STARKVILLE — The latest campaign finance report for Democratic sheriff candidate John Rice includes a $1,471 contribution from another country.
Ayman Alhazmi, listed as from “Jedettah,” Saudi Arabia, provided Rice’s largest itemized contribution in his campaign finance report filed with the Oktibbeha County circuit clerk’s office.
Speaking to The Dispatch on Thursday, Rice said Alhazmi, a friend, United States citizen and former Mississippi State student who now lives in Kentucky, sent the contribution while he was on a trip to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Rice said he misspelled the city name on the form.
Despite Alhazmi’s help, Rice still trails Republican Shank Phelps in fundraising, according to reports that were required to be filed by Wednesday.
Those reports require candidates to itemize contributions and expenditures that exceed $200.
Rice reported raising $3,656 and spending almost all of it so far. His itemized donations included $500 from Bill Cook and BJ’s Family Pharmacy, $300 from Robert Camp, $200 from Jack Robertson and $100 from John Young. He also reported $585 in non-itemized contributions.
Phelps, by comparison, reported $9,950 in campaign contributions, more than half of which came from out of state, and $4,952 in spending.
His itemized contributions show $5,000 from Matt Wiggins of Kemah, Texas, along with $500 each from Rudy Johnson, Sammy Kally and Buddy Daniels; $350 from Clayton Richard; and $250 from Roy Carpenter and Jim McReynolds. He also reported $2,600 of non-itemized donations.
So far, candidates in competitive county races have raised more than $36,700 cumulatively.
Primary elections are Aug. 8, and the general election is Nov. 7.
District 1 Supervisor
Ben Carver, a Republican and current Starkville alderman for Ward 1, reported $3,450 in contributions to his campaign, with $2,450 non-itemized. He reported $500 from Jim Hurt and $250 each from John Carroll and Jim McReynolds.
Republican Sammy Wade Jones reported $1,200 in non-itemized contributions and the same amount in spending.
Republican Greg Fulgham reported $350 in non-itemized contributions and $1,200 in spending.
Republican Ed Whitehurst reported no contributions and $400 in spending.
The two Democratic candidates for the same seat, Erik Young and Ronnie Clardy, reported no campaign contributions. Young also reported no spending, while Clardy reported $1,014 in spending.
District 4 Supervisor
Pattie Little reported $7,143 in contributions. While she listed $269 as self-funded, she itemized the remaining $6,874 as coming from a fundraiser. Little told The Dispatch on Thursday that no individual donor gave more than $200 at that fundraiser.
Her opponent, Austin Check, reported only one $1,000 contribution from himself.
Both candidates are Republicans.
District 5 Supervisor
Republican Les Lindley is the leading candidate with $200 from Frank Jones in contributions.
Incumbent Democrat Joe Williams reported no contributions and $241 in spending.
Democrat Walter James Stewart reported no contributions and $1,166 in spending.
Republican Anthony Watt did not file a report by the deadline.
District 1 Constable
Republican Kenneth Watkins reported the highest total of contributions in the constable race at $3,250. Watkins reported a $1,000 contribution from George Parnell, $350 from Justin Lindley and $100 from himself, and $1,800 was non-itemized.
Republican candidate Joe Morse reported $220 in non-itemized contributions and $1,584 in spending.
Republican Shannon Williams reported $1,419.89 in both contributions and spending. For Williams, $500 was contributed by Molly Kinard and the rest was self-funded.
William Ford, the only Democratic candidate, reported no contributions and $997 in spending, as his campaign has been entirely self-funded.
District 3 Constable
Democrat Ronald Hannah reported $2,861 in contributions, with $640 non-itemized, $500 from Richard Harris and the rest self-funded.
Republican candidate James Lindsey reported no contributions and no spending.
Tax Assessor
Current District 1 supervisor and Republican candidate John Montgomery reported $1,109 in contributions from three donors: $500 from Lavell Brown, $350 Clayton Richardson and $259 from Frank Chiles.
Johelen Walker, a Democrat, reported a $1,000 contribution to her campaign from John McKlusky and $1,208 in spending.
District 3 Justice Court Judge
Only one candidate, Republican Brian Michael Lindner, reported a campaign contribution – $250 from Vollor Law Firm.
Republican Will McNeel and incumbent Democrat C. Marty Haug both reported no contributions or spending.
Non-competitive races
Chancery Court Clerk Sharon Livington, Circuit Court Clerk Tony Rook, District 2 Constable Curtis D. Randle, Coroner Michael Hunt, County Attorney Haley Brown, District 2 Election Commissioner Sissy Smitherman, District 4 Election Commissioner Dave Holley, District 1 Justice Court Judge William Anton “Tony” Boykin, District 2 Justice Court Judge Larnzy Carpenter, District 2 Supervisor Orlando Trainer and District 3 Supervisor Marvell Howard are all running unopposed.
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