Matt Aitken is outpacing his competitors in campaign contributions in the race for Betty Beard's District 1 seat on the Augusta Commission, having raised $5,355, according to documents filed this week with the Richmond County Board of Elections.
Bill Fennoy, whom Ms. Beard has endorsed, has raised $4,207, and Butch Palmer has raised $700, according to their contribution-disclosure reports. JoRae Jenkins missed the filing deadline, but according to campaign co-manager Ian Dalbert she has raised $1,364.
The money came from Ms. Jenkins and her campaign workers, Mr. Dalbert said. Because she's filing late, Ms. Jenkins will be reported to the state Ethics Commission and fined $25, Richmond County Board of Elections Executive Director Lynn Bailey said.
In the District 3 race, incumbent Joe Bowles has raised $2,353, more than three times as much as challenger Cleveland O'Steen. Mr. O'Steen has raised $754, and $631 of it came from himself.
The other District 3 challenger, Joy B. Mitchell-Booker, reported raising no contributions.
In District 5, Bill Lockett has raised $12,016 to Bobby Hankerson's $4,215. However, Mr. Lockett's contributions include a $9,382 loan from himself.
Marshal Steve Smith has raised $12,815, more than all of them, even though he's running unopposed. All of the donations were made before the close of qualifying, when it was unknown whether he would have opposition.
Because the race to fill the late Joe Scott's Richmond County Board of Education seat is a special election, disclosure reports aren't due until Oct. 26.
Listed contributions of $101 or more include:
- For Mr. Aitken, $1,000 from developer Clay Boardman, $1,000 from Caye Properties President Charles Caye Jr., $750 from Mr. Aitken himself and $250 from his campaign manager, Ed Presnell
- For Mr. Fennoy, $1,000 from Washington, D.C.-based PRM Consulting
- For Mr. Palmer, $500 from the Builders Association of Metro Augusta, which also donated $2,000 to Mr. Bowles and $2,000 to Mr. Hankerson
- For Mr. Hankerson, an $800 loan from himself, $160 from himself and $180 from campaign manager Eugene Hunt
- For Marshal Smith, $500 from Regent Security, $500 from Thompson Building Wrecking Co. and $500 from state Transportation Board Chairman Bill Kuhlke.
Reach Johnny Edwards at (706) 823-3225 or johnny.edwards@augustachronicle.com.
CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION reports can be viewed online at www.augustaga.gov
HARRISBURG FORUM
Candidates for the District 1 seat on the Augusta Commission met at a forum in Harrisburg Friday night.
Matt Aitken, Bill Fennoy, JoRae Jenkins and Butch Palmer answered questions from the crowd of about 50 people at the Harrisburg Family Life Center and discussed many of the same issues that arose in a similar forum Thursday night -- crime, blight and the proposed trade, exhibit and event center.
-- From staff reports
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