JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Gov. Sean Parnell on Wednesday reported raising about $407,000 toward his re-election effort.
Parnell’s filing with the Alaska Public Offices Commission runs from late April to Feb. 1. He was the first of the major gubernatorial candidates to file his report.
Donors to the Republican’s campaign include state commissioners, aides, cruise line and oil company executives, lobbyists and legislators.
The list includes Dan Sullivan, who resigned as Natural Resources commissioner in September ahead of a U.S. Senate run, and Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell, a Sullivan rival for the GOP nomination in the Senate race.
Parnell ended the period with about $330,000 on hand.
Parnell said in a news release that he was grateful and humbled by the support. “Our message of proven leadership and opportunity for all Alaskans is resonating,” he said.
Campaign manager Jerry Gallagher said the fundraising total is a great start to what’s expected to be a fairly expensive campaign. He said there’s more work to be done.
Contributions for the governor’s race are limited to $500 per calendar year per individual. Total out-of-state contributions are limited to $20,000 per calendar year.
Parnell’s report also shows about $1,400 in payments to the state, largely for travel reimbursements. Gallagher said the state typically purchases an airline ticket if Parnell is traveling on state business, and Parnell, in his expense report, allocates how much of that ticket was for campaign activity versus state activity, if a trip involved both.
The total paid to the state also includes about $200 that Gallagher said was for voter registration data that campaigns often get as part of their outreach efforts.
Parnell took over as governor when Sarah Palin resigned in 2009. He was elected to the office in 2010.
The state GOP endorsed Parnell in December, after the state Democratic party earlier endorsed Byron Mallott as its candidate.
There are other candidates filed in the respective primaries, but neither Parnell nor Mallott is expected to face a tough primary.
Mallott’s campaign responded to Parnell’s fundraising filing Wednesday by releasing Mallott’s top-line fundraising number. Mallott’s campaign said he had raised about $233,000 from October through Feb. 1. Mallott had not yet filed his report, which is due Tuesday.
Mallott said in a news release that he is inspired by the show of support he’s received.
“We’re going to run a spirited campaign that unites Alaskans around common values and common sense, and we’re off to a great start,” he said.
Bill Walker, who finished second to Parnell for the GOP nomination in 2010, is running this time as an independent. If he qualifies, as expected, he will bypass a primary and get his name on the general election ballot.
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