This is part one in a five-part series (or maybe more) that explores the campaign finance reports of our state legislative delegation.

First up: state Sen. Patty Ritchie, R-Heuvelton.

In the second half of 2011, Mrs. Ritchie raised $55,211.35 and spent $40,280.15. That leaves her with $73,893.80 cash on hand as she enters the 2012 election season.

Of that haul, $20,256 came from individual donors, $7,690 came from corporations, and $24,255 came from the board "other" category, which includes unions, PACs, LLCs and foundations.

Individual donors include Ogdensburg Mayor Bill Nelson, who gave $175; former Watertown mayor Tom Walker, who gave $100; Ogdensburg Journal editor emeritus Chuck Kelly, a Democrat who gave $25; and David A. Renzi, who gave $175. Mr. Renzi's wife, Jessica, works for Mrs. Ritchie. Mr. Renzi's appointment to the Joint Commission on Public Ethics by Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb came under fire because of Mr. Renzi's connection to a sitting state senator.

Mrs. Ritchie took in a $400 donation from The Business Council of New York State PAC. She also received some union donations — $100 from Jefferson, St. Lawrence and Lewis county Central Trades, $1,075 from the IBEW Educational Committee, and $175 from the AFL/CIO.

The Senate Republican committee is flush with cash, and the Senate Democratic committee is not. That, coupled with the fact that Mrs. Ritchie took in a decent (though not astronomical) haul, leads me to believe that Mrs. Ritchie's re-election effort is in good monetary shape.

Thousands of readers like you have made Northern New York Newspapers the number one ranked website* for local news and sports coverage in the north country.

You can continue on to this article in a few seconds, or you can visit one of our websites:

• Watertown Daily Times
• The Ogdensburg Journal
• Daily Courier-Observer