The Building Industry Association of Washington, whose political moves have made headlines this season, mainly in their support of Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi, is also making waves in local races.

It is going on most recently in the 26th Legislative District, where former Port Orchard mayor Kim Abel (D-Port Orchard) is accusing her opponent, Kitsap County Councilmember Jan Angel (R-Port Orchard), of taking money from the group, and has called on her to return it due to the fact that the BIAW is currently under investigation for violating state campaign finance laws.

Abel recently sent a letter to Angel saying, "You and I both know, that as candidates, we have unique control over our campaigns. We and we alone can say who gives us money and what our campaign says. Please return the money because I believe that public office is not for sale, we need to follow the rules, and so do our supporters."

Angel, however, has denied taking contributions from the BIAW.

The BIAW agrees and told the Tacoma News-Tribune that "[Abel] apparently is 'un-Abel' to figure out a PDC form. Neither the BIAW nor the Washington Affordable Housing Council (BIAW's PAC) have contributed to the Angel race."

The group that has contributed to Angel is the Affordable Housing Council of Kitsap County. They are the political action group for the Home Builders Association of Kitsap County, which is an affiliate of the BIAW. The BIAW says local affiliates make their own decisions.

The House Republican Organizational Committee, who sees this seat as one of their best chances for a pickup, weighed in as well. They accused Abel of being evasive during her run for Mayor of Port Orchard.

"As Mayor of Port Orchard, Kim Abel could have chosen to report her campaign donors, instead she opted for secrecy," HROC Executive Director Kevin Carns said in a release. "Under Kim Abel's supervision, the comprehensive plan for the city was rejected and Port Orchard was ineligible for matching grants. That's money that won't be spent on sidewalks, parks and traffic fixes. Is Kim Abel protecting donors who had an influence in her land use decisions? Or was she just plain incompetent? Until she releases the source and amounts of her previous donors, we will never know. Her attempt to smear Jan Angel is an act of desperation and clearly hypocritical."

Abel denies any wrongdoing involving her past campaign filings as mayor and called the whole thing "malarkey". She explained to PolitickerWA.com that the Public Disclosure Committee told her she did not need to file all of her contributors because her jurisdiction was too small.

It was a decision she disagreed with, and says she kept all of her records on file on principle, and would be glad to share them with anyone who asked, but no one has.

She continued to say that the HROC was "grasping at straws in that response back" and maintains that Angel needs to return the money that is linked to the BIAW.

There was a similar scuffle two weeks ago between 46th District Democrats when Gerry Pollet (D-Seattle) and a number of environmental activists called on opponent Scott White (D-Seattle) to return contributions from the Affordable Housing Council, the PAC for the King and Snohomish Counties Master Builders Association.

In response White touted endorsements from groups such as the Washington Conservation Voters and the Sierra Club, and acknowledged the contribution but insisted, like Angel, that there were no BIAW ties behind it.

"The fact is that like many in the environmental community, I respect the work of certain developers who are committed to density, green building, protecting forests and farmlands, and other principles of the [Growth Management Act}," White said in a statement. "Many of these builders are small businessmen and are members of the local Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties. I received a donation from the local Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (not the BIAW) months ago and long before any connection was made between the BIAW and these local groups.

"The reprehensible comments and campaign tactics of the BIAW are an insult to voters.  For my opponent and his proxies to suggest that I support the tactics and policies of the BIAW is a scurrilous and desperate attempt to mislead voters."