THERE IS STILL PLENTY of time to register to vote for the Nov. 4 election. The last day to register is Oct. 14. Voter registration is available at the county clerk's office or the Division of Motor Vehicles. Registration forms can also be downloaded from the West Virginia Secretary of State's Web site at www.wvvotes.corn•
While some candidates for the 44th House of Delegates district have been taking a breather over the summer, some have started gearing up for the fall campaign.
All of the candidates raised money during the primary season. According to their campaign filings, some have reserves left over for the general election. One candidate filed finance papers a month late, but there is no penalty for this, according to the secretary of state's office.
Republican candidate Cindy Frich said Monday that she has started going door-to-door to talk to voters. Democrat Bob Beach said that he expects to attend several festivals and parades over the next month. And Democrat Barbara Evans Fleischauer said she expects to raise money and talk to voters about their issues.
Democrat Alex Shook, however, said that he hasn't been doing much campaigning during the summer. He said that he has worked on some legislation, but hasn't been out looking for votes.
"I haven't done any campaigning since the primary, and I really didn't do a whole lot before the primary," Shook said. "We're looking into getting things geared up heading toward the fall."
Democrat Charlene Marshall started the campaign season with more than $24,000 from her previous runs for the House. During the primary season, she collected $16,810 in donations and spent $8,151.
Marshall received a number of donations from political action committees and unions, including $1,000 each from the Building and Construction Trades PAC, the West Virginia Laborers PAC and the West Virginia Education Association PAC. She also received $1,000 from Milan Puskar, chairman of Mylan Pharmaceuticals.
Marshall's largest expenditures went for newspaper and radio advertising. She also spent $1,000 on a membership in the JFK Society. She made several donations of $50 to $100 to a number of charitable organizations.
Marshall's treasurer filed her post-primary report about a month after the deadline. She said that he was new to campaign accounting, and he didn't know it had to be filed within two weeks after the primary.
"I would never want to be late with anything as important as that," Marshall said. Her treasurer was "very much upset. ... Since they had just put one in, they didn't realize another one was due."
Sarah Bailey, deputy secretary of state and director of communications, said there is no penalty for a late filing, unless a candidate shows a pattern of filing late.
At $33,235, Fleischauer took in the most money during the primary season. She spent a total of $28,186.
Fleischauer held two fundraisers at Forks of Cheat Winery, which took in $12,700 in mostly small donations from individuals. The fundraisers also took in $2,590 in inkind contributions.
Fleischauer also received donations from labor unions, such as $1,000 from the West Virginia Laborers Council, the West Virginia Regional Council of Carpenters and the Building and Construction Trades.
Fleischauer had the most extensive itemized expenditure list as well. She lists costs for rent at her law office in the Monongahela Building on High Street, garbage services and Internet costs. She paid a staff member for support services.
Fleischauer said Monday that expenditures on her office and staff are for helping constituents with a wide variety of problems. She said that she gets calls frequently from local residents for help with state government, and she uses her campaign funds to offset the cost of providing those services.
"That's part of what I raise that money for is serving those constituents and attending events that people want us to be at," Fleischauer said.
Frich has raised a total of $10,215 so far this election season, and spent only $1,891.52. Her war chest now totals $8,232.48.
Frich received most of her support from small donors who contributed less than $250. She did receive a $500 donation from American Electric Power's political action committee. And she received a $350 donation from the Nationwide West Virginia Political Participation Fund.
Frich said she has been raising money because she didn't want to be outspent by her opponents. She said that she wouldn't turn down money from PACs, but she doesn't have the support from those organizations that some of her opponents do.
"I've had to depend on individual donations and smaller donations," Frich said. "... You do need money to get your message out."
Beach took in a total of $5,050 and spent $12,463, taking money from his balance left over from previous campaigns.
Beach received donations mostly from political action committees or individuals associated with PACs. His largest contributions came from Gary Slagel, director of government affairs for CNX Gas Corp., and Allegheny Power PAC — both contributing $500.
Beach spent the majority of his money on campaign advertising. But he also gave donations to a variety of charitable organizations, including one $600 donation to Monongalia County Seniors.
"In a way, it's giving back to the community," Beach said. "I know there are a lot of elected officials who sit on those monies from year to year, but I really don't think that's what we should be doing. I think, go ahead and spread it out amongst the community."
Shook loaned himself $6,500 at the beginning of the primary season and took in $10,060 in donations. His contributions came mostly from political action committees and unions, including $1,000 each from the West Virginia Regional Council of Carpenters, the West Virginia Education Association and the West Virginia LAWPAC.
Shook spent $1,015, with the greatest expenditures going to TV and radio advertising. He also repaid the $6,500 loan after the primary was over.
"I didn't attempt to raise any money at all for the primary," Shook said. "I think the amount of money that people spend on these seats is obscene, but as long as we're in the system that we have, I think we're going to continue to see that."
Republican Harry Bertram donated $85 to his campaign to file all the papers necessary to be a candidate. He received $545 in donations, mostly from individuals. Other than filing costs, he spent only $5.98 on bank fees.
Bertram said he plans to use the money for the general election campaign. Though he hasn't raised a lot of money, Bertram said he can connect with voters by going door-to-door to tell people what he thinks.
"They seem pretty receptive," Bertram said. "There might be a big surprise for people out there for these people who take me for granted. ... There are a lot of angry people out there for different reasons."
The six candidates are vying for four seats representing the 44th District. The four Democrats are incumbents. The two Republicans are challenging for seats. Frich previously served two terms in the House, from 2004-'06.