In the runup to Tuesday’s Republican primary for District 15 senator, incumbent Bart Williams holds a commanding financial lead, outraising his opponent Alan Sibley nearly 2-to-1 during the course of the campaign.
Williams reported raising $68,766 year-to-date, including $21,745 during the most recent period, according to a campaign finance report filed by the Aug. 1 deadline.
Candidates in state and local races must file periodic campaign finance reports and itemize contributions or expenditures of $200 or greater.
Of Williams’ most recent contributions, $1,495 were not itemized. The itemized $20,250 included: $2,500 from the Mississippi Bankers Association; $2,000 from the Friends of MS Hospitals; $1,500 from MPA-PAC; $1,000 each from MS Concrete Industries Association, ENPAC, Rudy Johnson, MAE-PAC, Mississippi Road Builders Association, David and Ashley Parker, Mississippi Propane Gas Association, Mississippi Petroleum Marketers PAC, MDPAC and the Mississippi Optometric Association; $500 each from AT&T, MSW PAC, Bank of Kilmichael, MS Behavioral Health Sciences, Motorola Solutions PAC and Atmos Energy Corporation PAC; and $250 each from Clyde Pritchard, Armstrong and Associates, Mitchell Eye Care Amy Crigler and Chuck and Elaine Schimpf.
Williams reported $57,946.66 in year-to-date spending, including $37,715.89 last period, and still has a cash balance of $39,032.24, when adding the more than $28,000 he had raised before Jan. 1.
By comparison, Sibley raised just $550 last period, including $500 from Benny Rigby and a non-itemized donation, according to his most recent report. However, he spent $30,626.69.
Year-to-date, Sibley has raised $37,275 and spent $53,205.71. Since he entered the 2023 with $16,913.63 in the bank, he still has $982.92 on hand.
No Democrat is running in District 15, meaning the primary winner will take the seat.
District 1 supervisor
Even with a crowded four-man Republican primary, Ben Carver is the only candidate to show significant activity in the Aug. 1 filing period.
Carver raised $1,860, with $1,000 from Mike Rozier, $500 from Jimmy Linley and $360 non-itemized. He reported spending all of that.
Year-to-date, Carver reported raising $5,810 and spending $6,242.30. He reported a cash balance of negative-$432.30
Rival Republican Ed Whitehurst reported no activity for the latest period but has $6,576.02 cash on hand, while Greg Fulgham and Sammy Wade Jones did not file a report by the deadline.
On the Democratic side, Ronnie Clardy reported no activity for the period but has spent $1,014.36 year-to-date. He reported a $0 cash balance.
Democrat Eric Young did not file a report by the deadline.
The winner will replace John Montgomery, who is running for tax assessor/collector.
District 4 supervisor
With Tuesday’s primary deciding the race, Republicans Pattie Little and Austin Check are neck-and-neck in total contributions, though most of Check’s campaign has been self funded.
Little has raised $8,937.72 so far this year, including $1,794.52 during the most recent filing period. All but $500 of that, which came from George Sills, is non-itemized.
She has spent $6,019.36 as of Aug. 1, and has $2,918.36 on hand.
Check has raised $8,221 so far, with $6,191 coming from his own pocket. During the latest period, he pumped $4,360 into his campaign, while receiving donations of $500 each from Lisa Marshall and Jason Schwanebeck, as well as $300 from Greg and Suzie Wall and $730 in non-itemized contributions.
Year-to-date, he has spent $3,723.41, including $1,741.88 last period, and has $4,768.06 on hand.
The winner will replace Bricklee Miller, who decided not to run.
District 5 supervisor
Even with contested primaries on both sides, Democrat Walter James Stewart is the only one of the four candidates to submit a campaign finance report for the latest period by the deadline.
He shows no contributions and $65 in spending. To date, he’s spent $1,231.23, with a $0 cash balance.
Incumbent Democrat Joe Williams, as well as Republicans Les Lindley and Anthony Watt, did not file reports.
District 3 justice court judge
Republican Brian Michael Lindner showed no activity for the period with $250 on hand. His primary opponent, Will McNeel, did not file a report.
Incumbent Democrat Marty Haug shows $75 in non-itemized donations for the period and $1,043 in spending, with a cash balance of $3,857 to start the general election campaign.
Sheriff
Republican Shank Phelps had a comparatively quiet last period, raising $1,300 – a $300 boost from William Eshee and $1,000 non-itemized. He also reported spending $1,200.
But he has raised $21,100 year-to-date and still has $8,423.96 on-hand heading into the November general election campaign.
His general election opponent, Democrat Jon Rice, did not file a report by the deadline.
The general election winner will replace the retiring Steve Gladney.
Tax Assessor/Collector
Republican John Montgomery reported no contributions this period and $200 in spending. He reported raising $1,109 to date and spending $5,153.16, with a cash balance of $0.
His general election opponent, Democrat JoHelen Walker did not file an Aug. 1 report.
The general election winner will replace the retiring Allen Morgan.
District 1 constable
In the three-man Republican Joe Morse has spent $4,210.40 on his campaign to date, reporting a negative-$3,990.40 cash balance. He reported no activity for the last period and $220 in contributions to date.
Kenneth Watkins reported $3,250 in year-to-date contributions. He noted no donations from the period and only $12 in spending, reporting a cash balance of $924.15. Shannon Williams did not file a report by the deadline.
The Republican winner will face William Ford in November, who self-funded $1,742.40 in expenditures for his campaign last period and has a $0 cash balance.
The winner will replace Phelps, who is running for sheriff.
District 3 constable
Republican James Lindsey reported no donations and $300 in spending for the period. He has spent $1,637 to date and reported no cash on hand.
His general election opponent, Democrat Ronald Hannah did not file a report.
District Attorney
Republican challenger Jase Dalrymple reported $800 in non-itemized expenditures, and $3,618 in expenditures. He has raised a total of $21,620 and has $17,774 in cash on hand.
Chuck Easley, also running as a Republican, reported $4,775 in disbursements but no fundraising and no cash on hand.
Democrat incumbent Scott Colom did not have to file a report because he is unopposed in the primary.
Zack Plair is the managing editor for The Dispatch.
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