Pearce raises $114,436 in first three months of 2007

U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., is off to a quick start on fundraising for the 2008 election.

On the first-quarter report filed Sunday, Pearce reported raising $114,436 in the first three months of 2007. He reported expenses of just under $50,000 and has almost $200,000 on hand.

Pearce reported contributions of just over $75,000 from individuals and $39,100 from political action committees – the majority of them oil and energy PACs.

Pearce is raising money and doing other work in Doña Ana County, where he has already drawn two Democratic challengers – Al Kissling, who he defeated in 2006, and Doña Ana County Commissioner Bill McCamley.

Contributors included a number of businessmen in Las Cruces, including La Posta restaurant owner Tom Hutchinson and realtor David Ikard, who each gave $1,000. Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino owner Stan Fulton gave $2,100.

The only Republican among McCamley’s colleagues on the commission, Kent Evans, gave $200 to Pearce.

Pearce already has eyes on McCamley. His 2006 campaign manager, Grant Olson, attended last week’s commission meeting because of an item on the agenda. That item was taken care of early in the meeting, but Olson sat in the back of the room for the remainder of the meeting. He watched McCamley and took notes each time the commissioner spoke.