Winds of Change Newsletter, December 2005     See sidebar for table of contents

	Plaque in Sen. Byrd’s Washington, DC, offices, calling him an Outstanding Coal Legislator. ‘Nuff said.

Reports Detail Senate Race Donors

The Charleston Gazette’s Paul Nyden reports that Sen. Robert Byrd has raised more than $2.6 million since Jan. 1.

Donations to Hiram Lewis, a Morgantown lawyer and National Guard officer who is running for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate, exceed $500,000.

Byrd’s larger donations included several from coal executives.

James “Buck” Harless of Gilbert gave Byrd the maximum $4,200. Arch Coal President Steven F. Leer gave $1,000; CONSOL Energy Vice President Stephen G. Young, $2,000; Eaglehawk Carbon President James O. Bunn, $1,000; and retired local coal executive L. Newton Thomas, $500.

William and Patricia Bright of Summersville each gave Byrd $2,000. Bright was co-chairman of President Bush’s campaign in West Virginia in 2000. He owns companies including the Land Use Corp., Bright Coal Corp. and Bright Mining and Land Co.

Most of Lewis’ large donors live in other states. Lewis received a $2,000 donation from Harless.