52,000 in the fourthquarter of the year, compared with $130,000 from July 1 through Sept. 30. He explained in a statement announcing his year-end activity that the drop was the result of him devoting more attention to transferring ownership of his roofing business.
“This past quarter I spent a tremendous amount of time managing the sale of my business and was away from the campaign trail more than I would have liked,” Ribble said. “I’m excited to be a full-time candidate who can focus on the campaign and the need to have better representation in Washington.”
Whoever emerges from the GOP primary will face a steep challenge in trying to match Kagen’s money, said David Littig, a political science professor at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. He said Kagen’s personal wealth, which he has drawn upon in previous elections, makes the task even tougher for his opponent.
“From the Republicans’ point of view, there are so many challengers, they’re going to have to spend a lot of money just to win the primary,” Littig said.
Kagenfinished the year with $552,600 to spend after raising roughly $155,000 during the final three months.
In the U.S. Senate race, Sen. Russ Feingold’scampaign announced last week that he closed the year with $3.6 million to defend his seat. Middleton businessman Terrence Wall reported $357,606 in available cash and $156,602 in total receipts from October through December. There was no report on file for Watertown businessman Dave Westlake.
By Larry Bivins • Press-Gazette Washington bureau • February 2, 2010
Taken From: http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100202/GPG0101/2020419/1978/Ribble-jumps-out-to-political-fundraising-lead and http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20100202/APC0101/2020512/1979/Ribble-tops-8th-Dist.-GOP-fundraising-in-09
