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Oregon State Treasurer Ted Wheeler, who announced last week that he's running for Portland mayor, has a long way to go to catch up with Mayor Charlie Hales' overall fundraising.
Hales so far this year has raised $110,000 and spent about $80,000. Wheeler has raised far less. But since he hasn't spent much yet, he has about as much cash on handânearly $30,000.
What's interesting about Wheeler's initial haul is that his list of donors includes several who previously gave to Hales. That list includes Ken Thrasher, former Fred Meyer CEO; Warren Rosenfeld, owner and CEO of Calbag Metals; John Tess, founder and president of Heritage Consulting Group; Kathleen Lewis, an entrepreneur and film producer; and Dan Yates, president of the Portland Spirit.
Thrasher, who gave Wheeler $1,000 last week, gave Hales $1,000 in February. He says he didn't know then that Wheeler would jump into the races.
"He's done some good things," Thrasher says of Hales. "But I'm a supporter of Ted, too."
WWeek 2015