In money race, Deb Fudge outpaces James Gore in latest period

Deb Fudge for the first time this year has outraised her rival James Gore in the race for 4th District Sonoma County supervisor.

Between Oct. 1 and 18, Fudge, a veteran Windsor Town councilwoman, has raised $25,797, compared to $15,495 taken in by Gore, the latest campaign finance statements show.

(For a regularly updated database of campaign contributions to candidates and independent groups in the 4th District race, click here.)

Overall, Gore has far outpaced Fudge in fundraising, taking in a total of $424,120 since he announced his candidacy late last year. Fudge has taken in a total of $320,422, according to county records.

Overall spending in the race, including expenditures by outside groups, has set a new county record. Total expenditures in the contest have hit about $947,000, including outside money. The previous record, set in the 2012 race for the 1st District supervisorial seat between Susan Gorin and John Sawyer, was $826,400.

Contributions to campaigns and outside groups in the Fudge-Gore race reached more than $963,000 by Oct. 18.

Gore, a former Obama administration official, has spent a total of more than $425,000, while Fudge has spent about $288,000, according to campaign statements.

Gore shows $26,000 in debt, including $16,000 he owes to his campaign strategist, Rob Muelrath, and about $10,000 in campaign-related credit card charges.

Fudge this week pointed out that her campaign has not gone into debt.

'I don't spend money on things I can't pay for,' Fudge said. 'It's how I run my personal life and it's how I've run my campaign.'

Gore has said he uses credit cards to pay his campaign consultant and to cover last-minute needs.

'I use my credit card for incidentals,' Gore said. 'I like to keep a little more cash on hand so I can prioritize. It's a strategic decision.'

With 10 days to go before Election Day, Gore's campaign statement showed $25,500 cash on hand, while Fudge had $33,600, records show.

Both candidates said they're campaigning daily, walking precincts, distributing mailers and making fundraising calls.

'We're doing great, but we're going to continue fundraising,' Gore said. 'I think we've raised enough money to get out our positive message. Now we're in the home stretch.'

Gore's campaign recently sent out a glossy, broadsheet mailer depicting a baseball on fire, a nod to the ongoing World Series fervor in the Bay Area. 'It's a grand slam!' the mailer reads.

Fudge said she has ramped up her outreach, walking precincts most nights and weekends. She added, tongue-and-cheek, that she sits out during Giants games.

'I'm on target — I'm walking myself, making calls myself, fundraising myself,' she said. 'I'm proud of my grassroots campaign.'

Independent expenditure groups have ramped up spending. To date, two committees supporting Gore have spent $125,000, and a group in favor of Fudge has spent more than $109,000.

You can reach Staff Writer Angela Hart at 526-8503 or angela.hart@press democrat.com. On Twitter @ahartreports.