Gregoire leads in staff spending

OLYMPIA — The governor's race this election may be a toss-up, but there's little question about whose staff is paid better.

For the month of May, Gov. Christine Gregoire paid her top campaign workers twice as much as Republican challenger Dino Rossi paid his.

The top 18 people in her campaign collectively earned about $88,000 during the month, compared with $42,000 for the 18 highest-paid people on Rossi's staff, according to reports filed with the state Public Disclosure Commission (PDC).

For example, Gregoire's campaign manager Kelly Evans earned $10,763 in May, while Rossi campaign manager Afton Swift, a veteran of Rossi's 2004 campaign, was paid $5,890. Both of Gregoire's deputy campaign managers earned more than $8,000 each, compared with the $4,852 paid to Rossi's deputy campaign manager.

Gregoire's campaign said the figures from the PDC reports are roughly accurate in terms of the monthly wages paid to the staff.

Rossi's campaign said the figures are accurate for its staff pay.

Records filed with the PDC earlier this week show Gregoire has raised about $6.8 million in campaign contributions, compared with $5.1 million for Rossi.

Aaron Toso, Gregoire's campaign spokesman, defended the higher pay, saying, "Campaign jobs are hard work. We have an experienced campaign team."

He took a jab at Rossi, saying, "It's the difference between working for someone who advocates for a living wage as opposed to someone who is opposed to the minimum wage."

Rossi's press secretary, Jill Strait, said in an e-mail that Rossi "does not oppose the concept of minimum wage."

As for the pay difference, Strait said, "We'd rather spend our money getting Dino's message out than paying campaign staff high salaries."

Strait earned $2,731 in May compared with $5,554 for Toso.

Rossi said that "people in my campaign are not on the campaign for the money. They actually believe in the cause and know what we're trying to do. I don't hire mercenaries."

His staff also would get bonuses after the election — if he wins.

"They get paid for success," he said. "That is the Republican way."

Andrew Garber: 360-236-8268 or agarber@seattletimes.com