RACINE COUNTY - Local Democratic legislators received more campaign money from outside Wisconsin than Republicans last year.

The nonpartisan Wisconsin Democracy Campaign released a report Wednesday on out-of-state campaign contributions in 2007. According to the report, Democrats with districts in or including sections of Racine County got $8,825 in out-of-state donations, while Republicans got $1,000.

The parties also differed as to the types of groups outside Wisconsin who donated. For example, Rep. Cory Mason, D-Racine, received $600 in donations from two people who work for labor union organizations - one in New York and one in Washington, D.C. Business was listed as the highest category for Rep. Robin Vos, R-Caledonia, who received $250 from two people affiliated with Wal-Mart in Arkansas.

Mike McCabe, executive director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, said it is troubling that legislators may be influenced by the donations of people who live outside their districts.

"Financially, they are heavily reliant on people who can't vote for them," McCabe said. "I think what you're seeing increasingly are legislators who are beholden to their cash constituents."

Highest on the list locally was Sen. Robert Wirch, D-Pleasant Prairie, whose district includes Burlington. He received $6,200 from outside Wisconsin, placing him seventh on the overall list. Mason came in after Wirch locally with $2,525, followed on the Democratic side by Sen. John Lehman, D-Racine, with $100.

Rep. Bob Turner, D-Racine, who received no money in out-of-state contributions, said he has no problem with out-of-state contributions from people with Wisconsin ties, such as family or friends of the candidates.

"If they listen properly and they abide by the current state law, I would say there's nothing wrong with that," Turner said. "That's the No. 1 principle of democracy, being able to give money to who you choose."

However, Turner said he drew the line at contributions from outside organizations pushing a particular issue with no interest in Wisconsin.

On the Republican side, Vos led the field with $450 in out-of-state contributions, followed by Sen. Mary Lazich, R-New Berlin with $350, and Rep. Scott Gunderson, R-Waterford with $200. Rep. Samantha Kerkman, R-Powers Lake, received no money from outside Wisconsin.

Vos said people should think about how well a candidate who cannot raise funds in his or her own district could expect to represent their constituents.

"My goal has always been to generate the most interest and the most support from people I represent in Racine County," he said.

Like Turner, Vos said people outside Wisconsin who have an interest in what happens here, such as property owners, should be able to make contributions.