CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Judging by campaign financial disclosures, business and labor are taking sides in the 8th Senatorial District Democratic primary, pitting Sen. Erik Wells, D-Kanawha, against former South Charleston Mayor Richie Robb.

With Wells championing charter schools legislation, the state's teachers unions have thrown their support to Robb, with labor contributions accounting for the bulk of the $15,803 Robb raised during the March 27-April 26 reporting period.

Robb received $1,000 contributions from political action committees representing the West Virginia Education Association, United Mine Workers, and Affiliated Construction Trades, and from Advocates for Better Education, a teachers union-funded organization based in Ravenswood.

Robb also received $500 each from American Federation of Teachers county committees in Putnam, Lincoln and Monongalia counties, and from WVEA county committees in Putnam and McDowell counties, as well as a $500 contribution from the Communication Workers of America.

The teachers unions also account for the bulk of $44,643 of independent expenditures on Robb's behalf, to run television ads attacking Wells for a 2008 vote against a bill to expand the state's whistleblower law for miners. That includes a $5,747 personal expenditure by West Virginia Federation of Teachers President Judy Hale.

Wells, meanwhile, raised $17,700 during the period, with support coming primarily from business interests.

That includes $1,000 contributions from the West Virginia Bankers Association, HOSPAC, and West Virginians for Coal, as well as $1,000 contributions from individuals including lobbyist Paul Hardesty, lawyer Brian Glasser, businessmen Ike Morris and Lyle Stowers, and from Gov. Joe Manchin's 2008 campaign fund.

A third Democrat in the race, Charleston lawyer Richard Lindsay II, raised $1,719 during the period, according to his disclosure filed with the secretary of state's office.

However, campaign spending in Kanawha's 8th Senate District pales in comparison to the most expensive Senate race in the May primary, the 6th District, pitting Senate Majority Leader Truman Chafin, D-Mingo, against Mingo County Commissioner Greg "Hootie" Smith.

Smith spent $150,457 during the reporting period -- with $100,002 going to Charleston-based Image Associates -- while Chafin spent $74,291 -- with $61,727 going to Rainmaker Media Group of Charleston.

Both campaigns had long lists of payments to persons listed as campaign staffers or as temporary election workers.

Both campaigns also are virtually self-financed, with Smith loaning his campaign a total of $197,000, while Chafin has loaned his campaign a total of $140,000.

At the other extreme may be the 16th Senatorial District Democratic primary, where challenger Patrick Murphy, a former Berkeley County school board member, reported raising $510 during the period. He had expenses of $526 -- the cost of printing a campaign brochure.

His opponent, Sen. John Unger, D-Berkeley, has filed waivers with the secretary of state's office indicating no campaign financial activity in excess of $500.

In fact, Unger's last financial activity was back on March 1, when he transferred a $70,029 balance from his 2006 senatorial campaign to his current race.

Reach Phil Kabler at ph...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1220.