Democratic congressional candidate Les Marsden needs every dollar he can find in his long-shot challenge to Rep. George Radanovich, R-Mariposa. Nonetheless, Marsden has now reported giving back $3,000 contributed to his campaign by the group Families Protecting the Valley.

For Marsden, this is a big deal. The $3,000 represents a big chunk of the grand total of $13,733 he's reported raising this year. The alternatives, though, weren't very palatable. The Madera-based Families Protecting the Valley bills itself as an organization designed to restore water to the region. Its members include some adamant critics of Radanovich.

Radanovich's staff, in turn, were preparing to file a complaint about the group's contribution to Marsden, on the grounds that Families Protecting the Valley was an ineligible contributor. Rather than fight it out, or face embarrassment, Marsden returned the dough.