Tom Williams has raised more money than the six other candidates for Henderson City Commission, according to the last filing required by the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance before the Nov. 5 general election.
Williams’ receipts stand at $6,050 while his expenditures are $1,663.61, leaving a balance of $4,386.39 with less than a month left in the campaign.
Incumbent Rodney Thomas’ total campaign receipts are $3,551.24. He has spent $1,804, leaving a balance of $1,747.24.
Dwight Williams’ receipts stand at $1,378.21, and he has spent $978.74.
The other four candidates—Robert Pruitt, Nick Whitt, Kelsey Hargis and Jay Randolph—have not reported their totals to the registry because each has submitted paperwork that they intend to spend less than $5,000 during the campaign, which doesn’t require reporting prior to the election, said John Steffen, the executive director of the KREF. They will need to report their money totals by 30 days after the election, he said.
The filings also show that all candidates for the city commission race in Robards intend to spend less than $5,000. Four candidates for four spots, all incumbents—Debra Manion, Anthony Watkins, Edward Carroll and Holly Lawrie—are assured of keeping their seats.
Similarly in Corydon, candidates Renae Brown, Karen McGill, Jack Horton, Daniel Rathmann and Beth Frederick-French intend to spend less than $5,000. Candidates Jerry Hoge and Jayla Gish have indicated the same in past reports, but haven’t filed paperwork for the Nov. 5 election, according to the KREF website.
Interestingly, the candidate with the biggest war chest on the local ballot is running unopposed. J.T. Payne, unopposed in filling the District 11 state representative seat vacated by Jonathan Dixon, has raised $29,554.05 and a balance of $27,661.41, according to the 30-day pre report on the KREF website. The website shows that Payne transferred $25,704.05 from donations he collected earlier in the year and late last year.
Payne said the remaining money will be rolled over for his re-election campaign.
In the runup to the general election, Payne has received $500 from the Henderson County Republican party, $250 from the Kentucky Soybean Association and $2,100 from the Bluegrass Committee, a political action committee based in Alexandria, Va.
In the 1st District Court of Appeals, 2nd Division, Lisa Payne Jones has raised $20,303 and spent $10,861.89. Jones was appointed to the seat in April by Gov. Andy Beshear to fill in for Donna Dixon, who retired last year to run for commonwealth’s attorney in McCracken County.
Meanwhile, Jones’ opponent, Jason Fleming, a Christian County Family Court judge since 2007, has raised a total of $23,085 and has spent $19,157.21, according to KREF.
For more information, go to https://kref.ky.gov/ and then scroll down to “Search election finance statements.”
