Editor's Note: This story has been corrected to fix an error regarding the amount of sheriff candidate Lance Poirier's expenditures.
Big money has not yet rolled into Marion County elections this year as candidates have mostly funded their own operations, according to the first round of campaign finance reports.
The reports cover funds received and spent between Jan. 1 and April 30 and were due Friday to the circuit clerk’s office.
The open race for chancery clerk has drawn the most action so far. Joy Daley Baughman has raised the most of all the candidates in any race at $4,115 and Elisha Prisk Moree the second most at $2,800. Both of them are running as Republicans for chancery clerk. Baughman has spent $4,483 and Moree $6,911.
Among the other GOP candidates for that position, Randy Dyess reported $100 in contributions and $4,039 in expenditures, and Mark Broom reported no contributions and $1,040 in spending.
When a candidate reports more in expenditures than contributions, it indicates they used their own money toward their campaign.
A fifth Republican candidate, Jeffrey Barnes, has dropped out of the race. The seat is open because incumbent Cass Barnes is not seeking re-election.
The lone Democrat running, Darrick McGowan, did not file a campaign finance report by Friday’s deadline, according to a search of the records by the C-P.
State law allows a $50 per day civil penalty beginning the 10th calendar day after a campaign finance report is late, although that is rarely, if ever, enforced. However, if a candidate wins election they cannot take office until they’ve filed all of their required campaign finance reports.
The Republican and Democratic primaries are coming up Aug. 6 with a potential runoff Aug. 27. The general election follows on Nov. 5.
The next periodic campaign finance report is due June 10. On the reports, candidates give totals for how much is raised and spent as well as itemizing contributions and expenditures more than $200. Most of the expenses reported by Marion County candidates were for printing campaign materials and advertising.
Mississippi law puts few restrictions on how much individuals can give to political campaigns, but in return it requires disclosure of those receipts as a way for the public to see how donors are looking to influence candidates.
Here’s a look at other races:
Sheriff:
Lance Poirier, a former sheriff’s deputy now with the Columbia Police Department, had the most expenditures at $6,160.
Former Columbia Police Chief Mike Cooper reported $3,755 in expenditures.
Incumbent Berkley Hall reported $1,850 in contributions and $1,493 spent. Those three are running as Republicans.
The lone Democrat, Adrian Fortenberry, reported $483 spent.
Board of Supervisors:
In the crowded field for the District 1 seat being left open because Dyess is running for chancery clerk, Morris Sweatt reported the most spending so far at $1,199. George King reported $1,036 spent, Blue Green $639, Teddy Breakfield $400, Eddie Morgan $120 and Pearlie Hendricks $0. Brad Livingston has dropped out of the race, and David Lowery and Steven “Pork Chop” Stringer did not file reports by the deadline.
The District 2 race saw a relatively robust amount of contributions and spending compared to other supervisor races. Incumbent Terry Broome reported $650 contributions and $2,177 spent. Sylvester Douglas had $735 in contributions and $2,389 spent and Jimmy Townsend $2,300 contributions and $1,783 spent. John Moree did not file a report before the deadline.
In the other contested supervisor race, District 4, Buddy Carroll Bracey reported $1,358 in spending, while incumbent Raymon “Tater” Rowell reported no contributions or expenditures.
District 1 Justice Court Judge:
Joseph Turney, $4,640 in expenditures
Winston “Joe” Cox, $2,739 contributions, $2,761 expenditures
Henry Sumrall, $1,072 expenditures
David Reed, $841.56 expenditures
Carlton Thornhill, no contributions or expenditures
Brandon Rowell and A.D. Lenoir did not turn in forms by Friday’s deadline.
Coroner:
Jessie Graham, $2,420 expenditures
Carla Thornhill, $223 contributions, $2,065 expenditures
Ashley Davis Nibert, $682 contributions, $1,739 expenditures
Alicia Neal Herrington and Bill Pierce had not turned in reports by the deadline.
District 1 Constable:
Gary Holman, $1,115 expenditures
Brian Foxworth, $818 expenditures
Eli Turnage, $365 in contributions and $65 spent.
Krae Morgan and Gerald Rowley had not turned in reports by the deadline.
Candidates who don’t have opponents, including Circuit Clerk Janette Nolan, District 2 Constable Robbie Gill, District 3 Supervisor Tony Morgan, District 5 Supervisor Calvin Newsom and District 2 Justice Court Judge Gwen Broom, filed reports showing no money received or spent. That allows them to file a termination report closing out their campaigns and exempts them from having to file further reports during this election cycle.
