|
Hopefuls slow to disclose funds
Only nine of 21 candidates have turned in forms
Candidates for Cherokee County's local and state elections are taking advantage of the grace period for turning in campaign
disclosure forms.
Only nine of 21 candidates in contested Republican primary races had turned in their
disclosures by 5 p.m. Friday.
The forms reporting campaign donations and expenditures were due Wednesday
to the board of elections, but a grace period gives candidates until next Thursday.
Of the nine that
were filed, most of the candidates are supporting donations with their own funds.
For example, candidate
for county state court
judge Channing Ruskell has raised $32,496, including a loan of $32,396 from his
own funds. He reported $5,846 in expenditures.
Ruskell said he is not asking for contributions.
"I don't want to be obligated to anyone in particular," he said. "I have been fortunate in my practice to set aside my own
personal funds."
His opponent incumbent Judge Clyde J. Gober has raised $11,675 and spent $3,720. Most
of his contributions are from attorneys.
The only candidate for state House District 22 who has turned
in a campaign disclosure form is Mary Wilhite. She has raised $37,250, including a loan of $25,000 from her own funds. Most
of her campaign donations were from local church pastors.
Mrs. Wilhite said she needed to use her own
funds because of the expenses of a campaign.
"Elections are expensive, especially signs, magazine covers
and mail orders," she said. "One of my magazine covers cost $3,000."
Mrs. Wilhite said putting her own
money into her campaign shows she "stands behind what she says."
"Roy Barnes said if you can't put money
into your own race and believe in yourself, you can't expect anyone else to do it," she said. "I want to first prove to the
people of Cherokee County that I will work for their needs before asking them for any money."
She said
she does appreciate the donations from the faith community.
"The faith community understands my ability
to work hard and trusts me with the commitment to deliver services," said Mrs. Wilhite, who plans to hold a rally this month.
Fellow state House District 22 candidates Chuck Scheid and Sean Jerguson said other commitments kept them from turning in
their forms by the deadline. Jerguson said he held a golf tournament June 29, the donations from which have to be tallied
before the disclosure can be turned in.
Both candidates for clerk of courts have turned in their disclosures.
Candidate Wes Frye has raised $12,473, with most contributions made by attorneys and a $1,674 loan from his own funds.
"The attorneys want someone that knows the system, and that's why they are backing me," he said.
He
held a rally in June and has planned another for 5 to 7 p.m. July 9 at the BridgeMill fire station.
Candidate Patty Baker has raised $9,319 including a $1,000 loan from her own funds. Her contributions include donations from
several elected officials.
"They came to me," she said. "Elected officials, such as (state Rep.) Chip
Rogers, (state Rep.) Calvin Hill, (county commissioner) Derek Good and (school board member) Kelly Campbell, have endorsed
me. I have a proven track as an elected official."
She held a fund-raiser and will hold another at 7
p.m. July 9 at the Ron and Betty Moores' home in Woodstock.
Two of the three candidates for the Post
2 seat on the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners have turned in their disclosures.
Candidate Jim
Hubbard has raised $9,957, with donations from residents and local businesses as well as from former commission Chairwoman
Emily Lemcke and planning commission member Bill Jarrard.
"People are supporting me because I have helped
them with zonings," he said.
Hubbard said he has not asked developers for money and doesn't think they
will donate to his campaign since he favors slow growth.
"I think this shows that my loyalties will
be to the people, the people that gave what they could, worked what they could and voted," he said.
Fellow Post 2 candidate Scott Forward has raised $3,625, including a $2,000 loan from his own funds. His contributors include
geologists and a construction company.
"Everyone has some difficulty raising funding due to the economy,
which caused us to spend our own funds to be effective," he said.
Forward said he is relying on word
of mouth, door-to-door campaigning and forums to get his message across. He has no plans for a fund-raiser.
"I feel people will respect the candidate more when they meet the candidate," he said.
Post 2 candidate
Bart Brannon has not turned in his disclosure but said he has raised $5,900 from mostly friends and family. He said a knee
injury delayed him from filing on time. Brannon held a fund-raiser in June and plans to hold another one this month.
One of the two candidates for Post 3 on the county commission has turned in her report.
Candidate Karen
Mahurin has raised $6,892, with contributions from Jarrard as well as attorneys, residents, family members and local businesses.
She also loaned her campaign $2,246 of her own funds.
"I'm not actively pursing contributions," she
said. "Instead, it's a grassroots campaign of neighbors and friends. It comes from the people I have always tried to represent."
She held a fund-raiser in June and may hold another one this month.
Incumbent Post 3 Commissioner Ilona
Sanders said her responsibilities of being a commissioner and campaigning have forced her to take advantage of the grace period.
"My supporters are broad-based, including individuals, businesses and developers," she said. "I have been in office for eight
years and therefore, fund-raising is much easier."
She plans on holding a fund-raiser for this campaign.
Chief magistrate judge candidate Benson Chambers has raised $6,675 from attorneys, developers and businesses. He has no plans
for a fund-raiser and said most of his contributors have contacted him.
"It shows confidence in my ability
to handle the job," he said.
Fellow candidate Ben Abney said he filed his report Friday. It was not
available for review at 5 p.m.
|
