Ybarra gets big funding boost from state Democrats

YAKIMA -- Democratic candidate Vickie Ybarra knows the race to replace retiring state Rep. Mary Skinner, R-Yakima, won't be decided by money alone -- but having more of it doesn't hurt, she said.

Bolstered by a $30,000 donation from the state House Democratic Campaign Committee, Ybarra extended her fundraising lead over Republican Norm Johnson last week to the point where it's almost 3-to-1. She is nearing $100,000 in contributions while he has yet to reach $35,000, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission.

Aside from the totals, Ybarra also has a huge lead in cash on hand -- with more than $50,000 compared with just over $2,000 for Johnson, a 70-year-old Yakima City Councilman.

"It helps level the playing field a little bit," the 48-year-old president of the Yakima school board said of her financial advantage. "We know that I have an uphill battle."

That's why the House Campaign Committee gave her the $30,000, said Rep. Sam Hunt, D-Olympia, chairman of the committee and a Yakima native. That sum, along with donations
of $35,000 and
$20,000 to incumbent Reps. Liz Loomis of Snohomish and Don Barlow of Spokane, is among the largest the committee has given for this election.

Such support is indicative of Democrats' renewed hope for winning back the 14th District, he said.

"We haven't really played in the 14th for some time," Hunt said. "As a Democrat in Yakima ... it takes more effort and it takes more organization. I think Vickie Ybarra is up to that."

And, while Johnson says the fundraising gap concerns him, Ybarra knows she still has much to do before November in the traditionally Republican-leaning 14th District. No Democrat has been elected to the state House or Senate from the district since Dave Lemmon in 1992.

"One thing we know for sure is that getting the message out directly to the voters is costly," Ybarra said. "It's unfortunate that campaigns are this costly, but that is the fact."

The House Republican Organizational Commit-tee, the cross-aisle count-erpoint to the Democrat's campaign committee, has taken notice but remains confident in Johnson's chances, said Kevin Carns, the group's director. Given the historically Republican leanings of the district and the primary results, he doesn't give Ybarra much chance of victory in November.

"Mathematically it's pretty improbable," Carns said.

That assessment seems correct. While Ybarra finished first in the Aug. 19 primary with 30 percent of the vote to Johnson's 22 percent, seven out of 10 primary voters chose one of the five Republicans in the race rather than the lone Democrat, Ybarra.

Those numbers and a recent history of success notwithstanding, the Republican group won't stay on the sidelines. It is
likely to donate to John-son's campaign sometime within the next week, Carns said. He didn't know how big the donation would be.

"We are going to be there for (Johnson) as necessary," he said.

Johnson was more guarded in statements about his own chances. The huge fundraising disadvantage he faces is reason for concern, he said.

"It looks to me like the Democratic leadership thinks they're going to buy a seat," Johnson said.

* Pat Muir can be reached at 577-7693 or pmuir@yakimaherald.com.

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