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Two of Oregon's biggest political contributors weighed in on contested races in recent days.
Filings with the secretary of state's elections divisions show Portland-based Stimson Lumber gave state Rep. Dennis Richardson (R-Central Point) $20,000. Richardson is seeking the GOP gubernatorial nomination which confers upon the winner the dubious pleasure of challenging incumbent Gov. John Kitzhaber, a Democrat, if Kitzhaber runs again. The Stimson contribution comes on top of a $5,000 check the company's CEO, Andrew Miller, wrote to Richardson in August.
The second noteworthy check comes from winemaker and patent heir Eric Lemelson, who slowed his giving in 2012 but remains one of the state's largest Democratic contributors.
Lemelson gave $10,000 to state Rep. Jules Bailey (D-Portland), who is seeking the Multnomah County Commission seat currently held by Deborah Kafoury. Bailey is running against Brian Wilson, a businessman who has been active in county charter revision and library measures. Lemelson, an environmentalist, is a longtime supporter of Bailey, who chairs the House Energy and Environment Committee.
WWeek 2015