Six Lowndes County candidates reported combined contributions of $27,173 during the latest campaign financing reporting period, which ended June 10.
Fewer than half of the Lowndes County candidates met the June 10 deadline to file the reports for the second reporting period, according to a review of records at the circuit clerk’s office Wednesday.
Fourteen of 28 candidates filed the required reports, which cover the period of May 1 through May 31.
Candidates for local races are required by law to report campaign contributions and expenditures at regular intervals. During the first reporting date — which covered campaign finance records from Jan. 1 through April 30 — just seven of 28 candidates failed to file.
Since then, one candidate has withdrawn from the race (Chuck Easley, circuit clerk).
Three candidates — Joseph Mickens (circuit clerk), Bobby Weaver (sheriff) and Chris Griffin (constable, District 1) — have not filed for either period.
Among those who filed reports, incumbent Sheriff Mike Arledge received a $2,500 contribution from Greg Rader, the owner of Columbus Recycling. Arledge’s total campaign contributions were $3,700, according to the report.
Incumbent Chancery Clerk Lisa Younger Neese listed $500 in non-itemized contributions for the period. Circuit Clerk candidates Sheri Bedwell ($465.94) and Teresa Barksdale ($199) reported contributions during the period.
Circuit Clerk candidate Margie Canon donated $10,000 to her own campaign. Circuit Clerk candidate Tim Heard also donated $1,453.13 to his own campaign, according the report, while Justin Shelton, who is also running for circuit clerk, donated $12,055 to his campaign.
By law, contributions of $200 or less are considered non-itemized contributions and candidates do not have to disclose the names of the contributors.
The next reporting date is July 28.
Campaign finance reports for May 1-May 31
Circuit Clerk
■ Teresa Barksdale (R): $649.00
■ Sheri Bedwell (L): $565.94
■ Margie Canon (R): $10,000
■ Chuck Easley (R): withdrawn, no report
■ Tim Heard (I): $4,231.64
■ Jackie Leach (I): no report
■ Joseph Mickens (D): no report
■ Justin Shelton (R): $12,055.00
Sheriff
■ Mike Arledge* (R): $3,700.00
■ Selvain McQueen (D): $0
■ Anthony Nelson (D): no report
■ Bobby Webber (D): no report
Superintendent of Schools
■ Sammy Sullivan (R): $550
■ Tim Wilcox (R): $0
■ Lynn Wright* (R): no report
District 1 Supervisor
■ Phillip Atkins (I): no report
■ Pauline Redmond (R): no report
■ Harry Sanders* (R): $0
District 3 Supervisor
■ John Hollimon* (R): $0
■ Patrick “PJ” Hughes (R): $800
District 4 Supervisor
■ Joe Brooks (D): no report
■ Jeff Smith*: no report
District 5 Supervisor
■ Leroy Brooks* (D): no report
■ Rickie Hill (D): no report
■ Marty Turner (D): no report
Chancery Clerk
■ Lisa Younger Neese* (R): $1,500
■ Andre Deforrest Roberts (D): $0
Constable, District 1
■ Chris Griffin (R): no report
■ Willie “Hoot” West* (D): no report
*- incumbent
Slim Smith is a columnist and feature writer for The Dispatch. His email address is [email protected].
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