Two 2012 Campaigns Still Carrying Big Debts

Two campaigns that spent big money last year remain deeply in the red, according to state filings.

Portland mayoral candidate Eileen Brady finished third in the May primary, despite spending a record $1.4 million. Her campaign still owes $343,000, all in loans she made to her campaign.

The other campaign carrying a big IOU, the Libraries Yes! committee, has a tougher task ahead. That committee went all-in to convince voters to create a permanent tasking district for the Multnomah County Library, spending a whopping $1.49 million against no organized opposition. The good news for library backers is they won by a wide 63 percent to 37 percent margin.

The bad news? The committee still owes local investor William Swindells $300,000.

"We are going to raise that money," says Brian R. Wilson, one of the directors of the Libraries Yes! committee. "We have a financial plan to do it."

WWeek 2015