Vigo candidates file pre-primary finance reports

Apr. 29—According to their campaign finance reports, the coffers for candidates for Vigo County offices vary wildly in their bounty.

Incumbents running for Vigo County commissioner, for example, have healthy sums near or surpassing $20,000, while a couple of other candidates report having and spending no money.

The deadline for candidates to submit their campaign finance reports was noon April 19. Eight candidate missed the deadline, although six did file reports on Monday — Marie Theisz, Bill Treadway, Larry Hutchings, Travis Norris, John Fitzpatrick and Laureen Hoffman.

Vigo County Clerk and Election Board Secretary Brad Newman said the Election Board recently instituted penalties for not filing a campaign finance report — $50 a day after the deadline until it is submitted, up to a maximum of $1,000.

The Vigo County Election Board will address campaign finance report rules when it next convenes sometime after the primary, Newman added.

While some candidates' reports are straightforward and informative, others can be contradictory or confusing.

Errors in math occasionally occur — some reports suggest that a candidate has spent as much on campaign materials as he or she has received in contributions and yet still manages to have that same amount in cash on hand.

Here are the highlights of campaign finance reports for Vigo County candidates:

Board of Commissioners

Republican incumbent Chris Switzer, District 2 commissioner, reported that he currently has $19,632.48 on hand. He has received $9,500 from individuals, $8,600 from corporations and $3,250 from political action committees.

Among Switzer's donors are Kroger Gardis Regas, which represents the Vigo County Capital Improvement Board of which Switzer is a member, which contributed $1,000, and Clinkenbeard Construction, owned by fellow County Commissioner Mark Clinkenbeard, which chipped in $100. Another construction firm, DLZ Indiana, gave him $2,000.

He has spent $27,031.31 to date, with $17,000 of that going to Sway Marketing.

Switzer is being challenged in the primary by Republican Anthony Rubinacci, who reported that he has $1,120.17 on hand. District 46 Indiana state Representative Bob Heaton's committee gave him $500. He has spent $2,394.82 at City Press for campaign materials.

Democrats Courtney Weger and Dillon Moss are also running for District 2 County Commissioner in the primary. Weger reported that he has contributed $271.74 to his own campaign and spent it on advertising.

Moss had filed no information as of Monday afternoon.

Incumbent District 3 Commissioner Mike Morris, a Republican, has $21,904 and has no challenger in the primary, so he has not had to spend money on campaigning yet, nor has he had to seek donations given the size of his war chest. His only expenditure has been a $600 contribution to St. Patrick School.

In November, he will square off against Democratic challenger Tony Kassissieh, who reported having $474.80 on hand.

County Council

Democratic incumbent Todd Thacker has received $5,525, all but $125 of it from labor unions, and has spent $4,921 on sundry campaign expenses (signs, T-shirts, postage stamps).

Democratic incumbent Marie Theisz filed her report on Monday. She reported starting with $800.32 and received $695.81 in donations, including $200 from the Committee to Elect Tonya Pfaff. She spent $398.28 in expenditures, saving money because she had plenty of campaign signs from her previous campaign. She has $1157.95 cash in hand and her campaign owes $1,100 on a loan it received.

Republican challenger Brad Anderson has $1,023 on hand; he has spent $620, including $535 on signs.

Republican challenger Dusty Havens has funded his campaign to the tune of $2,413, and has spent $1,000 on signs and shirts.

Republican challenger Brenda Wilson received $988 in contributions and has spent $826, including $680 on signs. She reports $61.91 in cash on hand.

Democratic challenger Scott Fisher received $4,700 in PAC money, and has spent $2,400 on printing supplies, campaign candy and T-shirts. He has borrowed $257 from his campaign.

Democratic challenger Jim Bramble owes $2,288.11 for printed items.

Republican challenger Steve Ellis reported he had not received nor spent any money.

Republican challenger Bill Treadway filed on Monday, reporting that he began with $338.77 in cash in hand and has not received nor spent any other money.

County auditor

Democrat Cheryl Loudermilk, the county's current deputy auditor who is running unopposed in the primary, initially had $3,811 in her campaign, contributed by her, with a loan from her husband Norm. All of the funds were spent on printing and parade items, and the campaign owes Norm the $2,411.83 he had loaned it.

Republican Larry Hutchings is also running unopposed in the primary and filed his report on Monday. He said he has received $60 at a fundraiser and $20 from an unknown couple who handed him a $20 bill at the Grand Traverse Pie Company.

County clerk

Republican LeAnna Moore, who currently serves as the county's deputy clerk, began with $15,994 and received $2,497 in contributions (including a $500 donation from current county clerk Newman and $1,797 raised at a fundraiser). The report said $13,558 was spend on expenditures, which were not itemized. The report said $493 is on hand and that her committee is owed $13,497.

Democrat Jack Kensell has received $3,700, including $250 from the Committee to Elect Brandon Sakbun, and has spent nearly $3,300 on signs and T-shirts.

Republican Laureen Hoffman filed a report on Monday. She has received $1,357.50 in donations and has not had any expenditures.

County coroner

Democratic incumbent Janie Myers started the year $5,426 in the hole but received $5,676 in contributions. She incurred $1,662 in expenses, leaving her $1,412 in the red.

Democratic challenger John Fitzpatrick filed on Monday. He has received $39,170 in campaign contributions and spent $12,611.88 in expenditures, leaving $363.12 cash in hand. He has loaned $10,000 of his own money to the campaign.

Republican challenger Travis Norris, who does not have to campaign until the general election rolls around, filed on Monday. He had $1,342.17 from an earlier successful campaign for Vigo County Council District 4 and has not raised or spent any further money.

County treasurer

Democrat Billy Joy has received $4,444 (including $2,394 from Caldwell Banker) and spent $3,389 on yard signs and T-shirts. Cash on hand: $419.

Democrat Tona Bean has received $5,839, most of it her own money, and spent $4,533 on campaign items such as yard signs, T-shirts, car magnets and pens.

Republican Josie Swalls-Thompson has donated $100 to her campaign, which she has spent, but did not report what she invested in.

County recorder

Democrat Nancy Allsup, currently a member of the Vigo County Council, received and spent nothing, according to her report.

Republican incumbent Diana Winstead-Smith received and spent $2,000, with a current balance of zero.

Superior Court 6

Republican Dan Kelly received $8,900 (including $8,000 of his own money) and spent $6,387 ($6,000 on printing), with $2,512 left.

Democrat Kenneth McVey III, appointed to the bench in 2021 by Governor Eric Holcomb, had not filed a report as of Monday afternoon.

Primary Election Day is May 7.

David Kronke can be reached at 812-231-4232 or at david.kronke@tribstar.com.