Officials of a California-based developer have been among the top contributors to the congressional campaign of Democrat Ben Ray Luján since he won his party's nomination in the June primary election.

Luján, who is running in the 3rd Congressional District, received $7,700 after the June primary from three officials of Coast Range Investments, which is planning a 6,000-acre industrial park and residential development near Belen.

The money was part of $180,482 in contributions collected by Luján since mid-May, according to the latest campaign finance report filed with the Federal Election Commission. He had total receipts of $330,516 from May 15 through the end of June, including a $150,000 personal loan he made before the primary election. The campaign has repaid $49,993 of the loan.

Luján's campaign had a cash balance of $92,446 at the end of last month. His Republican opponent, Dan East, reported $10,776 in his campaign account.

The developer, one of its real estate funds and company officials have made large contributions to Gov. Bill Richardson, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish and the state Democratic Party. The Legislature and Richardson have approved financing to upgrade an Interstate highway interchange near Belen that will provide access to the real estate development.

Political action committees affiliated with labor unions were among the top donors to Luján, giving at least $32,500. The PAC of the American Federation of Teachers gave $10,000. Other donors included Pojoaque Pueblo, $4,000; R.D. Hubbard, owner of the Ruidoso Downs race track and casino, $2,300; Hubbard's wife, Joan Dale Hubbard, $2,300; and Robert Rivera, a lobbyist for Ruidoso Downs and other clients, $2,300. The track has lobbied the Legislature for a tax break.

Independent candidate Carol Miller reported receipts of $24,155, including a personal loan of $23,000. She had a cash balance of $2,364.

Independent candidate Ron Simmons had collected $150 in contributions as of June 30 and loaned his campaign $12,520. He had $1,002 in cash at the close of the period.

1st Congressional District

Democratic candidate Martin Heinrich brought in $183,210 in contributions from political action committees in a six-week period, while the Republican nominee received $103,300 from PACs.

Overall, Heinrich collected $510,559 from May 15 through the end of June, while Republican Darren White brought in $304,787, according to the latest reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.

The latest report brought Heinrich's total contributions to more than $1.24 million. His campaign said it had $354,165 cash on hand at the end of June.

White's campaign, which has collected more than $906,000, had $634,307 cash on hand as of June 30.

Heinrich's PAC contributions include $5,000 each from the Carpenters Legislative Improvement Committee, the Machinists Nonpartisan Political League, UAW Voluntary Community Action Program and the Air Line Pilots Association PAC; $3,500 from the Communications Workers of America Committee on Political Education and $2,500 each from the AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education and Our Common Values PAC.

White collected $24,800 from political party committees and $78,500 from other political action committees, including $5,000 from the National Republican Congressional Committee, $5,000 from the American Dental PAC and $1,000 from Build PAC.

2nd Congressional District

Hobbs oilfield services businessman Harry Teague, a high school dropout who become a millionaire, has spent $769,172 of his own money in an effort to win the seat.

According to federal campaign finance reports released this week, Teague donated $80,000 in the days leading up to his June 3 victory over Bill McCamley of Las Cruces in the Democratic primary.

Ed Tinsley, a rancher from Capitan and restaurant chain owner who won a five-way Republican primary, raised almost $1.1 million and had $111,530 cash on hand at the end of the June 30 reporting period.

Teague raised $1.5 million and reported $75,303 cash on hand.

Tinsley owns the K-Bob's steak house chain and is former chairman of the National Restaurant Association.




© Copyright Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.