New campaign finance filings for state races show that most of the region's legislative candidates have qualified their campaigns for state funding.

The result is that in many races, the opponents have fairly equal amounts to spend.

Many state Senate candidates are reporting about $107,000 in receipts after raising $15,000 in 300 or more small contributions, which qualifies them for up to $91,290 from the Citizens' Election Program.

State House of Representatives candidates who raised $5,000 from 150 or more small donations qualified for up to $26,850 from the program and now are reporting receipts of $30,000 or slightly more.

Campaign committees had to submit reports by Oct. 10, and from now till Election Day, Nov. 6, must report to the Elections Enforcement Commission on a weekly basis.

The state Citizens' Election Program uses proceeds from sales of abandoned property and from donations to make grants based on candidates' levels of public support. To participate, a candidate must agree not to accept any contribution over $100.

All or some of the qualifying small contributions must come from residents of the respective legislative districts. Reports are posted online at the agency's website through a system called eCRIS at www.ct.gov/seec.

The 20th-District state Senate seat is an example of nearly level funding for two candidates, according to filings by incumbent Democrat Andrea Stillman of Waterford and Republican challenger Mike Doyle.

Stillman, reporting $106,906, and Doyle, with $107,115, are both participating in the Citizens' Election Program. Libertarian Marc Guttman is exempt from filing because he is not attempting to raise more than $1,000. The district covers New London, Waterford, East Lyme, Old Lyme, Salem, Bozrah and parts of Montville and Old Saybrook.

The general election campaign funds raised by Republican Christopher Coutu and Democrat Cathy Osten are also very close, according to their filings, although Osten also reported funds raised for the earlier Democratic primary. They are competing in the 19th state Senate District, which includes Ledyard, the northeast section of Montville, Norwich, Sprague, Lisbon, Franklin, Lebanon, Columbia, Hebron and Marlborough.

Osten, the Sprague first selectman, has raised a total of $145,245 counting her two state grants. About $107,760 of that is for the general election campaign. Coutu has raised $107,310 for his current campaign.

Osten also received $37,485 in CEP funds for her successful primary against state Rep. Tom Reynolds, D-Ledyard. Osten had a total of $53,955 for the primary run, and had spent all but $5.35 as she entered the race against Coutu.

Osten has spent $73,506 to date on traditional items, including signs, printing, food for events, and mailings. But she has used some of her money somewhat unconventionally, hiring various consultants to get the printing done, signs ordered and ads placed.

Coutu complained that her strategy prevented "transparency" because an entry for printing, for example, mentioned the consultant who handled it rather than where the printing was done. Sam Gilcrist, campaign manager for Osten, responded that the items are spelled out in the expense payment listings.

Coutu, currently the state representative in the 47th District, has spent just about half of what he has received, $53,852, including $16,589 to produce and air a 30-second TV commercial.

Coutu said he plans much of the same in the coming weeks, with fliers, signs and direct mailings.