SANDPOINT — Bonner County Sheriff's candidate Daryl Wheeler has raised more campaign contributions than any other candidate seeking county office this election cycle, according to mandatory disclosure records.

Wheeler, who handily won the Republican nomination despite a crowded field of candidates, has raised about $16,033 in his bid to become the county's next sheriff.

Between June and October, Wheeler raised about $2,759 and spent around $2,662, records show. Wheeler has also incurred $963 in debt.

Wheeler's competitor in the Nov. 4 general election, Democrat Larry Hanna, has eschewed campaign fundraising. He has taken in no contributions and lists no expenditures.

Wheeler, a Sandpoint Police officer who lives in Hope, derives considerable financial support from the east end of the county. Other key contributors are former Democrat sheriff's candidate Tony Lamanna, who donated $992, political figure and entertainment personality Ben Stein, who gave $500, records indicate.

Former Deputy John Lunde, who is locked in a heated lawsuit against Wheeler's former GOP challenger — incumbent Sheriff Elaine Savage — also contributed to Wheeler's election effort, records show.

Incumbent county Commissioner Joe Young leads the fundraising efforts under way in the races for the board's District 1 and 2 seats. Young, who had no challenger in the primary, has raised $8,060 in his bid to keep the District 2 seat.

Young's backers include Hill's and Elkin's resorts at Priest Lake, former Commissioner Marcia Phillips, Assessor Jerry Clemons, Sandpoint attorney Bill Berg, Sandpoint Ranch Tree Farm, StoneRidge Golf Community, disclosure records show.

Young's general election opponent, Democrat Brian Orr, has reportedly taken in $2,380 in his attempt to regain the seat he lost to Young in the 2004 election. His benefactors include former commissioners Dean Stevens and Dale Van Stone, and former Sandpoint Councilman Steve Lockwood, among others.

In the contest for the District 1 post, Republican Cornel Rasor and incumbent Democrat Todd Crossett are neck-and-neck in total contributions, disclosure records indicate.

Crossett listed total contributions of $2,945, thanks to Lockwood and Molly O'Reilly, Sandpoint Mayor Gretchen Hellar, Democrat organizer Bob Wynhausen and Dave Hussey of the Panhandle Environmental League.

Rasor reported collecting $2,790 in contributions during his primary and general campaigns. Sandpoint attorney Stephen Smith, Idaho Observer Publisher Don Harkins and Rasor himself are listed as contributors.

Deputy Prosecutor Louis Marshall, a shoo-in to succeed Prosecutor Phil Robinson, listed no contributions or expenditures. Magistrate Court Judge Barbara Buchanan, who seeks to retain her seat on the bench, also listed no contributions and expenditures.

Absentee statistics

• Registered voters: 23,386

• Absentee ballots issued: 3,863 (16 percent)

• Returned absentee ballots: 2,680 (67 percent)

—SOURCE: Bonner County Clerk's Office (Oct. 24)