Davis to report $80K+ in bank against Walz

posted by Edward Felker, P-B Washington Bureau

The political spotlight is on Iowa today, but there's no forgetting that local, state and congressional candidates also face the voters this year. Rochester's Brian Davis, a Mayo physician and hopeful for the Republican endorsement against freshman Rep. Tim Walz, D-Mankato, was first out of the blocks this year in detailing his fourth-quarter fundraising in the 1st Congressional District race.

In a release issued Wednesday, he noted year-end reserves of more than $80,000 and more than $48,000 in donations for the quarter. He put in another $8,000 from his own pocket for his campaign.

No fundraising news yet from Walz and the two other Republican candidates: state Rep. Randy Demmer, R-Hayfield, and state Sen. Dick Day, R-Owatonna.  Lake Crystal school board member Mark Meyer dropped out of the race on Dec. 11 and endorsed Demmer.  Formal campaign finance reports are due to the Federal Election Commission by Jan. 31.

At the end of September, Walz had $711,323 on hand. Day had $79,892 and Demmer had $56,122.

For historical perspective, in January 2006 Walz reported $40,309 in cash holdings in what was then considered a longshot bid against incumbent Rep. Gil Gutknecht, R-Rochester, who reported $620,101.