Campaigning not cheap: Hamblen leads all local candidates in spending
Incumbent County Executive Carol Hamblen went from last to first in campaign spending this summer as she leads all local candidates in expenditures heading in to the Aug. 1 general election.
According to the recent campaign finance disclosure reports made to the election office, Hamblen took in $6,800 and spent $7,487 in the period running from April 28 to June 21, which ended the reporting dates. This comes after Hamblen reported not spending a single penny on her campaign prior to April 28, the last reporting date before the Democratic Primary.
Hamblen is running as an independent along with fellow candidate Bob Warren who spent a fraction of what Hamblen spent, taking in and spending $977.
Hamblen’s burst of campaign spending put her back on track with Democratic nominee Kenneth Rogers who began his campaign prior to the Democratic Primary. Rogers, who took in $4,610 and spent $1,893 prior to the primary, reported taking in $1,519 and spending $2,249 during the most recent disclosure period.
“Those who are running as Democrats geared their campaigns up earlier, with some of them having to win over opposition in the primary,” said Election Administrator Donna Yates. “What we’re seeing here is independent candidates gearing up their campaigns while the Democrats have already been running for a while and have already purchased several signs and other campaign materials earlier in the race.”
Yates pointed out much of the funds totaled under the “took-in” portion of the report are generally the candidates’ own money which is being used for their campaigns.
Incumbent Trustee Joy Slatton, who won the Democratic nomination over Darlene Bryant and Don Alexander this May, once again finds herself being outspent by her rival, at least during the latest disclosure period.
Emily Ann Panter, seeking the trustee’s office as an independent, reported taking in $2,947 and spending $2,542 in the latest period. She is the sole candidate challenging Slatton.
Slatton reported taking in and spending $1,637 over the same period. Slatton was out spent by Bryant by a near two-to-one margin in the Democratic Primary; however, she defeated her closest opponent by about 200 votes.
The strategy of early spending also rang true in the race for register of deeds where incumbent Democratic nominee Terry Smith reported taking in and spending only $381 over the recent session. This comes on the heels of his taking in and spending $2,324 before the primary which he won by a sizable margin. His sole remaining opponent, independent candidate Susan Curtis, took in and spent $1,253 during the recent period after spending $528 prior to the primary.
The most economical race continues to be the race for sheriff where incumbent Jackie Matheny led in spending, taking in $1,200 and spending $801. Matheny spent $864 prior to the primary in which he faced no opposition.
Thus far, Matheny’s closest spender is former multi-term sheriff Everette Pearsall who reported taking in and spending $565. Former deputy Doc Smith spent $180 over the last reporting period. Write-in candidate Mason Black, a late-comer to the race, will file his campaign report during the next required filing which will happen immediately before the general election. The candidates for 31st Judicial District judge will also make their first filing at that time.