Democratic district attorney candidate Martin Miller is using mostly his own money to finance his campaign, while his competitor in next week’s primary, Charles Branson, has received $5,720 in donations, reports show.

Miller said the reason Branson raised so much more money was that Branson had been busy “glad-handing” and showing up at Democratic functions. In Miller’s view, Branson won support from core Democrats based on his party loyalty, not his qualifications.

“What has he got to offer other than some people who think he’s been loyal so he needs to be rewarded?” Miller asked.

Branson said that it was true he’d been a loyal Democrat but that people weren’t blindly writing him checks.

“I’ve gotten my supporters because people believe that I can win this race, and people have been very responsive to my ideas about change for the District Attorney’s Office,” he said.

Miller’s campaign had raised $2,665 as of July 22, including a $2,000 loan from himself and his wife. The rest came from a combination of five donors.

“I haven’t been twisting arms to get any money,” said Miller, who, like Branson, is a private-practice attorney in Lawrence.

Much of the money Branson raised came as donations from local attorneys, ranging from $100 to $500, records show. In all, 21 people gave him $50 or more, and he pulled in $1,720 in donations of less than $50.

Branson questions Miller’s credentials as a Democrat.

Miller was registered as a Republican when he worked in the District Attorney’s Office from 1985 to 1996. In 1996, after failing to win the GOP nomination to replace Dist. Atty. Jerry Wells in midterm, Miller ran for DA as an independent.

“I think Martin is opportunistic,” Branson said.

Questionnaires from Martin Miller and Charles Branson

Miller said he was a Democrat all his life but registered Republican after being hired into a Republican DA’s office. He wanted to show allegiance and be able to fill a midterm vacancy if needed, he said.

He said he ran as an independent because he was sick of party politics; he then re-registered as a Democrat several years ago.

Branson has spent $4,122 on his campaign, much of it for campaign mailings, bumper stickers and advertising. Miller has spent $1,894.

The incumbent, Republican Christine Kenney, has raised $9,210 and spent $6,416 on her re-election campaign.