Money Talks: Who’s Funding Kootenai County’s Biggest Races

The race for Kootenai County commissioner is heating up, with big money flowing into local campaigns. John Padula leads the pack, pulling in $61, 800—mostly from everyday residents. But his opponents aren’t far behind. Julie Hensley and Bruce Mattare have each raised over $10, 000, with donations from local businesses and even a Native American tribe. Meanwhile, some races barely see any funding at all. The county clerk race has one candidate with just $500, while the other hasn’t filed anything. Small money, small stakes?Legislative races show a different story. State representatives like Elaine Price and Christa Hazel rely heavily on political groups and corporations. Price’s campaign got $24, 725, with big chunks from PACs and energy companies. Hazel, her challenger, pulled in nearly $40, 000, with help from farms and utility firms. Then there’s Jordan Redman, who raised $23, 550—most of it from businesses. It’s clear who’s pulling the strings in these races. Judicial races aren’t as flush with cash, but they still have their backers. Ben Allen, running for District 1 judge, got over $20, 000 from individuals—some from gun shops and developers. His opponent, Lisa Chesebro, had a smaller haul but still pulled in $5, 924 from local donors. Small donations add up, but big money still dominates.