Large contributions flood into 'No on Charter' campaign

The “No on Charter” Committee, campaigning against the Skagit County Proposition 1 ballot measure, has raised over $52,000 since September. They have spent $47,034.95. By contrast, Home Rule Skagit, campaigning to bring charter-based county governance to the Skagit Valley, has raised $16,481 and spent $8,786.

Eight people, led by William Doddridge’s $12,000, have given $43,000 or 82 percent of the $52,460 reported to the Washington Public Disclosure Commission through October 17. Another six people have each given $1,000.

Doddridge, CEO and president of the Jewelry Exchange, near Los Angeles, has funded 23 percent of the “No” campaign. The second largest contributor also has an out-of-county address: SRV Construction listed Oak Harbor and named the company rather than an individual for the $7,500 donation. Doddridge provided an Anacortes address to the PDC.

The $19,500 from these two individuals totals 18 percent more than the entire Home Rule Skagit contributions.

Doddridge is concerned about Indian tribes funding the Home Rule Skagit campaign. He said, “People accept money without reporting it,” and the “Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 allows them to donate without reporting it.”

Kim Bradford, communications and outreach director for Washington’s Public Disclosure Commission, told the Weekly News, “If the tribes give money to the political committee, the political committee has to report that it has received money. PDC rules require that the campaign itself reports funds that are taken in.”

Doddridge bought property on Fidalgo Island in 2012. In a phone call, he said “I love this area. I love the zoning and love the government and have ties in the area.” His wife lives in Skagit County year-round, he said, and they have a 70 acre blueberry farm on Best Road at SR 20.

Doddridge said “This is an attack from people on the left coming into our community. It is all about the left wing getting into charge there [county government].”

At least 96 people have contributed to Home Rule Skagit, though 18 of the contributions listed are “small contributions” or anonymous and are between five and sixty dollars.

The top six givers, led by Barbara Trask, have given $8,296. Eric Hall donated $1,703, and Anne Winkes $1,500.

There have been three $500 donations, 20 between $100 and $500 and 17 are $100 donations.

Home Rule Skagit’s expenditures reflect the grass roots nature of the organization: The bulk of its expenses were paid on Oct. 10, when $7,178.50 was spent on postcards, postage, yard signs and brochures. Another $871.71 has gone for “outreach.”

The No on Charter Committee has spent $25,110 on TV and radio advertising, $15,965 on printing, mailing and postage for mass mailings and $2,233 for printing and distributing an insert through newspapers. Those three expense areas total $43,308 of the $44,275 they have spent.

The No on Charter Committee has outspent Home Rule Skagit by five-to-one through Oct. 10.

A 2016 piece in the Seattle Times highlighted Doddridge: “Over the years, Bill Doddridge has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to Republican political campaigns and organizations.

“Many of those contributions have gone to Republican presidential hopefuls, or to candidates in California, where Doddridge, CEO of the Jewelry Exchange, a nationwide chain of factory-direct retail stores, built his business.”

To track donations and expenditures, go to https://www.pdc.wa.gov/browse/more-ways-to-follow-the-money/committees/local?category=Committees. Type “Skagit” in the “jurisdiction” column in the left center of the page.

County contested elections

In the contested county races, for auditor, Michael Urban has raised $26,963.81 and spent $16,251.55 against Sandy Perkins’ donations of $10,938.17 and expenses of $9,151.83. Brad Whaley has $7,095.00 in funds and has spent $6,207.94 to become treasurer while candidate Jackie Brunson has raised $10,171.15 and spent $5,924.79.