Island County Assessor Challenger Burns Through $69,000 in Own Funds
Doug Stults has outspent incumbent Kelly Mauck by more than 13 to 1 in the race for Island County assessor, with reports filed to the Public Disclosure Commission showing Stults has contributed nearly all of his campaign cash.
By Adam Lin ·
Voters in Island County will decide Tuesday who evaluates property values for the region, a decision now overshadowed by the record amount of personal money spent by challenger Doug Stults. Stults has spent nearly $69,000 on his campaign, a sum that exceeds the combined spending of candidates in the previous four assessor elections for the county.
Stults, an appraiser currently working in the assessor’s office, has contributed approximately $43,000 in personal funds and in-kind support. He raised only $465 from outside contributors. His campaign now carries nearly $26,000 in debt, which Stults may be required to pay if he does not secure additional financing before the election ends.
Incumbent Assessor Kelly Mauck has reported expenditures of $5,278. Mauck, who runs without a party preference, described the disparity as unprecedented. She stated that such high spending levels might discourage other residents from running for local office.
“I think it sends a message that elected positions are for sale,” Mauck said. She noted that she has spoken with voters who view the high personal spending as a warning sign. Mauck received $1,700 from the Washington Association of Realtors but no money from development businesses or political action committees.
Stults argued that funding his own campaign limits outside influence. He stated that he accepted no contributions from real estate or development businesses or political action committees. “I will be accountable to voters and not real estate donors,” Stults wrote. He cited professional campaign guidance from CN4 Partners, a Seattle-based firm, to help manage his first foray into politics.
The spending stands in contrast to other county races. Challenger Tavier Wasser raised $49,937 for the sheriff’s race without using personal funds, while incumbent Sheriff Rick Felici raised $26,147. In the county commissioner race, Grant Shaw and Matthew Van Pelt have spent a combined $57,565, a drop from the $91,601 spent by the lone candidate in the 2022 race.
Stults won the August primary with 15,078 votes, or 52.8 percent of the total, compared to Mauck’s 13,470 votes. The general election takes place Tuesday, giving voters a final chance to choose between the two candidates.
Source: South Whidbey Record
