Bernalillo County officials say they spent just under $5,000 on President Bush’s visit for a campaign fundraiser for Sheriff Darren White in May.

The Republican White is running for the First District Congressional seat being vacated by Heather Wilson.

Bush raised $317,000 for White’s campaign at the Los Ranchos de Albuquerque fundraiser on May 27th.

For the event, Bernalillo County Undersheriff Sal Baragiola says the county used 39 deputies, six sergeants, and four lieutenants for six hours of security. That consisted of a motorcade escort, traffic control at intersections, and security outside the home of Steve and Deborah Maestas, where guests paid between $1,000 and $5,000 each to attend the event.

Twenty one of the officers were paid overtime for their work. Baragiola estimates the cost to Bernalillo County taxpayers at $4,684.64. That figure doesn’t include administrative costs.

Baragiola says he “cannot think of any separate administrative costs associated with the event”.

Campaign finance law is unclear about whether or not security detail constitutes a donation to a campaign. KUNM asked the White campaign whether it had sought security from another jurisdiction other than Bernalillo County. The campaign referred this reporter to the U.S. Secret Service, which, at that time, had no one available to answer questions on the issue.