Columbus Mayor Robert Smith significantly outraised and outspent independent opponent Tom Geiger during the mayoral campaign, with a host of contributions including $500 from a Washington-based lobbying firm, reports show.
Each election year, candidates for municipal races must report all campaign contributions and campaign-related expenditures more than $200 to the Columbus registrar and to Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann’s office.
Geiger, who faced Smith in the general election, didn’t report any contributions over $200 in his bid to unseat Smith, who was elected to a second term.
Several candidates for councilmen reported donations over the $200 mark. Among the largest were two $1,000 donations from the Lowndes County Republican Party to incumbents Jay Jordan and Susan Mackay, who both lost their seats in the general election.
Candidates reported money spent primarily on campaign signs and advertising.
All candidates still must turn in a final termination report, Columbus Registrar Brenda Williams said. The report is a contract stating all campaign debt has been resolved and the candidate no longer will accept campaign contributions nor will make any more campaign expenditures, according to Hosemann’s Web site.
All candidates on Jan. 29, 2010, also must submit an end-of-year expenditure report detailing all campaign funding activity during 2009.
A listing of itemized contributions reported by candidates for mayor and alderman:
Democratic incumbent Robert Smith
Andy Stewart Sr., Columbus: $750
T.P. Harris Elks Lodge, Columbus: $600
APAC Mississippi Political Action Committee, Washington, D.C.: $500
Hilbert Williams, Columbus: $500
Joyce Coleman, Columbus: $500
Felix Wicks, Columbus: $300
Gouras and Associates, Ridgeland: $250
John Dickerson, Columbus: $200
Terrell Thomas Properties, Columbus: $200
Glenn Chappel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Columbus: $200
Travis Jones, Columbus: $100
Bolten Investigation, Columbus: $100
Nell’s Electrical Contractor, Columbus: $100
Pam Dyer-Rush, Starkville: $50
Ward 1 Democratic incumbent Gene Taylor
Adam Holmes, Columbus: $1,000
Joel and Lelia Hudnall, Columbus: $200
Esther Harrison campaign fund, Columbus: $100
Dennis Erby, Columbus: $50.
Kimberly Mullin, Columbus: $20
Ward 2 Republican incumbent Susan Mackay
Campaign contributions
Columbus-Lowndes Political Action Committee: $1,000
Lowndes County Republican Party: $1,000
Golden Triangle Association of Realtors: $200
Ward 3 Republican candidate Charlie Box
Justin and David Shelton, Columbus: $500
Ward 3 Republican incumbent Gene Coleman
Family Pharmacy, Columbus: $500
Ward 5 Republican incumbent Jay Jordan
Lowndes County Republican Party: $1,000
Michael Kerby Jr., Columbus: $500
Ward 5 Democratic candidate Kabir Karriem
Adam Holmes, Columbus: $250
Joel Hudnall, Columbus: $200
Andy Stewart, Columbus: $200
Ward 5 Democratic candidate Kenneth McFarland
Andy Stewart Sr., Columbus: $200
Hilbert Williams, Columbus: $200
Johnnie Richardson, Columbus: $100
Claude Simpson, Columbus: $100
Bobby McCarter, Columbus: $50
Lillie Richardson, Columbus: $50
Ward 6 Republican candidate Bill Gavin
Environmental Evaluation and Control, Columbus: $300
Coleman Realty, Columbus: $100
Figures provided by the Columbus city clerk’s office
Neal Wagner is a Staff Reporter for The Commercial Dispatch.
