Democratic Flathead County Commissioner Joe Brenneman outspent Republican challenger Pam Holmquist by more than $7,300 in his unsuccessful bid for re-election.

Brenneman spent $28,730 through the primary and general election cycles, according to the state Commissioner of Political Practices office.

Holmquist spent $21,414 to win the six-year commissioner term by a wide margin.

During the reporting period from March 18 to May 23, which covered most of the primary election spending, Brenneman spent only $925 to win over primary challenger Noel Gorton.

Holmquist spent much more to win the primary — a total of $6,351 — to emerge as the top Republican over challengers Howard Gipe and Patrick Nickol.

Brenneman raised and spent most of his re-election war chest during the reporting period from June 24 to Oct. 16, bringing in $16,407 and spending $19,885. He began that cycle with $6,903 in the bank.

During the same reporting period, Holmquist raised $8,915 and spent $4,075. She began the second reporting cycle with just $110 in the bank and had an ending balance of $4,950 going into the final stretch of the race.

The biggest share of Holmquist’s campaign spending came during the final weeks leading up to the Nov. 2 election. She spent $7,987 between Oct. 17 and Nov. 17.

Brenneman also spent heavily during the last reporting cycle, nearly matching Holmquist with expenditures of $7,920.

Brenneman will finish out his term at the end of December. Holmquist will be sworn in Jan. 3.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by e-mail at [email protected]