Janet Cowell raised $1.7 million in her successful campaign for state Treasurer.

The Raleigh Democrat reported receiving $154,000 from Oct. 19 to the end of the year, according to campaign finance disclosure reports.

Her largest donors from the quarter included several New York and New Jersey contributors who are in the finance industry. Donors who gave Cowell $4,000 contributions in the quarter included New York securities lawyer Jay Eisenhofer, Peter L. Briger Jr., president of New York-based Fortress Investments and John Streiker, president of New York-based Sentinel Real Estate Corp.

Major contributors for the quarter from North Carolina include Frank Meadows, chief executive of Rocky Mount-based Nottingham Investment Co., Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker and two managing directors of Fortress Investments Charlotte office — Roger Eugene Taylor and Joseph N. Walsh III.

Cowell spent $1.6 million on her campaign, leaving her with $135,000.

David Young is starting a new business.

After running unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for state treasurer this year, the outgoing Buncombe County commissioner announced last week that he and his wife Leigh will be forming Young and Associates.

The company aims to help local government find top management personnel.

"I wanted to stay involved in local government and give back a portion of what I received over my 16-year tenure," he said in a statement.

The company will seek to be a middle-man between qualified managers and cities and counties with openings, including providing interim leaders.

Young is the past president of the N.C. Association of County Commissioners.

He lost the May primary to Treasurer-elect Janet Cowell.

The United Food and Commercial Workers Union gave $116,500 in 2008.

The food workers union gave $104,000 to the N.C. Democratic Party, $8,000 to Treasurer-elect Janet Cowell, $4,000 to Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue, and $500 to state Sen.-elect Josh Stein.

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers gave $41,500 in 2008.

The electricians' union gave $30,000 to the N.C. Democratic Party, $5,000 to the N.C. AFL-CIO Victory Fund, $4,000 to Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue and $2,500 to Treasurer-elect Janet Cowell, according to campaign finance reports. 

Treasurer-elect Janet Cowell said that in an election year marked by change, voters wanted a treasurer who would do more of the same.

"What they're looking for is continued conservative management, so I think the treasurer was a little different," said Cowell, a Democratic state Senator who defeated Republican state Rep. Bill Daughtridge.

Cowell said that women are now running state departments that deal with finance (treasurer and auditor). "I think it shows that women have made strides in those industries," she said. 

The state Republican Party is filing a complaint with the N.C. State Ethics Commission against state Sen. Janet Cowell over allegations that she used her state office for campaign business.

A former staffer for Cowell said that she had members of her staff contact a Dell computer lobbyist to fix a campaign laptop, Mark Johnson reports.  And the manager of her campaign for state Treasurer exerted influence over her official duties to benefit her campaign.

Cowell faces Republican state Rep. Bill Daughtridge in the race for Treasurer.

State Republican Party Chairwoman Linda Daves said the incidents should give voters pause about Cowell. 

"The State Treasurer is entrusted with state pensions and must have integrity that is beyond reproach," Daves said.

Cowell dismissed the claims as a last-minute, partisan attack.

"I am shocked and disappointed that a disgruntled former employee who resigned half a year ago would make unfounded and untrue allegations three days before an election. These unfounded and untrue allegations are now being used in a desperate, last minute partisan attack," she said in a statement. "We have looked into the matter and feel confident that everything possible was done to ensure that there was a clear separation between the campaign and Senate staffs."

How is fundraising going in the treasurer's race?

Campaign finance reports from both Republican nominee Bill Daughtridge and Democrat Janet Cowell are in from the second quarter.

Here's a breakdown of the numbers:

Fundraising: Since the beginning of their campaigns, Daughtridge has raised $244,348 while Cowell has raised $663,403, more than two and a half times as much. Neither has loaned or given their campaign cash. Advantage: Cowell.  

Cash on Hand: At the end of the second quarter, Daughtridge had $74,152 on hand, while Cowell had $197,133, again more than two and a half times as much. Cowell again has the advantage, although neither has enough for a serious TV campaign.

Spending: Daughtridge spent $44,788 in the second quarter, while Cowell spent $71,890. She is spending more on campaign staffers and had an $18,000 TV ad buy in the primary, but sometimes you have to spend money to make it.

Unlike the race for governor and Senate, this one will not be fought primarily on television, if only for the fact that neither candidate has enough cash to do it.

That means a lot of trench warfare: Mailers, campaign appearances and a strong campaign machine.

As a state senator and a former Raleigh City Councilwoman, Cowell has a good base of supporters and the trappings of a good campaign. So far, she's bringing in enough money to keep it humming, giving her a strong advantage heading into the fall.

Bill Daughtridge received $244,348 in contributions by the end of June.

The Republican nominee for state treasurer received $48,703 in the second quarter of the year, according to his most recent campaign finance report.

Major donors included Cary attorney Brent Barringer, Rocky Mount businessman Nick Boddie, Raleigh Realtor Carolyn Grant, Greenville businessman Julian White Rawl, Golden Corral President Billy Sewell and N.C. Museum of Art Director Larry Wheeler.

He also received money from the N.C. Utility Contractors PAC and the N.C. Petroleum and Convenience Marketers PAC.

At the same time, he spent $44,788, leaving him with $74,152 in cash on hand.

Janet Cowell received $663,403 in contributions by the end of June.

The Democratic nominee for state treasurer received $248,162 in contributions during the second quarter of the year, according to her most recent campaign finance report.

Major donors included N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences executive director Elizabeth Bennett, investment manager Leah Bergman, financial consultant Eugene Cahalan, Crandall Bowles, SAS co-founder John Sall and real estate developer Smedes York.

She also received donations from political action committees for the United Food and Commercial Workers union, UNITE HERE, the AFL-CIO, EMILY's List and the Conservation Council of North Carolina.

She also spent $71,890, leaving her with $197,133 in cash on hand. 

State Rep. Bill Daughtridge carries a life-sized cardboard photograph of himself around the General Assembly. The Rocky Mount Republican is running for state treasurer and will not return. Sending him off today, his colleagues joked that they would keep the two-dimensional Daughtridge as a memento. (Photo by Chris Seward)