U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall II, the incumbent Democrat who is seeking to retain his seat as the congressional representative to West Virginia's 3rd District, has raised more than 10 times the amount of money as his nearest Democratic challenger and four times the amount of money as the rest of the field combined.
Rahall, who has served in Congress since 1977, has raised $599,099 in campaign contributions in the past two years. His next closest challenger is Republican candidate Conrad Lucas, who lists $48,193 in contributions on his report filed with the Federal Elections Commission. Rahall's only challenger in the Democratic primary, Bruce Barilla of Bluefield, lists no contributions on his latest filing.
Rahall includes 36 different contributions from Native American tribes since 2009 on his latest campaign finance filing with the Federal Elections Commissions, and those contributions range from $100 to $2,400. U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., also is among those making two separate $2,400 contributions.
Those Native American tribes listed on Rahall's filing include the Coeur D'Alene Tribe of Plummer, Idaho, $2,300; the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Nespelem, Wash., $2,300; Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla, Pendleton, Ore., $1,000; Lytton Rancheria Tribe, Santa Rosa, Calif., three donations totaling $4,800; Sauk-Suiattle Indian tribe, Darrington, Wash., $1,500; Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, Prior Lake, Minn., $1,000; Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians, San Jacinto, Calif., $1,000; Spokane Tribe of Indians, Wellpinit, Wash., two donations of $1,000 each; Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, La Conner, Wash., $2,300; Tule River Tribal Council, Porterville, Calif., $2,400; the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, Palm Springs, Calif., $2,400; the Barona Band of Mission Indians, Lakeside, Calif., two donations totaling $2,500; the Chehalis Indian Tribe, Tacoma, Wash., $2,300; the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Durant, Okla., two donations of $1,000 each; the Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin, Oneida, Wisc., two donations totaling $2,500; the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community, Scottsdale, Ariz., $2,400; the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, Cabazon, Calif., two donations totaling $3,000; the Santa Ynez Band of Mission Indians, Santa Ynez, Calif., two donations totaling $4,800; The Chicksaw Nation, Ada, Okla., $1,000; the Jicarilla Apache Nation, Dulce, N.M., $2,400; The Seneca Nation of Indians, Salamanca, N.Y., $2,000; Tohono O'Odham Nation, Sells, Ariz., $2,400; Wyandotte Tribe of Oklahoma, Wyandotte, Okla., $1,000; the Gila River Indian Community, Sacaton, Ariz., $1,000; the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, Atmore, Ala., $2,000; the Redding Rancheria Tribe, Redding, Calif., $1,000; and the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians, Temecula, Calif., $2,400.
Other individual contributions of $2,000 or more came from Habib E. Debbs, the president and CEO of Advanced Technology Systems in McLean, Va.; Cherrie Warner Doggett, a senior vice president with Doggett Enterprises Inc. in Washington, D.C.; Nijad I. Fares, a Houston investor with the Link Group; Kenneth J. Feld, CEO of Feld Entertainment in Potomac, Md.; Michael J. Hershman, the president and CEO of The Fairfax Group in McLean, Va.; David S. Julyan, the chairman of Julyan & Julyan in Washington, D.C.; Thomas D. Campion, the CEO of Zumiez in Seattle; John W. Lyon, the chairman of the board for Excel Institute; Jawed Sherwani, a pharmacist in Daniels, W.Va.; Jon Yarbrough, the founder of Video Gaming Technologies in Brentwood, Tenn.; Madeline Arison, a homemaker in Bal Harbour, Fla.; Micky Arison, the CEO of Carnival Cruises; Colleen Fain, a homemaker from Coral Gables, Fla.; Howard Frank, the vice president of Carnival Cruises; and Mary Frank, a homemaker from Key Biscayne, Fla.
Rahall also listed $5,000 contributions from the following Political Action Committees: Engineers Political Education Committee, International Union of Operating Engineers; United Transportation Union Political Action Committee; American Crystal Sugar Co. Political Action Committee; The American Electric Power Committee for Responsible Government; Federal Express Political Action Committee; International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Political Action Committee; International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers; United Mine Workers of America, Coal Miners Political Action Committee; United Parcel Service Inc. Political Action Committee; Norfolk Southern Corp. Good Government Fund; CSX Corp. Good Government Fund; Machinists Non-Partisan Pol League of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers; and the Unite Here Tip Campaign Committee.
Turning 61 in May, Rahall was elected to Congress at the age of 28. He lists being president of Mountaineer Tour and Travel, president of West Virginia Broadcasting and of the West Virginia Society of Washington, D.C., as part of his professional experience. He lists membership in several organizations, including the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Civil Air Patrol, Eagles, Rotary and Shrine Club. He is a life member of the Elks, Moose, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, National Rifle Association, and he is a 33rd Degree Mason. He is also an honorary member of the United Mine Workers of America.
Beckley is his home city. He and his wife, Melinda, have three children, Rebecca, Nick and Suzanne.
Barilla, of Bluefield, is married with two children. He said he was a supporter of Rahall's in the past, even suggesting that he would make a good U.S. president. But he said could no longer stand on the sidelines because of his opposition to several issues Rahall supported.
"I'm running against Congressman Rahall because I oppose the following which he supported: Bankrupting coal-powered plants, skyrocketing electric bills, tax penalties and possible jail time for Americans who refuse to buy government-mandated health insurance and the homosexual/lesbian agenda," Barilla said in a campaign statement. "I do not accept monetary or in-kind contributions and will refuse my congressional pension if elected."
In terms of campaign fundraising, Conrad Lucas has brought in the most money on the Republican ticket. Lucas has received $48,193 in contributions, mostly small ones of less than $1,000. His largest listed contributor is $2,400 from Nashville, Tenn., business analyst Thomas Hoy and from JS International executive William Norgard. Chicago attorney Paul Wierbicki is listed as a $1,500 contributor, and Emory University Assistant Dean Anne Dries is listed as a $1,000 contributor.
From Lincoln County, Lucas is a former intern in 2nd District U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito's office. An attorney, he serves on the Lincoln Economic Development Authority and on the board of directors for Dress for Success River Cities.
He once worked for a public policy think tank in New Orleans that helped with the rebuilding of public schools after Hurricane Katrina prior to accepting a position with a private law firm. He is pursuing his doctorate's degree from Vanderbilt University, which he will receive just three days after the primary election.
"I've dedicated my life to public service, and I look forward to representing the citizens of the 3rd Congressional District to the absolute best of my abilities," he said in a prepared campaign statement.
Republican challenger Lee Bias of Huntington has raised $27,921 in contributions, most of which have come in increments of $500 or smaller. He is a nurse-anesthetist at Cabell-Huntington Hospital and is a rescue diver for the local emergency medical squads.
"Lee came from a working-class family and learned the important lessons of strong work ethic and perseverance," a prepared campaign statement reads. "He has applied the lessons his family bestowed upon him to improve himself and to serve others in the areas of public safety and health care. Now he realizes that our country and our state are in need of someone who understands the values of the hard-working people of West Virginia, as well as our country. Lee Bias is stepping up to fight for the citizens of the 3rd Congressional District of the state of West Virginia."
Perhaps the most recognizable name among GOP candidates is that of Elliott "Spike" Maynard, a former justice on the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals from 1996-2008. Maynard was defeated in the Democratic primary in 2008, and he switched political parties in 2009. He was at the center of controversy when he voted with the majority in a 3-2 decision to reverse a $76 million judgment against Massey Energy. Shortly afterward, photos of him vacationing on the French Rivera with Massey CEO Don Blankenship came to light.
Prior to serving on the Supreme Court, Maynard was a judge on the 30th Judicial Circuit from 1981-1996. The Williamson resident was Mingo County's prosecuting attorney from 1976-1981. Maynard was also a member of the U.S. Air Force's Reconnaissance Group from 1961-1966, serving during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Maynard lists no contributions on the latest filings with the Federal Elections Commission.
Gary M. "Marty" Gearheart, a Bluefield businessman, returns to the Republican ballot for the fourth time in 2010. He previously sought the 3rd District Congressional seat in 2004, 2006 and 2008. The 48-year-old has three children and is a former president of Gearheart's Men's Clothing. He also worked as a teacher and coach in the Roanoke County (Va.) school system.
His latest filing with the Federal Elections Commission lists no contributions.
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