LANSING – At first glance, the race for Michigan’s Supreme Court seems to be the bargain basement of the luxurious spending on campaigns in the state this year, but the Michigan Campaign Finance Network said Monday the campaign may be one of the most expensive and secret in the nation.

While the six major candidates for the three seats nominated by the two parties – Justice Stephen Markman, Justice Brian Zahra and Oakland Circuit Judge Colleen O’Brien by the Republicans, and Wayne Circuit Judge Connie Kelley, Oakland District Judge Shelia Johnson and University of Michigan professor Bridget McCormack – have combined raised about $2.8 million this election year, according to figures filed with the state elections bureau.

But the two parties have spent about $10 million on the campaign, and not had to report those expenditures because they are for issue advertising, said the MCFN.

The figures on that spending came from examining the public files of television network and cable stations, Rich Robinson, executive director of the MCFN, said.

And Mr. Robinson said the actual volume of spending was more than $10 million, but he was unable to verify more than that at this time.

For example, the campaign has been subject to a considerable number of mailings, especially from the Republicans, but Robinson said he has not been able to determine how much has been spent on mailings.

In terms of direct contributions to the candidates, campaign filings show that the Michigan Republican Party donated $60,000 each to Markman and O’Brien. The state’s Democratic Party reported giving $67,500 each to Johnson and Kelley.

In terms of the individual campaigns, Markman reported raising $88,833 in the period before the election and $651,380 for the year. He had spent $32,112 during this period and $114,528 for the year. He had cash on hand of $536,852. He also raised $14,200 in late contributions.

Zahra had raised $85,403 for the period and $710,393 for the year. During the period he had spent $58,394 and $153,501 during the year and had $556,794 in cash on hand. He had raised another $20,300 in late contributions.

O’Brien had raised the most during the period, at $157,842, and had raised $428,946 during the year. She had spent $192,260 during the filing period and $305,003 during the year, leaving her with $123,943 in cash on hand. In terms of late contributions, she had raised another $26,622.

Among the Democrats, McCormack had raised the most, with $84,360 during the pre-election period and $497,415 during the year. She had spent $175,642 during the period and $351,627 during the year. She had an ending balance of $145,788 and had raised $5,500 in late contributions.

Johnson reported raising $26,707 during the period and $169,646 for the year. She spent $88,751 during the period and $140,804 during the year and had cash on hand of $28,842. She also raised $4,400 in late contributions.

And Kelley said she raised $31,747 during the period and $277,829 during the year. She had expenditures during the period of $118,975 and a $232,615 during the year. She had $45,214 on hand and had late contributions of $3,500.

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