More than half of the $1 million in campaign funds State Treasurer Bill Lockyer spent during the first six months of the year went toward a tough primary fight.
But Lockyer, who faces Republican Sen. Mimi Walters in the November election, wasn't challenged in the June primary -- his wife was.
Lockyer dipped into his multi-million dollar campaign war chest to contribute more than $545,000 to his wife Nadia Lockyer's Alameda County Board of Supervisors campaign in the first six months of 2010, according to his campaign finance report filed this week. That comes on top of another $75,000 he gave her campaign in 2009.
He also reported spending more than $17,000 between January and June on "in-kind" contributions to his wife's campaign, footing the bill for research, printing costs and consultants.
The cash appears to have helped. Nadia Lockyer was the top vote-getter in the four-way primary, but not by a large enough margin to avoid a November run-off. She'll face former state Sen. Liz Figueroa, who happens to be Bill Lockyer's former flame, in the run-off.
PHOTO CREDIT: State Treasurer Bill Lockyer tells a legislative committee on Friday, May 22, 2009, that lawmakers should rely heavily on spending cuts to balance the budget. Sacramento Bee/ Hector Amezcua
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