Candidates file campaign expense reports

Fieger said he's been out making quite a few speeches to Democratic groups, and plans a serious campaign.

"Right now, it looks like I have to do it. If (Democratic candidates) Doug Ross or Larry Owen could beat (Republican incumbent) John Engler, I wouldn't even think about running. But I think I'm the only one," Fieger said yesterday from his Southfield law office.

Fieger's campaign records show he has not yet received the $1 million. He had raised $1,525 from other sources by Dec. 31, and spent $123 so far on his campaign, but said he's still far ahead of Democratic competitors because he won't have to spend money getting his name known by the voters.

His work defending Dr. Jack Kevorkian has given him all the name recognition he needs. "Doug Ross and Lay Owen could both spend 10 times the money they have and not have the name recognition that I do," Fieger said.

Even with the loan, Fieger had a way to go to beat Engler's fund-raising efforts. In his run for a third term, Engler reported raising $2.6 million, spending $1.3 million and having more than $1.6 million on hand, not counting state matching funds. His campaign also had a $15,005 debt.

He has qualified to receive $932,272 in state matching funds, leaving him with about $5 million on hand. About 20 percent of the governor's contributions, or $509,873, was in contributions of $100 or less.

Candidates qualify for $2 in state matching funds for each $1 they raise in contributions of $100 or less before the primary, and for a similar match in the general election.

On the Democratic side, East Lansing lawyer Larry Owen reported raising $712,807 in contributions and spending $200,449. His campaign had a $9,560 debt.

Owen has qualified so far for $327,618 in state matching funds, leaving him with $839,977 on hand, according to campaign spokesperson Steve Gools. About 80 percent of his contributions were $100 or less.

Ross, a former state Commerce director from West Bloomfield, filed reports showing he raised $694,279 through the Dec. 31 end of the reporting period and spent $308,086. He had a campaign debt of $27,364.

Ross qualified for $285,000 in state matching funds, leaving him with $671,190 on hand, including both the funds he's raised and the state funds, according to his campaign. Campaign spokesperson Blois Olson said 70 percent of the contributions were $100 or less.

Democratic candidate Ed Hamilton, a Troy businessperson, did not have a report on file yesterday.

Republican challenger Gary Artinian, a Bloomfield Township cardiologist, filed reports showing he raised $79,347 and spent $76,232. He had loaned his campaign $27,581 and had an overall debt of $34,469.

In other races:

- Republican Secretary of State Candice Miller raised $471,683, spent $142,854 and had no campaign debt. Her Democratic opponent, Genesee County road commissioner John Austin of Fenton, raised $26,616, spent $10,658 and had $2,812 in debt.

- Democratic Attorney General Frank Kelley raised $267,271 and spent $148,632, leaving him with more than $100,000 on hand. He had no campaign debt.

His Republican opponents include state Rep. Frank Fitzgerald of Grand Ledge, who raised $106,801, spent $51,439 and had $55,362 on hand; and former U.S. attorney John Smietanka of Ada, who raised $33,060, spent $28,996 and had $4,064 on hand. Smietanka loaned his campaign $700, while Fitzgerald had no campaign debt.

02-03-98