1. The candidates for King County Executive are reporting their May fundraising numbers. And the numbers include boasts like Ross Hunter's claim that he raised $100,000 this month. 

But claims like these include things like transfers from other funds. 

When you do all the math, subtracting expenditures and transfers from other accounts, here's where the candidates are, according to the Public Disclosure Commission: 

Ross Hunter raised about $70,000 in May.

Fred Jarrett raised about $32,000 in May.

Larry Phillips raised about $50,000 in May. 

Neither Dow Constantine nor Susan Hutchison have reported yet. 

However, Constantine called yesteday to tell me he raised about $60,000 in May. His more impressive claim, however, is his report on the number of new donors: 400 new donors he says—"a low donation, high volume campaign." 

Constantine's claim is even more noteworthy in light of the gaffe his Seattle-area opponent Larry Phillips made yesterday, which has been widely reported: Phillips sent out a letter yesterday hyping his number of  last-minute donors by writing:  "I am proud to say that XXX people responded and we not only met that goal, but we beat it!"

Rather than providing the number, a follow-up email simply excised any mention of the number of Phillips' donors.  

2. Over in the City Council races, star fundraiser Sally Bagshaw (running against David Bloom for Jan Drago's open seat) reports another impressive month, raising nearly $30,000 in May. 

3. Speaking of money, here at PubliCola, we had some big news yesterday. We announced that green developer Greg Smith bought a stake in the company which will allow us to expand our coverage.

Sandeep will have a report on the good news later. In the meantime, here's yesterday's report from the Puget Sound Business Journal, which begins:

 

Seattle developer Greg Smith has bought a stake in Seattle news website PubliCola.

Smith, who is CEO of the Seattle development and property management company Urban Visions, is known for championing affordable housing and environmental issues. His family has deep roots in the community.

“I have been following the site closely, and it’s clear these guys are doing something different and exciting. The buzz around town is real — the smartest and most informed players in politics and government all tell me they're reading it,” Smith said in a statement. “PubliCola has real potential to develop into a site that is not only influential, but profitable. And I have some ideas about how to get there.”

 

 4. A couple of candidates—Southend school activists Charlie Mas and Betty Patu— have announced in the last week (deadline week) that they're running for school board.

Three positions are in play this year. Two members, Mary Bass and Michael DeBell, are up for reelection, and another seat opened up when Cheryl Chow announced her retirement last week.

Mas and Patu have both declared for Chow's open seat.

No other candidates have filed in this year's school board election.