Campaign finance reports show a wide gap in campaign spending among Adair County candidates, with four candidates seeking office in Adair County reporting more than $5,000 in campaign activity while most others filed paperwork indicating they expected to stay below that threshold.
County clerk candidates Destiny Greer and Nadalie Inscho, sheriff candidate Joey Keith and county judge-executive candidate Chris Reeder were the only candidates who filed notices indicating they intended to raise or spend more than $5,000.
Campaign finance reports provide a look at how much candidates raise and spend while seeking office, including how much money remains in their accounts heading into the Nov. 3 general election.
Greer reported $13,750 in total receipts and $12,433.61 in expenditures during her campaign for county clerk.
Inscho, who defeated Greer in the primary election and is unopposed in the general election, reported $13,264.80 in receipts and $12,820.12 in expenditures during her primary campaign. Inscho filed a notice indicating she did not intend to raise or spend more than $5,000 during the general election.
Reeder, who is seeking the office of county judge-executive and faced opposition in both the primary and general election, reported $19,918.77 in receipts and the same amount in expenditures during the primary election, leaving no balance.
For the general election, Reeder reported $7,290.87 in receipts and $6,882.76 in expenditures in his 60-day and 30-day pre-election reports. His most recent report, filed Oct. 5, showed a remaining balance of $408.11.
Reporting requirements vary by campaign
Kentucky candidates must file campaign finance reports electronically with Kentucky Registry of Eleciton Finance according to the amount they intend to raise or spend during an election.
Candidates are required to declare whether they expect to receive or spend more than $5,000. Those who file the exemption indicating they will remain below that threshold are still required to file 30-day and 60-day post-election reports for the primary and general elections.
Candidates who expect to exceed $5,000 must file additional reports. Those reports include 30-day and 15-day pre-primary reports and 60-day, 30-day and 15-day pre-general election reports.
Candidates may spend as much of their own money on a campaign as they choose, but contributions from individuals, organizations and committees are subject to limits.
Contribution limits changed July 15, increasing the maximum contribution from individuals, organizations or permanent committees from $2,200 to $3,500 per election.
While there are several deadlines to meet throughout the process, several candidates did not file the 30-day post-primary report on time and have not filed the 60-day post-primary report. They were listed as delinquent by the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance. Those are magistrate candidates Jared Stargel, Joe Kimbler, Donnie Curry and Greg Caldwell.
Magistrate candidate Jimmy Bennett and judge-executive candidate Todd Davenport did not file prior to deadline but have completed all reports currently due.
Judge-executive candidates
Other than Reeder, all candidates in the county judge-executive race filed the $5,000 exemption for the primary election.
Gale Cowan’s final post-primary report showed $5,000 in receipts and $5,000 in expenditures.
Larry Russell Bryant reported receiving and spending $4,562.96 during his primary campaign.
Todd Davenport, who was unopposed in the primary, initially reported no receipts or expenditures on his 60-day and 30-day post-election reports. He later amended his 30-day report to show $1,000 in receipts. Davenport also filed the $5,000 exemption for the general election.
Bridget Compton, a write-in candidate for county judge-executive in the general election, also filed the exemption. Her next required reports are due after the election.
Sheriff’s race
Three candidates competed in the primary election for sheriff: Gary Roy, Joey Keith and Rodger Young.
Roy filed the $5,000 exemption. His 30-day post-election report showed $3,300 in receipts and expenditures. He has not filed a 60-day post-primary report.
Keith did not file the exemption. His reports showed $10,021.61 in receipts and expenditures during his primary campaign. All reports have been filed for his campaign.
Young filed the exemption and reported no receipts or expenditures during the primary campaign. He filed the 30-day post-primary report but has not filed the 60 post-primary report.
Magistrate races
Campaign finance reports for the seven magistrate districts showed varying levels of spending among candidates.
In District 1, Tony Denton, Donnie Curry, Joe Kimbler and Jared Stargel all filed the $5,000 exemption. Curry reported $682 in expenditures, while Kimbler reported $622.35. Denton and Stargel reported no receipts or expenditures.
In District 2, James Eaton and Daryl Flatt reported no receipts or expenditures. Greg Willis reported $850.
In District 3, Jimmy Bennett reported $5,000 in receipts and expenditures, while Veronica Arnold reported $1,437.75. Todd Smith and Brian Turner reported no receipts or expenditures.
District 4 candidates Chris Janes, Carley Fudge and Barry Petty also filed campaign finance reports. Janes reported $3,700 in receipts and expenditures, while Fudge and Petty reported no receipts or expenditures.
Chad Brown was unopposed in the primary for magistrate in District 5 and filed the exemption.
In District 6, Ronald Humphress reported $600 in campaign receipts and expenditures, while Greg Caldwell reported no receipts or expenditures.
District 7 candidates Bryan Cheatham, Richard Phelps and Stephen Foster filed reports showing varying amounts of campaign activity. Cheatham reported no receipts or expenditures, Phelps reported $2,950.84, and Foster reported $819.28.
All candidates seeking city council seats and the unopposed mayoral candidate filed the $5,000 exemption.
Final filings after the general election will offer voters a clearer picture of the financial activity behind this year’s local campaigns.
By Amy Pike
amy@adairvoice.com
