Heading toward election season, three women senators each report having raised more than $100,000 in private campaign contributions, and a fourth woman candidate is aiming toward collecting that kind of money.
Sen. Toni Hellon, R-26, led all legislators in the run for the money, with $91,574 on hand after raising $120,875, according to her 2005 filing with the Secretary of State’s Office.
Ms. Hellon, who anticipated a challenge from Rep. Steve Huffman, began the year with nearly $39,000 left over from her previous campaign.
Mr. Huffman decided to run for the U.S.

House from 8th Congressional District.
Sierra Vista Republican Al Melvin is challenging Ms. Hellon, and he has qualified for $11,945 in public funding from the Citizens Clean Elections Commission.
Only $112 behind Ms. Hellon in money raised was Sen. Barbara Leff, R-8, with total receipts of $120,763 and spending of $2,092, leaving $118,670 on hand at the end of 2005.
There was no campaign finance information on Republican Allen Harlan, who has filed against Ms. Leff, and Democrat challenger Ann Wallace has not yet qualified for public funding.
Rep. Colette Rosati, R-8, is challenging Sen. Carolyn Allen in what is expected to be one of the most colorful primary races this year, and the color of Ms. Allen’s war chest is green, to the tune of $98,213 as of Dec. 31, 2005.
Ms. Allen had raised $105,429 and spent $7,216. About half her receipts were from previous campaigns. Ms. Rosati is registered with the Clean Elections Commission, but had not qualified for initial funding.
Two Democrats have filed for the District 8 primary, Dan Oseran and Stuart Turnasky. Neither has qualified for public funding.
Townsend has raised
$15,000 for District 1 race
Prescott construction company owner Elise Townsend says she’s raised $15,000-$20,000 in her campaign for the District 1 Senate seat to replace Senate President Ken Bennett and is shooting for $100,000. She was the first privately funded legislator to file her nominating petitions for this year’s elections.
In previous races, Mr. Bennett did not raise more than $28,000 or spend more than $13,000.
Among other candidates for Mr. Bennett’s Senate seat, William Stoll has loaned his campaign around $7,000, and Rep. Tom O’Halleran, who also is running privately funded, reported $138 on hand from his previous House campaign.
Democrat Josephine Kelleher has not qualified for public funding.
Rep. Bob Robson led all House candidates for the reporting period, with cash on hand of $52,342.
Aboud is 1st senator to
qualify for public funds
May 15 was the first day for privately funded candidates to file nominating petitions.
On May 9, Sen. Paula Aboud, D-28, was the first state senator to qualify for public funding, giving credit to Democrats in her district for collecting nearly 300 $5 contributions and nearly 900 signatures on her nominating petitions, while she worked in the Senate.
Ms. Aboud replaced Gabrielle Giffords, who resigned her seat this year to become a candidate in the 8th Congressional District.
Ms. Aboud is being challenged in the primary by Rep. Ted Downing.