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Percel O. Alston is the top individual earner in the Maryland House of Delegates District 27A race in 2010 as of mid-August, but incumbents Dels. James E. Proctor Jr. of Accokeek and Joseph F. Vallario Jr. of Upper Marlboro had access to far more money through slate accounts and cash left over from previous years.

Alston, an Upper Marlboro resident, is one of eight Democratic candidates seeking to unseat Proctor and Vallario in the Sept. 14 primary. There are also two Republican candidates who will automatically move on to the general election scheduled for Nov. 2.

According to the first round of campaign finance reports filed with the Maryland Board of Elections in mid-August, Alston has raised $11,931 so far this year. Proctor and Vallario have each raised $623 and $7,250, respectively, but had access to more than $400,000 from Democratic slate accounts they share with other candidates statewide.

Proctor and Vallario also both stressed that they are running as a team with Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Dist. 27) of Chesapeake Beach and that the three incumbents pool all resources into a shared campaign. Miller, who is running uncontested in the Democratic primary but will face Republic challenger Vernon Hayes of Clinton in the general election, has raised $247,508 in 2010 so far, on top of the $734,946 he already had in his campaign committee account.

"We're one for all and all for one," Vallario said.

Other candidates vying for one of the two District 27A seats include Republicans Michael Hethmon of Croom and Antoinette Jarboe-Duley of Marlton, and Democrats Barry A. Adams of Aquasco; Sheri Beach, whose campaign filing lists an Upper Marlboro address; Jeffery L. Brockington of Clinton; Russell P. Butler of Dunkirk; Theron Green of Accokeek; Joe Harris of Upper Marlboro; and James Woods of Upper Marlboro.

Woods reported spending $1,803 of his own money so far. The rest of the candidates either filed an Affidavit of Limited Contributions and Expenditures with the Board of Elections, which means they did not raise or spend more than $1,000, or reported raising and spending no money at all.

Alston said that in addition to the economic downturn, the three-way incumbent fundraising juggernaut of Miller, Proctor and Vallario has been "a huge hurdle" to raising money.

"We've had a lot of individual people giving a little bit here, a little bit there," he said.

In 2010, Alston has received $9,786 in contributions and $2,145 in donations from several public safety-related political action committees, or PACs, adding to the $18,282 he had in cash leftover from 2009. Alston, a former Prince George's County police officer and former president of state and local police unions, has spent $17,229 so far this year.

Vallario, a defense attorney, has personally raised $7,250 this year, including a $6,000 contribution from the Maryland Trial Lawyers Association PAC, which Vallario said was unsolicited. He had $128,358 in his account going into 2010. Vallario has spent about $82,000 so far, including $42,850 in contributions to other campaign funds.

Alston and other candidates have targeted Vallario in particular throughout the campaign, arguing that his ties to the legal community create a potential conflict of interest with his role as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, which oversees a number of public safety issues.

Vallario said that he stands by his record as chairman, including a controversial decision during the last legislative session to not allow a bill to come up for a vote that would have required ignition interlock devices for anyone convicted of drunk driving. Vallario has said he believes existing penalties for drunk drivers are tough enough.

Proctor raised $373 in contributions and $250 from the Service Employees International Union PAC, which represents the Washington, D.C., and Maryland regions, in addition to the $12,153 already in his account. He has spent about $3,000 this year.

The next round of campaign finance reports is due to the Board of Elections on Friday.

ztillman@gazette.net