COEUR d'ALENE - While many of the legislative candidates will face challengers in the Nov. 4 general election, five of them are already destined for Boise - but are still raising and spending campaign funds.

Incumbent 3rd District Republican Sen. Bob Nonini has the largest war chest of that group. According to campaign finance reports for the months of June, July, August and September, Nonini had $12,135 after the May primary election and raised an additional $2,951 from several large companies which have interests in Idaho politics.

Micron donated $1,000 to Nonini, and three companies contributed $500 each to his campaign. They were Altria Client Services, the Idaho Automobile Dealers Association and Idaho Power. He listed several others who donated smaller amounts.

Nonini had only one local contribution, but that was from his own Political Action Committee.

The 3rd District senator spent $3,237, mostly on travel, events and donations to other candidates.

Like Nonini and three other Republican legislative candidates, Representative-elect Don Cheatham secured his 2nd District House seat B during the primaries in May.

Since then, Cheatham has raised $1,152 from donors such as Avista, which gave him $500. He also received $200 each from the Kootenai Tribe and Jerry Jaeger of the Hagadone Corporation, which also owns The Press.

He spent $43 of that on literature, and still has $708 in the bank. He has lent his campaign $5,911, most of which got him through the May primary. Only $156 of that was lent to his campaign during this reporting period.

Incumbent 2nd District Sen. Steve Vick has the second-largest campaign fund of the five headed for Boise.

Vick, who wasn't even challenged in the May primary election, started the summer season with $7,811, but raised the least of the five candidates, bringing in $988.

He spent $1,340 helping other candidates and holding political events. He ended the period with $7,459 with no debts.

Vick had three donors: Western Aircraft, of Boise, gave him $500. Triton Management services donated $250 and the Senate Republican PAC gave him $100.

Republican Eric Redman won the 2nd District House seat B in the primary, and started the summer with $3,300. He raised the most money of the group, totaling $4,538.

Redman received a $2,000 donation from Lois Hanson, of Sandpoint; and $500 each from Karen Pring-Reddinger, of Richland, Wash.; Winning for Idaho; and the Idaho Committee on Hospitality and Sports, both from Boise.

Redman spent $3,200, mostly on literature and events. He also reported in-kind donations and expenditures of $1,525, mostly used for travel.

Incumbent 4th District Rep. Luke Malek started the summer strong with $9,427 in the bank, but he also spent more than the rest of the group.

Malek spent $8,309 for campaign contributions, management services and advertising. His top three expenditures included $1,750 to Matthew Malek for management services, $1,005 on advertising in The Press and $1,000 to McHugh for Prosecutor.

During the same period, Malek raised $3,250 from 11 donors, only two of which are local. The bulk of his donation came from pharmaceutical companies but also mining interests and PACs.