The candidates who ran for the two Washington County commissioner seats and a common pleas judge position at stake in the Nov. 6 election spent more than $82,000 as of less than two weeks before the election.
The figures come from the required Ohio pre-general campaign finance report, turned in Oct. 25.
According to the report for Randall Burnworth (D), candidate for Washington County Common Pleas judge, Burnworth reported total monetary contributions of $7,320.
Top contributions were: $2,500 from Garrison for Ohio; $1,000 from the Washington County Democratic Executive Committee; and $995 from a spaghetti dinner fundraiser.
The total of other income reported by Burnworth's campaign showed two amounts of $20,000 and $7,000, from the candidate himself.
Burnworth's total money expenditures were $44,149.47, including $28,968.20 to the Washington County Democratic party for mailings; $2,923.96 to TKM Print Solutions for yard signs; $2,500 to D&R Consulting for campaign consultation; and $2,000 to WMOA for radio advertising.
Fact Box
At a glance
Campaign figures for candidates for Washington County commissioners and common pleas judge.
Figures from pre-general campaign finance report filed with the county's board of elections, due Oct. 25.
Washington County Common Pleas judge
Randy Burnworth (D)
Total contributions: $7,320.
Other income: $27,000.
Total expenditures: $44,149.47.
Mark Kerenyi (R)
Total contributions: $8,865.
Total expenditures: $8,374.87.
Washington County commissioner
David White (R)
Total contributions: $16,314.50.
Total expenditures: $7,011.53.
Peg Littler (D)
Total contributions: $9,319.
Total expenditures: $8,718.55.
Ron Feathers (R)
Total contributions: $5,740.
Other income: $3,218.25.
Total expenditures: $10,395.88 (Feathers had carried over $5,378.09 from his previous campaign finance report).
Cora Marshall (D)
Total contributions: $7,940.
Other income: $1,106.
Total expenditures: $3,506.45.
There is "no chance" that money will remain in Burnworth's campaign fund, he said.
"I think local candidates tend to zero their's out," he added.
Burnworth's opponent Mark Kerenyi (R) reported $8,865 in total monetary combinations in the same time frame, with Bill Johnson of Parkersburg making the largest contribution of $575.
Total monetary expenditures for Kerenyi were $8,374.87, who said his biggest expenses were for signs, a one-minute radio commercial and a mailing.
"Whatever is left will be returned to myself as repayment of the loan I gave to my campaign," said Kerenyi.
Kerenyi's balance at the campaign's end "will be zero," he added.
For Washington County commissioner candidate David White (R), his pre-general campaign finance report showed $16,314.50 in total monetary contributions.
White's largest donors were: Eugene Huck of Marietta, $1,000; Lola Jackson of Marietta, $1,000; Mathew Mallett of Marietta, $1,250; Richard Dieringer of Marietta, $1,250; and J. Douglas Mallett of Marietta, $1,500.
For White, total monetary expenditures were $7,011.53, with the largest amount going to two postcards that "went to likely voters, based on data from the board of elections," he said.
The report also showed that one of White's campaign expenditures was for a contribution to the Washington County Republican Party of $2,500.
Peg Littler's (D) campaign reported $9,319 in monetary contributions including $2,500 from Garrison for Ohio of Marietta; $1,200 from Mary Alice Varner of Cutler; and $1,000 from the Washington County Democratic Executive Committee of Marietta.
In the same time period, Littler had $8,718.55 in campaign expenditures.
"All my expenditures were primarily due to mailings, postcards, postage, yard signs and T-shirts," said Littler.
Just a small balance remains in her campaign account, she added.
"I will be donating that to a 501 charity," she said.
Republican candidate Ron Feathers' campaign had $5,740 in total monetary contributions including $400 from D. Austin Rehl of Marietta; $1,000 from Jerry James of Lowell; and two checks from the Washington County Republican Executive Committee for $500 and $1,540.
In addition, he had brought $5,378.09 forward from his previous campaign finance report.
Total money expenditures for Feathers were $10,395.88 including a check for $2,691.16 to Ron Feathers for expenses and $4,539.86 to Feathers for printing and mailing of campaign mailers.
"Any remaining money will go to another candidate or back to the Republican Party as a donation," Feathers said.
Cora Marshall (D) reported a total of $7,940 in monetary contributions, plus $1,100 in other income.
Her campaign received $5,000 from Jennifer Garrison of Marietta; $1,000 from the Washington County Democratic Executive Committee; and $1,100 from Marshall from a loan she gave to her campaign.
According to her report, Marshall had $3,506.45 in total monetary expenditures. Two of the expenses were: $409.21 paid to Marshall for advertising and supplies for a fundraiser and $400 paid to The Marietta Times for advertising for a fundraiser.
"We run on a pretty tight budget," Marshall said. "I won't have any money left."
Marshall said she invested between $13,000 and $15,000 of her own personal funds in her first campaign for county commissioner.
"I made a decision this time that I would not personally invest financially other than a couple thousand dollars," she added.
Now that the elections are completed, Washington County Board of Elections Director Tara Hupp reported that notices of required filing of "post-general campaign finance reports" will go out by Dec. 4 and must be filed with the board of elections by 4 p.m. Dec. 14.
Residents of Washington County and others can now view each candidate's campaign finance reports online, she added.
"We just purchased software in the last three weeks to allow (reports) to go on our website," said Hupp. "It was (always) public record. You could come in the office and see the hard copies or see them on our computer."
"A lot of people use it to see who is supporting certain candidates," she added.
To view online reports, go to electionsonthe.net and click on "Campaign Finance" in the left hand column.
