When it comes to politics, money talks. Political campaign signs aren’t cheap, and some candidates spent a small portion of their contributions on candy to be thrown in the July 4 parade in Peachtree City.
But no matter how they spent it, they have to report it: both where it came from and where it went. All donations of more than $100 must be reported with the donor’s name whether an individual or a corporation.
The Citizen culled the following data from the various candidates’ disclosure reports for the most recent reporting period which ended last week. Several candidates’ most recent disclosures were not available online including those from Post 1 school board candidate Mary Kay Bacallao, Post 1 county commission candidate Robert Horgan, commission Post 2 county commission candidate Sheila Huddleston and commission Post 3 candidate Randy Ognio.
The filing deadline for those documents was July 9, but there have been reports in recent days of candidates having difficulty filing their disclosure forms online.
Board of Education Post 1 candidate Barry Marchman reported raising $2,845, including $500 from Maurice Harbin of Tyrone and $200 from Michael Harbin of Tyrone, both with the Harbin Insurance Agency. Other itemized donations included $250 from Peachtree City pediatrician John Potts, $200 from Fayetteville resident Pat Hinchey, $180 from Fayetteville resident William Bryan, $100 from Peachtree City resident Bob Ross and $100 from Fayetteville resident Pat Earnest.
Marchman also reported a campaign loan of $1,200 along with another $115 of non-itemized donations that came in amounts of less than $100.
Scott Hollowell, who is Marchman’s challenger for the Post 1 seat, reported raising $1,730 including a $600 loan, $150 from Aberdeen Holdings LLC of Peachtree City and $156.81 in-kind donation from Richard Overholt of Tyrone.
Hollowell reported that he received $980 in contributions of less than $100 each, which is the threshold for which the donors have to be identified.
In the Post 2 school board race, Mary Kay Bacallao had not filed a campaign disclosure report as of late Monday afternoon, according to the website for the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission.
Gary Griffin, who is Bacallao’s challenger, reported getting $355.43 in contributions, all of which were from Griffin himself.
Robert Horgan, who is running for reelection to the Post 1 seat on the Fayette County Commission had not filed a campaign disclosure report as of late Monday afternoon, according to the website for the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission.
Horgan’s challenger, Charles Oddo, reported no contributions except for a $3,627.83 loan from his business, Oddo Brothers CPAs and also a personal loan of $138.52.
In the three-way race for Post 2 on the county commission, candidate Sheila Huddleston had not filed a campaign disclosure report as of late Monday afternoon, according to the website for the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission.
One of Huddleston’s challengers, David Barlow, reported he had raised $4,309 so far this year including $2,949 in loans from himself and $960 of non-itemized donations that came in amounts of less than $100.
Barlow’s itemized contributions came from Peachtree City resident Bob Ross ($250), Fayetteville resident Carol Springsteen ($250) and Fayette County Commissioner Steve Brown ($150).
The other Post 2 candidate, Jack Smith, reported raising $4,926 including $792.50 in loans from himself. Among Smith’s contributions of greater than $100 were Loyd Black of Brooks at $1,000, James Istwan of Fayetteville at $500, Christy Jindra of Peachtree City at $500 and Robert Reeves of Fayetteville at $250.
In the Post 3 race for county commission, incumbent candidate Lee Hearn reported receiving $3,181 for the latest reporting period for a grand total of $5,355.84 to date. Hearn’s itemized contributions are as follows:
Huie Bray of Brooks, $200;
Joe Brown of Brooks, $300;
Herb Frady, Fayette County Commissioner, of Fayetteville, $110;
Greg Harrell of Fayetteville, president of Fairburn Ready Mix, $150;
Kathleen Maddox of Fayetteville, $100;
Emory McHugh III of Fayetteville, $200;
Steve Meissen of Fayetteville, $500;
William Walker of Fayetteville, $250; and
Blake Yates of Hampton, $100.
Randy Ognio, who is one of Hearn’s challengers for the Post 3 seat, had not filed a campaign disclosure report as of late Monday afternoon, according to the website for the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission. Ognio did file a report March 31 declaring a $200 contribution from himself as his only receipt during the period.
Susan Stopford, who is also running for the Post 3 seat, reported $1,446.56 in contributions all of which were from herself and her husband, Michael Stopford.
