Earlier today the campaign filed our 2005 annual campaign finance report with the Secretary of State’s office.

Inluding in-kind contributions, we raised nearly 14,000 so far – a record amount for a challenger this early in the campaign!

While we have a long way to go – and please do your part by contributing on-line today – this strong start gives us the financial footing to communicate our positive vision of better representation, environmental stewardship and economic opportunity to the people of Northwest Michigan.

The following points stand out from the fundraising report…

- The campaign raised more in the last four months of 2005 than either of the past two Democratic challengers raised prior to the August primary. Despite being outspent nearly 3-1 in the last two elections, this race remains one of the closest in Michigan, and we need a swing of less than 6% over the 2004 result to win. This strong financial start will help us close the gap.

- We also received more contributions – and raised more money – from within the 101st District in the last four months of 2005 than the current officeholder did over the whole of the last campaign. According to figures from the Michigan Secretary of State’s office, the current officeholder received money from just 43 residents of the district in 2003-04. This amount – $5,430 – represented less than 6% of his fundraising total. In contrast, we raised $5,887 from within the district, including contributions from nearly twice as many individuals.

- According to our finance statement, we raised $12,496.93, plus an additional $1,099.33 in in-kind contributions. This leaves us with $12,000 on hand to start the new year – another record for a challenger.

For all the results, check out the Secretary of State’s website at www.michigan.gov/sos, and click on Elections in Michigan, and then on Campaign Finance Disclosure. From there, you can check out our – or anyone else’s – campaign finance statements through the searchable database.

Thanks for making 2005 such a success – and here’s to an ever stronger, more successful 2006!