Nickels, Mallahan each raise $200,000 for Seattle mayor's race

In the Seattle mayor's race, self-funded candidate Joe Mallahan is keeping pace with fundraising by two-term incumbent Mayor Greg Nickels, according to the most recent campaign-finance reports.

Mallahan, a T-Mobile executive making his first run for office, gave $200,000 to his campaign. The Nickels campaign reports having about $200,000 on hand.

The rest of the field lagged far behind, in reports filed with the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission. Former Sonic James Donaldson struggled to keep up with his campaign costs, reporting a loss for the second month in a row. Donaldson raised $6,000 in April, but spent $7,600. In total, he's nearly $4,000 in the red.

Donaldson said he expects to be able to raise more money and has four fundraisers planned over the next month.

Monday was the deadline to file April reports with the elections commission.

Former Sierra Club leader Michael McGinn has about $26,000 in cash, according to his filing, and political newcomer and corporate recruiter Norman Sigler has $434.

In the races for Seattle City Council, three-time candidate Robert Rosencrantz raised almost $16,000 in April, bringing his total to nearly $58,000 in a crowded race for the council position currently held by Councilmember Richard McIver, who is retiring.

Former King County deputy prosecuting attorney Sally Bagshaw still had raised more money than any of the 13 other non-incumbents vying for four City Council seats.

She had raised $67,142 by the end of April. Bagshaw is seeking the seat held by Jan Drago, who is not running for re-election.

All ballots in the vote-by-mail primary must be postmarked by Aug. 18. The top two vote-getters in the mayoral and council races move on to the Nov. 3 election.

Emily Heffter: 206-464-8246 or eheffter@seattletimes.com

The information in this article, originally published May 13, 2009, was corrected. A story Wednesday about campaign fundraising said Seattle City Council candidate Sally Bagshaw has raised more than any other council candidate. Incumbent Councilmember Richard Conlin has raised more than Bagshaw.