Hamblen leads Rogers in spending
Candidates for county executive continued to pour money into their campaigns, with incumbent Carol Hamblen leading the way in spending for the second consecutive reporting period.
The revelation was made by the election commission following the required campaign disclosure report by the local candidates Thursday.
Hamblen spent the most of all non-judicial candidates, taking in a combined $8,434 and spending $8,433. She has two funds, one under her name and one under Business for Hamblen. She had four contributors to her campaign including herself. She also reported a $5,000 bank loan to be used in her campaign treasury. Her top expenditure was newspaper ads for $4,311, radio spots for $1,534 and signs for $1,800. She has led in spending the last two reports after spending nothing during the pre-May primary report. She is running as an independent.
Democratic nominee Kenneth Rogers reported taking in $3,700 and spending $3,481. He reported six separate contributors with the Democratic Party making a $375 in-kind donation in the form of political signs. He was the only candidate who reported receiving money from the Democratic Party. His largest single expenditure was $1,151 for radio spots.
Independent challenger Bob Warren was last in spending, taking in $4,030 and spending the same. All the money was his own. His biggest expenditure was $1,868 for newspaper ads.
The other local races saw mainly reductions in spending with only Register of Deeds Terry Smith passing the $1,000 mark. He reported taking in $897 and spending $1,120. His sole competitor, Susan Curtis, took in and spent $529.
Incumbent Trustee Joy Slatton was outspent by her opponent, Emily Panter, who took in $300 and spent $633. Slatton took in and spent $399 during the same period. However, Slatton spent her largest sums during the days leading into a close Democratic primary with Darlene Bryant in May while independent Panter began her campaign in earnest following the primary.
Mason Black led the way in sheriff’s candidates as he reported taking in $1,050 and spending $653. He entered the race late as a write-in candidate. Everette Pearsall reported taking in and spending $335 during the same period while incumbent Jackie Matheny took in $200 and spent $255. Doc Smith reported no spending during the recent reporting period which ran from April 26 through July 22.
While the candidates finish their campaigns, early voting continues through noon on Saturday. Thus far, just over 3,500 people have voted early – a record for an election not involving U.S. President. The all-time record is 5,500 early voters in the November 2000 presidential election.
In a related matter, a re-airing of a forum including all three county executive candidates will be aired at 3:05 p.m. today on WCPI 91.3 FM.