Candidates for Island County races may find out next Tuesday whether money and endorsements amounted to a hill of beans in the results.

In the most contentious race, Republican prosecutor candidate Steve Selby is hoping that endorsements, but not money, will make all the difference.

He’s behind incumbent Prosecutor Greg Banks, a Democrat, in contributions by about $10,000, but he’s supported by law enforcement and the deputy prosecutors, including one new deputy prosecutor who Banks hired since firing Selby because he was running for the office.

Banks, on the other hand, has endorsements from 33 out of 38 county prosecutors in the state and Gov. Christine Gregoire. He has received contributions from a half-dozen defense attorneys.

“The prosecutors’ endorsement is important because they know what the job entails,” he said. “They are individuals, not a union or an association.”

But even endorsements have been a point of argument and spin in the race. All five of the deputy prosecutors who work for Banks took the unusual step this week of running a signed advertisement in three Island County newspapers stating they endorse Selby for the job.

“We have heard that Greg is claiming that some of us support him and we feel it’s important for the public to know that is not accurate,” said Deputy Prosecutor Margot Carter.

This week, Banks admitted that he has been telling people in the community that at least two of the deputy prosecutors had changed their minds and now support him. He said that’s what two deputy prosecutors told him.

Deputy prosecutors say that’s simply not so. Far from the truth, in fact.

Banks said he felt like he had support in his office until a couple of weeks ago, when “things took a 180.”

Also, some deputy prosecutors were upset at Banks for bringing politics into the office.

When asked if he ever tried to push a deputy prosecutor into publicly supporting him, Banks denies that he did, but said, “one deputy may think that I did.” He admitted talking about the election in his office, but said he did so only when his employees started the conservation.

Selby said it’s still not appropriate or ethical for Banks to talk about the election in the courthouse. “It’s his responsibility to keep that out of the office,” he said.

An official with the Public Disclosure Commission said there’s a gray area in the law regarding whether this type of activity is illegal.

The five-member deputy prosecutor association, a group of both liberals and conservatives, endorsed Selby earlier this year and even that was controversial. Banks stated in a press release that the vote was not unanimous, but it turned out that it was.

Selby said the deputy prosecutors’ support, as well as the support of virtually all members of law enforcements, should mean a lot to voters.

“These people are sticking their neck out on the chopping block,” he said of the deputy prosecutors. “They don’t want to work for him and they have plenty of reasons for not wanting to work for him.”

Yet Banks does have some support in his office. Chief Criminal Deputy Andrea Vingo, who replaced Selby, went as far as to buy her own expensive newspaper ad in support of her boss. Banks’ assistant Caroline Morse also wrote a letter to the editor stating that the deputy prosecutors “do not speak for” the 10 other employees in the office.

Indeed, Selby admits that he knows he doesn’t have the support of at least three people in the office.

Besides the deputy prosecutors, the Oak Harbor Police Association also endorsed Selby. Selby said that not only was a unanimous vote, but that all the officers voted.

The police association also took out an ad in today’s paper.

Selby was also endorsed by the Coupeville Marshal’s Association, Sheriff Mike Hawley and Coupeville Marshal Lenny Marlborough. While the Island County deputy sheriff’s guild did not do endorsements this year, Selby claimed all the members support him.

In addition, all three county commissioners (all Republicans), and a number of other county officials endorsed him.

Selby said he didn’t ask for endorsements from defense attorneys because that would appear to be a conflict of interest.

Money is another matter. Banks said he raised about $30,000 in the election, though he raised about $39,000 in his last election. The difference this time, he said, is that he’s had less time to go out and raise money.

Indeed, Banks was shorthanded after Selby left and another deputy prosecutor resigned. He felt he was forced to fire Selby because, as his opposition in the election, Selby wouldn’t be able to fulfill his job description as chief criminal deputy — to carry out Banks’ decisions and policies.

The top contributors to Banks are the Island County Democratic Central Committee, which gave $3,000; Langley resident Lawrence Shafer, who gave $1,500; and three Seattle residents.

Selby said he isn’t sure about his money totals because members of his campaign are handling the bookkeeping. His latest summary report states he took in $28,700, but an amended report filed the same day states he got just $20,700.

The top contributors to Selby include the Island County Republican Central Committee, which gave him $2,000; the Joint Council of Teamsters No. 28, which deputy prosecutors belong to, which gave him $2,000; Oak Harbor resident and Whidbey General Hospital employee A.M. Nicholson, who gave him $1,500; Greenbank resident Ford Smith, who gave him $1,500; and former Island County Prosecutor Bill Hawkins, who gave him $1,000.

Selby was chief criminal prosecutor in Island County for eight years, but has 25 years of experience as a prosecutor in the Navy and in California.

Banks has been Island County prosecutor for nearly eight years. Before that, he was a defense attorney for two years and a deputy prosecutor for two years.