Pasco candidate raises more than twice as much as incumbent
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Pasco council candidate has raised nearly $13,000, outpacing other Pasco city council candidates.
- His spending totals more than $8,000.
- His opponent chose mini reporting, which limits the amount she can raise and donor disclosure.
Pasco City Council candidate Calixto Hernandez has raised nearly $13,000 so far for his campaign. That’s more than twice what the incumbent has raised and nearly the total amount donated to both candidates in another city council race.
Hernandez is challenging Councilwoman Melissa Blasdel in the Nov. 4 election for the city’s District 6 seat.
Blasdel told the Herald that she’s collected about $6,000 in local contributions.
By comparison, in the District 3 Pasco council race, incumbent Councilman Leo Perales has raised about $6,200. His opponent Bryan Verhei has raised nearly $7,300.
Hernandez has spent more than $5,000 on printed materials and fliers to distribute by mail and while door-knocking. His total spending adds up to more than $8,000, according to data from the state Public Disclosure Commission.
But some have criticized where he’s getting his donations.
He received more than 20 donations in July, a majority of them cash donations from individuals and groups based in Seattle and other areas.
He told the Tri-City Herald on Friday that he’s received support from various unions and agencies across Washington state, not just Seattle.
Those groups include the Franklin County Democrats, Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 598 union, Washington State Democratic Central Committee, Washington Teamsters Legislative League and the Washington Progress Alliance.
Hernandez worked with his campaign manager and finance manager — who are both volunteers — and decided to try to raise up to $15,000 for the campaign.
He said he wasn’t certain how aggressive his campaign would need to be in order to defeat Blasdel, so he aimed to raise a high amount.
Hernandez said he has only campaigned in his district in Pasco, and that groups and individuals who have donated are not dictating how he campaigns or how he stands on issues.
“I’m not running a liberal campaign,” he said.
He said some donations are also from friends in other states, including Arizona.
Incumbent’s finances
Blasdel opted for “mini reporting,” available only to candidates who will raise and spend less than $7,000.
They also commit to receive no more than $500 from any one contributor, other than themselves.
But because she’s using mini reporting, Blasdel doesn’t have to disclose who is giving her money under the state disclosure rules.
Hernandez said Blasdel should be transparent anyway about who has given her $6,000 in donations.
Blasdel described this campaign as one of the hardest things she’s had to do. She said she’s running “with heart and passion behind her,” not for any political reason.
She said she’s been frugal during the campaign. She bought large signs to install in busier areas in her district. One of her concerns is that not many people vote in the district, so exposure is important. She said her postcard mailers were sent on Friday.
“I’m not focusing on his campaign. I’m focusing on mine,” she said.
This story was originally published October 13, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
