-- By John Ellis

Whelan loans $200k to his 16th CD race

More than one-third of 16th Congressional District Republican candidate Brian Whelan's campaign has been bankrolled by loans to himself -- including $200,000 he gave his campaign on Sept. 23.

Despite that, Whelan still is far behind the person he is challenging, incumbent Fresno Democrat Jim Costa. The newly drawn 16th District covers half the city of Fresno, parts of Fresno and Madera counties and all of Merced County.

Whelan had raised $654,456 as of Sept. 30, according to recently released finance reports posted on the Federal Election Commission's website. Costa is at $1,331,682.

And while Whelan has chipped in a considerable amount to himself, Costa has benefitted from political action committee cash. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks campaign finance, 48% of Costa's donations have come from PACs.

Among Costa's donations are $2,500 from Fresno businessman Bob Smittcamp. Just two years ago, Smittcamp -- who had been a Costa supporter in the past -- jumped ship to Hanford Republican Andy Vidak. Now, it appears, Smittcamp is back in the fold.

-- By John Ellis

Dairy farmers rally on state Capitol steps

For the second time in two months, California dairy farmers converged on Sacramento in their fight for higher milk prices.

They rallied Thursday on the Capitol steps with Hanford farmer Joaquin Contente, a member of the California Dairy Campaign, among the leaders.

Dairy farmers say they are trying to persuade regulators to change California's milk-pricing formula, allowing the dairy industry to stay ahead of record high feed costs.

"Dairies in my area and throughout the state are going out of business in record numbers," Contente said. "The fact that our California dairy producer prices are so far below prices paid in surrounding states amounts to a $1 million per day loss in revenue to California dairy producers."

The dairymen held a rally Sept. 13 on the steps of the Capitol and more than 400 people attended.

They met earlier this month at Lucio Hay Co. outside Tulare to make plans for a repeat and said they had similar numbers at this week's rally.

-- Bee staff