Starnes Has Leading Fund Total Of Sessions Judge Candidates Among Those Who Have Filed

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Attorney Gary Starnes picked up $42,952 in the period April-June for his race for General Sessions Court judge.

Election officials said David Norton, who was named by the County Commission following the death of Judge Bob Moon, has mailed his campaign finance form but it has not yet arrived.

Ron Powers reported $16,521 in campaign contributions and Yolanda Mitchell $14,740 taken in during the three-month period.

Joe DeGaetano had $4,715. Valerie Epstein and Patricia Best Vital did not file due to having less than $1,000 in contributions.

In the Soddy Daisy judge contest, Bryan Hoss reported $14,705 for the period. Mike Acuff had $6,580 and Marty Lasley $4,181. Chris Lanier loaned $8,100 to his campaign and received $250. J. Chad Hogue received $1,547. Bob Davis and John Meldorf had less than $1,000.

For County Commission District 3, Democrat Mitzi Yates took in $600 and Republican Marty Haynes $1,750. Mr. Haynes defeated incumbent Mitch McClure in the primary.

Assessor Bill Bennett reported $14,895 to go with $34,612 already on hand. Democratic opponent Jelena Butler had $4,761.

County Mayor Jim Coppinger brought in $95,642 to go with a balance of $94,592. He spent $104,000 with the Johnson Group on a recent TV buy. Other spending included $12,000 with the Ingram Group in Nashville and $8,000 with Kaezi Resources of Franklin, Tn.

For school board, write-in candidate Mike Harvey raised $3,880 for the contest to replace Chip Baker in District 2. The lone candidate on the ballot, Jonathan Welch, took in $5,469.

In District 1, Rhonda Thurman collected $2,202. Her opponent, Katherine Benefield, had $820.

In District 7 to replace Linda Mosley, Donna Horn did not report any collections but said she spent $1,040. Ralph Miller took in $2,453.

It's still to early to pick up qualifying papers for the March 2013 election, but three candidates earlier appointed treasurers and filed reports.

State Senator Andy Berke has built up a war chest of $271,050 for mayor

Thomas Tomisek has raised $250 for the District 4 race and Chris Anderson $7,567 for the District 7 contest. Jack Benson is the incumbent in District 4 and Manny Rico in District 7. Both are expected to seek re-election.    


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