newsminer.com

Juneau — U.S. Rep. Don Young’s campaign spent nine times more than it took in for the three-month period ending Dec. 31, 2007 — most of it on legal fees — according to campaign finance reports filed Thursday.

Separately, Young, a Republican who faces a federal corruption probe, has established a legal expense fund this month, said his campaign spokesman Mike Anderson.

“He wanted to be able to satisfy constituents,” Anderson said. “Some of them told us they would like to donate for legal expenses and not the campaign, and vice versa.”

Anderson said the House Ethics Committee approved Young’s request to establish the fund earlier this month.

He added that rules restrict donations to $5,000 per year, per person; no registered lobbyist may donate to the legal defense fund. Nor can the campaign divert funds, he said.

Candidates for federal offices had until just before midnight Thursday to file 2007 year-end reports with the Federal Elections Commission.

Young, who has held his seat since 1973, sent more than $400,000 to three law firms. He took in $62,247 in donations and other income such as refunds, but he spent $594,739.

Young started the reporting period with almost $1.48 million of available money, but that war chest is down to just over $948,000.

“I think we are going to turn that around,” Anderson said. “We’ve had some ads in the state that have run very well.

“We are very confident. Folks are going to look at the numbers and draw their own conclusions, but we are seeing some good movement.”

Also announcing their fundraising efforts were Ethan Berkowitz and Jake Metcalfe, two Democratic candidates looking to unseat Young.

So too did Republican Sen. Ted Stevens, who, unlike Young, has no heavy-hitting Democratic opponent yet with the general election just 10 months away.

Spending details for Berkowitz, Metcalfe and Stevens were not available.

Berkowitz, a former Alaska House minority leader, raised $124,201 in the final quarter of 2007. He announced his plans to run in mid-October.

Berkowitz said he collected money from 577 contributors.

“This campaign is catching fire,” Berkowitz campaign manager Charles Boyle said in a statement. “It has the support from people of all ages and all parties all across Alaska.”

Metcalfe, a former head of the state’s Democratic Party, said in a statement that he raised $92,000 in all of last year and another $33,000 this year from more than 500 donors.

“This is truly a grassroots campaign, with people from all walks of life, including independents and Republicans, making donations, expressing their support and volunteering,” Metcalfe said.

Reports are also expected from Republican challenger and state House Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, and Democratic candidate Diane Benson, who are also running for Young’s seat.

Reports also are due for those running for U.S. Senate.

Stevens’ campaign reported receiving $207,206, which includes donations and interest income, for the three-month period ending Dec. 31.

Stevens, who has held the seat since 1968, had slightly more than a $1 million cash balance. He has raised $1.7 million since announcing plans to run for re-election in November 2006.

“The outpouring of support and generosity has been very humbling,” Stevens said in a statement.

Despite being under federal investigation, Stevens has not been pushed yet, though Democratic leaders in Washington, D.C., have been courting Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich to challenge Stevens.