If money equalled votes, Mark Brown would be the next Island County sheriff, Steve Selby would be prosecutor, John Dean would be commissioner, Dave Mattens would be assessor and Barbara Bailey would remain a state representative.

These candidates have been the most successful, so far, in raising money to spend on roadside signs, brochures, direct mailing, newspaper ads and other advertising to sway voters.

Yet candidates have different opinions on how important money is to winning, what a tally of campaign contributions signifies, or whether voters can tell anything about candidates by looking at who gives money to them.

John Dean, a Democrat challenging incumbent commissioner Bill Byrd, said contributions can be a pretty good sign of a candidate’s popularity among voters. It’s perhaps not surprising he would say that: He currently has more than $69,000 in contributions while Byrd has just $6,000, according to the Public Disclosure Commission Web site.

“People are voting with their checkbooks,” he said. “There’s a lot of people who really want a change in their government.”

Byrd, on the other hand, said a running count of contributions doesn’t mean that much, especially with three months to go until the election. He said he hasn’t started campaigning hard yet. Also, he is skeptical of the “astounding” amount of money Dean raised.

“You have to ask yourself, ‘What is going on here?” he said. “Is there something else in the wind here?”

Byrd complains that Dean’s contributions are way out of line for what’s needed or historically been raised for the seat. Dean, however, said he’s not above average, when the numbers are adjusted for inflation.

In the last election, Byrd raised $17,000 and former Commissioner Bill Thorn raised $19,000. But in 2004, Commissioner Mike Shelton raised $48,000; Commissioner Mac McDowell raised $39,000 in 2001.

Byrd’s latest “balance” of contributions and loan debts is a deficit of -$1,246.

In the latest totals from the Public Disclosure Commission, retired state trooper Mark Brown leads the pack in the run for Island County sheriff with $14,091 in contributions. Coupeville Marshal Lenny Marlborough has $8,781. De Dennis, the Island County jail administrator, has about $9,800, but he contributed about $4,000 of that to himself.

Brown said he’s lucky to have Jill Johnson, a former professional fund raiser, as a committee officer. He’s been wearing down shoe leather, door-belling all over the county. He said it’s helped get his message out and raise support.

Brown received generous support from law enforcement, including deputies Mark Plumberg, Kelly Mauck, Scott Fague, William Vaughn and Rob Hardcastle.

“I’m humbled that the law enforcement community has supported me,” Brown said. “It’s going to take someone who has support from within law enforcement to lead it forward.”

Dennis is currently employed by the sheriff’s office, but he hasn’t enjoyed the monetary support from his colleagues that Brown has. He said he had hoped to raise more money, but he said he turned down some large “questionable” donations from individuals who may expect something in return.

Beyond the raw totals, Dennis said it’s important to look at whether “a diverse population of people who are concerned and interested are donating, perhaps smaller amounts.”

Marlborough has received donations mainly from Coupeville residents, including a town councilman and the chief financial officer at the hospital.

Former deputy Jay Wallace is the only Democrat running for sheriff. He changed his party affiliation after the Republicans rejected him during the convention.

Wallace’s filings to the Public Disclosure Commission have several inconsistencies and irregularities. A staff member of the commission sent a letter to him Aug. 3 telling him to amend a report to make it accurate, but Wallace hasn’t responded yet. More than $1,000 disappeared from one form to another.

According to his individual reports, he’s received $575 in contributions from three individuals, plus he contributed $1,000 of his own money.

In the race for county prosecutor, incumbent Democrat Greg Banks and Republican challenger Steve Selby, the former chief criminal prosecutor, have been pretty close all along, though Selby has pulled ahead in the horse race of money.

Selby has $11,183 while Banks has $9,430.

Selby said he hates asking for money, but he realizes that a challenger going up against an incumbent needs to raise and spend more money. There’s the question of name recognition, but also Banks can use his signs from past years.

Both Selby and Banks have received money from local attorneys, but Selby also has some financial backing from law enforcement. The Oak Harbor Police Association gave him $500, Marshal Marlborough contributed $40 and Oak Harbor Police Detective Jerry Baker gave him $82 worth of screws for street signs.

Selby said a couple of attorneys who are Banks’ friends gave him money after comparing qualifications. “I think that’s pretty significant,” he said, adding that he purposely isn’t asking attorneys for cash.

Attorney Robert McKay gave Selby $200, but allowed Banks to use his Coupeville office space, at a value of $600. In addition, Banks received donations from Oak Harbor law firm Zylstra, Beeksma and Waller, as well as Freeland’s Peter Moote Law Firm.

Banks admits that it’s important to raise money, even for an incumbent, but he said he has been able to do many fundraisers because he’s busy at the office. Selby has been working part-time for the Skagit County prosecutor.

“Democrats usually raise less and rely more on grassroots support,” Banks said. He has many small contributors from Central and South Whidbey.

In the race for assessor, Democrat Dave Mattens has $10,177 in donations, which puts him slightly ahead of Republican challenger Don Mason. Dan Jones, the other Republican candidate, has $4,338.

Oak Harbor’s own state representative, Barbara Bailey, is about $20,000 ahead of her challenger, thanks, in part, to sizeable donations from drug companies, insurance companies, developers, real estate companies and political action committees.

Bailey has raised more than $55,000 while her challenger, Tim Knue of Mount Vernon, has raised about $35,000. Much of his monetary support has come from teachers and educator groups.

With the primary and general elections fast approaching, voters can expect candidates to spend more and more money to vote their way.

You can reach Jessie Stensland at jstensland@whidbeynews

times.com or 675-6611.