A look at spending among local candidates in Johnson County

Local candidates are spending money in the final stretch to shore up support ahead of the May 7 primary elections.

This year, voters across Johnson County have candidates on the ballot from all levels. Along with federal and statewide offices, local offices include two commissioner seats, county council at-large, coroner, surveyor, treasurer and Prince’s Lake Town Council.

Only a few of these offices are contested. Republicans have the most with county commissioner District 3, coroner, county council at-large and Prince’s Lakes Town Council at-large, while Democrats have just county council at-large.

Campaign finance reports filed earlier this month show political action committees, businesses and individual donors are doling out cash to boost their chosen candidates as they try to win votes. Campaign spending is generally looked at as a measure of the amount of support for a particular candidate.

The Daily Journal looked at campaign finance report filings covering Jan. 1 to April 12, the end of the pre-election reporting period. Here’s what local filings showed. A story about statehouse filings will be published Wednesday.

County Council Republicans

For the Republicans, James Copp leads the group of six seeking three at-large Johnson County Council nominations. Copp has raised $9,181.12 — the most of any county candidate.

For contributions, Copp has received 14 individual contributions — including one from himself — totaling $6,390.15. He also received a $2,500 contribution from Patriot Products in Franklin, his employer, filings show.

In terms of expenses, Copp has spent $1,890.65 mostly on printing services. There was a $339.36 purchase from Lowes, but the filing doesn’t say what it was used for.

Ron Bates started the period with $241.81, raising $4,169.90. He gave his campaign $2,500, also receiving a $500 contribution from Commissioner Brian Baird. He received $500 from the Indiana Kentucky Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters, and $250 from ATM Indy, affiliated with former Greenwood mayoral candidate Joe Hubbard, according to filings.

Bates has spent $1,890.65, primarily on printing services. The rest went to the creation of the website and Johnson County GOP, filings show.

Michele Ann Graves raised $2,087.13, with all contributions coming from herself. She spent the same amount, using most of the funds —$1,778.25 — on printing, according to filings.

Melinda Griesemer has raised $428, a contribution from herself. She used the full amount on marketing from SlyFox Graphics in Greenwood.

Ron Deer has not raised or spent any money, his cash on hand stayed at $500 this reporting period.

Brian Moore did not raise or spend money and has no cash on hand.

County Council Democrats

Of the four Democrats seeking three at-large nominations, Blythe Potter leads the pack in terms of fundraising.

Potter started the filing period with $187.68 in the bank, receiving $709.36 primarily from individual contributions from ActBlue. She has spent $170.65 through the end of the filing period on printing and postal services, filings show.

Charrie Stambaugh is behind Potter, raising $566.15 from herself and her husband and six other contributors. Stambaugh has spent $361.35, mostly on supply purchases, including $205.74 on services from VistaPrint, filings show.

Saad Tawfeeq raised $220 from seven individual contributors. He spent $41.94 on supplies from Office Depot, according to his filing.

Michael Chiappetta did not raise or spend any funds and didn’t report having any cash on hand.

County Commissioner: District 3

Incumbent commissioner Ron West, a Republican, has spent $3,567 in his reelection bid. He spent $2,984 on signs from Harcourt Signage, followed by a contribution to Johnson County GOP and campaign-related purchases at Menards, his filing shows.

He did not raise any funds during the reporting period, filings show.

As for West’s opponent, Republican Steve Powell, he has raised $250 — a contribution from himself. He gave the same amount to the Johnson County GOP, according to filings.

County Coroner

While two men are seeking the Republican nomination for county coroner, neither candidate reported spending or raising money during the filing period.

Incumbent Mike Pruitt did not raise or spend any money and has $323.69 cash on hand. His opponent, Robbie Williams, didn’t raise or spend either and kept the same cash-on-hand balance of $40.03 in the bank, filings show.

Prince’s Lakes Town Council

None of the five candidates seeking two at-large Republican nominations for the Prince’s Lakes town council reported spending or raising money. None of them reported any cash on hand, filings show.

Uncontested races

While some offices on the ballot are uncontested for the primary, candidates are raising funds now to spend this fall.

Republican Brandi Foster Kirkendall, who is seeking the Johnson Superior Court 1 judge bench, had $15,205.85 on hand at the start of the reporting period. She raised $200, $100 of which was from an individual contribution and the other $100 being from Fujiyama Steakhouse of Japan, her filing shows.

As for expenses, she has spent $6,694.88 — with one expense for a caterer costing $4,060. The rest of the expenses went to printing services, $2,634.88, and the Johnson County GOP, according to her filing.

Kirkendall’s opponent, Democrat Gloria Danielson, did not report raising or spending money.

The rest of the offices are uncontested for both the primary and the November election.

BY THE NUMBERS

Here is a look at how much was raised and spent in some of the contested races from January through mid-April, based on April campaign finance reports:

Johnson County Coroner

• Michael D. Pruitt (R): Raised $0; spent $0
• Robert “Robbie” Williams (R): Raised $0; spent $0

County Commissioner: District 3

• Steve Powell (R): Raised $250; spent $250
• Ronald H. “Ron” West (R): Raised $0; spent $3,567

County Council At-Large — Republicans

• Ronald “Ron” Bates: Raised $1,100; spent $499.27
• James Copp: Raised $850; spent $684.80
• Ronald “Ron” Deer: Raised $0; spent $0
• Michele Ann Graves: Raised $2,087.13; spent $2,087.13
• Melinda Griesemer: Raised $428; spent $428
• Brian Moore: Raised $0; spent $0

County Council At-Large — Democrats

• Michael F. Chiappetta: Raised $0; spent $0
• Blythe E. Potter: Raised $709.36; spent $170.65
• Charrie Stambaugh: Raised $566.15; spent $361.35
• Saad Tawfeeq: Raised $220; spent $41.94

Prince’s Lakes Town Council At-Large

• Charlie Bourne (R): Raised $0; spent $0
• Michael Eugene Gallamore (R): Raised $0; spent $0
• Anthony Giger (R): Raised $0; spent $0
• Catherine Gleason (R): Raised $0; spent $0
• Greg Nelson (R): Raised $0; spent $0