Posted: Central District Highway Transportation Commissioner, Lieutenant Governor, Senate District #20, Governor, Senate District #25, Treasurer, Agriculture Commissioner, Attorney General
Yesterday was the deadline for candidates to file June campaign finance reports. I'm going to review them during the day and will post as I get through each one.
This one is very interesting. Madison County District 2 Supervisor Tim Johnson is running against Republican incumbent Dick Hall. Mr. Johnson only raised $23,000 through May 10 and had only $6,336 cash on hand. That figure skyrocketed this month as Mr. Johnson raised $72,700 in the last thirty days while reporting cash on hand of $60,700. Meanwhile Dick Hall raised $34,222 last month and reported cash on hand of $160,000.
Several individuals accounted for the huge increase in contributions to Mr. Johnson. Madison County Engineer Rudy Warnock donated $5,000 while his employees gave $10,000. Madison County lobbyist Steve Seale gave $1,000. Madison County Board Attorney Eric Hamer gave $2,500. Thomas Elmore donated $5,000 while Elmore Elmore LLC gave $1,000. Several members of the Lyle family and Lyle machinery gave $6,000 to Mr. Johnson as well.
What does this mean? The Madison County machine just switched gears and showed up for the race. This report should be a wake-up call for Mr. Hall as its clear Mr. Johnson came to play. It should also be noted the May 10 report stated Mr. Warnock donated $5,000 to Marshand Crisler. Mr. Warnock is clearly out to defeat Mr. Hall, either with Johnson or Crisler. Color or party makes no difference to him. Its all about beating Dick.
Tate Reeves raised $163,395 in the last thirty days. Doesn't seem like much until one reads the cash on hand line: $1,788,220. Billy Hewes raised $115,430 and has cash on hand of $747,834. Mr. Reeves received several large donations: Lea Patch $10,000, James Barksdale $25,000, Richard Mills $5,000, Megan Mullen $5,000, Steven Clay $5,000, Mississippi Coalition for Progress $10,000, John Lee $5,000, MAE PAC $7,500, and Mississippi Independent RX PAC $7,500.
The Reeves campaign made the following significant disbursements: On Message Inc $373,570, Majority Strategies $41,889, Amerimail Direct $15,418, Jeremy Hughes $9,802, Donor Tree (Ginger Whitwell) $495, Justin Brasell $40,000,
The Hewes campaign received the following large donations: Frank Bertucci $5,000, Paul Bertucci $5,000, Brandywine Farms $2,500, Ted Cain $20,000, ENPAC Mississippi $3,000, Billy Hewes Jr. $4,500, Ben Puckett $2,500, and Dr. Douglas Rouse $5,000.
Significant Hewes disbursements: Maggie Clark Media Services $524,797, Lee Gibson (Media Consultant) $50,826, Maverick Political Solutions $45,000, Politicap $49,600, and Times Fly Productions $70,545.
Mr. Reeves has nearly a $1 million cash on hand advantage over Mr. Hewes. Mr. Hewes did report raising $553,525 on the May 10 report and cash on hand of $1,169,744. However, John Heath loaned $75,000 to the campaign and Billy Hewes did the same. Neither loan has been repaid. What does all this mean? Mr. Reeves is probably going to set a fund-raising record for the Lieutenant Governor's election. Mr. Hewes' numbers are respectable but he will have to get every bang possible for every buck if he wants to overcome the Reeves money machine. The election is less than sixty days away and he has nearly $750,000 on hand. Mr. Hewes will be able to get his message out but so will Mr. Reeves. Mr. Reeves also seems to be winning the advantage in obtaining PAC donations. As the list of PAC's in these reports has been rather short, expect more PAC's to choose sides as election day draws near.
Josh Harkins raised $57,149 this year and has $6,996 cash on hand. Nothing earthshaking in his list of donors although his parents contributed $5,000. Pelahatchie Mayor Knox Ross raised $14,700 in the last thirty days ($110,324 ytd) and has $42,280 cash on hand. Mr. Ross spent $9,000 for "strategy" from Matt Armstrong who donated $3,000 in the May 10 report. Mr. Ross donated $26,326 of his own money (May 10 report) and $10,000 from A.G. Helton (May 10 report).
Lieutenant Governor Phil Bryant reports $1,722,300 cash on hand as he raised $238,761 in the last thirty days and $797,826 this year.
Mr. Bryant received the following significant donations: Carlyle Harris $7,250, David Rimes $4,000, Dr. Dalton Barham $10,000, Gary Harkins $7,500, Dr. John Fullenwider $5,000, Johnny Morgan (M&W) $13,000, Mississippi Physicians PAC $10,000, Mississippi Realtors PAC $10,000, Mississippi Coalition for Progress $15,500, Richard Mills $4,000, Russell Newman $10,000, Steve Golding $5,000, Lance Malavasi $6,375, Billy Mounger $25,000, and Watkins & Young $5,000.
Mr. Bryant made the following notable disbursements: Alpha Golf (Flight Travel-Josh & Quentin) $8,918, Classic Connections (strategy) $11,625, William Faggert $22,184, Frontier Strategies (Josh Gregory & Quentin Dickerson) $190,786, Gary Harkins (office space in kind) $7,500, Maggie Clark Media Services $281,374, Politicap $160,892, Stanley Shows (strategy) $21,117, Donor Tree $970,
Dave Dennis reported only $417,108 cash on hand while raising $103,883 in the last thirty days and $559,881 this year. He reported the following significant contributions: Barbara Moon $5,000, Charles Porter $5,000, Dave Dennis $266,825, David Russell $5,000, Emerson Stringer $4,000, Frank Drennan $5,000, Lawrence Warren $10,000, P.C. Havens $5,000, Creekmores $5,000,
Dave Dennis significant disbursements: $26,827, Lane Consulting $15,000, Sarah Williams (Fundraising) $29,621, Scott Howell & Co (Media production) $302,888, Thomas Brumbelow (consulting) $12,441,
Bill Luckett reported cash on hand of $451,522, nearly the same amount as Dave Dennis and raised $621,217 this year. He reported no individual contributions over $1,000. He made the following significant disbursements: Anzilone Liast Research $30,000, Bill Lucket $45,233, and last and certainly not least, Precious Martin $52,000. The May 10 report stated Oliver Luckett gave $25,000.The campaign repaid $160,444 in loans to Francine Luckett and $45,154 to Bill Luckett (May 10 report).
Meanwhile Johnny Dupree reported cash on hand of $98,790 and $379,944 raised this year. The following donors made significant contributions: Thomas Blanton $29,454, Jimmie Smith $6,701, Johnny Dupree $52,776,and Maurice Tose $10,000. He reported the following significant disbursements: Blue Dot Consulting Group $62,475, Hendrix & Dometz (consulting fee) $21,475, Justin Jackson (consulting) $10,675 and several other individuals for nearly the same amount for consulting fees as well.
Translation: Phil Bryant is kicking ass and taking names in the fund-raising department. Remove Mr. Dennis's contribution and he has raised roughly only a quarter-million dollars this year. Mr. Luckett has a huge advantage in cash on hand. Unless Mr. Luckett campaigns like Marshand Crisler, Mr. Luckett should do well on election day.
Charles Barbour reported cash on hand of $36,848 and raised $16,583 in the last thirty days. Significant contributions: Jeppie Barbour (brother) $1,700. What is interesting is he reported itemized contributions of $6,333, over $10,000 is not itemized. Hmmm...... Nothing unusual in the disbursements. Will Longwitz does not have a campaign finance report on file although the campaign informs JJ a report was faxed in to the Secretary of State yesterday afternoon. Mr. Longwitz reported zero contributions on his May 10 report.
Senator Lee Yancey reported cash on hand of $82,517 and raised $112,169 this year. His largest contribution was $1,500 each from Excellence in Government PAC and River Bend Place LLC and $2,000 from his parents. He reports disbursements of $20,270 to George Nassar (campaign manager) and $53,097 to Murphy Turner (consultants).
State Personnel Board Director Lynn Fitch reported cash on hand of $209,684 and raised $163,281 this year. She loaned her campaign $100,000 and had sixteen contributions of $1,000. There were no significant disbursements as Ms. Fitch didn't spend large amounts of money on consultants as did other campaigns.
Lucien Smith reported cash on hand of $435,046 and raised $25,635 in the last thirty days ($225,750 ytd). He reported the following significant contributions: Charles Ward $5,000, Kathy Ford $5,000, the Creekmores $10,000 (May 10), Tim Ford $5,000 (May 10), John McGowan $2,000 (May 10), Jan Moeller $5,000 (May 10), andShannon Warnock $5,000 (May 10). There were no significant disbursements other than normal expenditures for payroll.
Lucien is way out in front on the money trail and has saved most of it to use down the home stretch. Fitch doubled down and invested a good bit of money in her fortunes while Mr. Yancey is clearly in last place. What is interesting is Senator Yancey has blown more money on consultants and high-priced staff than have the other campaigns.
Max Phillips reports $142,367 cash on hand and raised $21,040 in the last thirty days. Employees of the HiCo Group have donated $8,000 this year to the campaign. Dannie Reed reported $8,475 cash on hand and raised $7,200 this year. Cindy Hyde-Smith reported cash on hand of $50,292 and raised $20,525 in the last thirty days. Her big donors have been Supervalue Grocery officials $5,000, Cock of the Walk $2,000, and D&H Cattle Company $2,000. Democrat Joel Gill has um, $154 cash on hand and well, um, uh, raised $290 the last thirty days. Conclusion: Max Phillips is way out in front and Cindy is on the tail end of the lead lap.
Now we get to have some fun. Jim Hood reports $466, 900 cash on hand and raised $129,728 in the last thirty days. He reports significant contributions from CCM Associates $9,000, Cossich Summich $4,000, Crystal Seas Seafood $2,500, Dorsey Carson $350, Gerald Silk $4,000, Jay Eisenhofer $4,500, John Lee, Jr. $5,000, Kristie Sims $2,500, Lundy Lundy $3,500, Max Berger $5,000, Patrick Malouf $3,500, Richard Schwartz $5,000, Salvatore Graziano (Berger's firm) $3,000, Steven Singer $3,000, Stuart Grant $4,500, and Timothy Porter $3,500. He reported significant disbursements of DHB Consulting $27,160, Matt Eichelberger $250 (Matt, you're cheap), and Jonathan Compretta $12,071.
Steve Simpson $199,804 cash on hand and raised $26,550 in the last thirty days. He reported signficant contributions from MS GOP $5,000 and Home Builders Association $5,000. There were no significant disbursements besides payments made for standard stuff: payroll and advertising.
Hood has a two to one advantage in fund-raising right now. Nuff said.
David Blount has done little fund-raising but has $116,980 cash on hand. Republican Steve Stanford reported $5,552 cash on hand. Republican Gerald Kucieu just qualified and has not filed a report.
Stay tuned as I will update later today and tomorrow. One interesting observation. Mr. Speed's name has been conspicuously absent as have many other downtown notables. That would include Charles and Stuart Irby, who have been reliable major donors for Mississippi Republican candidates over the last twenty years.
22 comments:
Marshand Crisler stole kenneth stokes personality. Rudy (The Playboy) Warnock is waiting to get his state contracts to build roads to nowhere. Tim Johnson is going to be another Butch Brown. Good ole boy politics in Mississippi. The tax payers we might as well bend over and you know the rest.
The players in Madison may have showed up in cash, but the votes in Madison won't show up for Johnson, especially in D2, and old D2...
My money is still on Dupree in the primary. If Babs can make it to the Final then surely they'll nominate someone like Dupree who can actually speak English.
Yancey spent all that money on consultants, and then he puts out creepy campaign signs and billboards. Great money spent.
Megan Mullen for Lt. Gov? We aren't talking about the wife of Coach Dan Mullen are we?
Wesley Clark gave Luckett $1000. Interesting.
The RINO Twitterwell is giving money to Bobby Moak.
Man Rudy's employee can donate $10,000??? That is a lot of money. You have to be rich to make donations like that. Who is this wiz kid that pissed away this much money?
Individuals can only give a certain amount, so Rudy funnels the cash down for his employees to donate.
yep the boss or bosses company will give employee bonus of $10,000 so that employee can donate $10,000 to bosses canidate. happens.
"Its all about beating Dick."
That's the funniest comment about Rudy Warnock I've ever read.
I have a question for all of the Tim Johnson haters out there. What specifically has TJ done that warrants your hate?
Are you new to these parts?
Much shorter list: what has he done that benefits the taxpayers of Madison County?
I am no Tim Johnson hater and have known him since the early 80's. We are not friends but he has always been very nice.
That being said he came over very arrogant and did appear to try to cash in on his position. He wanst/isnt a good politician.
Tim Johnson is a joke, he has no idea what public service means! If TJ were to win his bid for Highway Commissioner then the entire state would be crying the blues, NOT just Madison County! Man, think of the deals that Rudy could get if that happens and the legal work that Hamer could get, the next step would be to put Paul in as THE GUV followed by Karl's bid to take the Whitehouse in 2016! These guys are arrogant enough to think that they could do it too!
Question was "what specifally"?
Specifically, after public outrage over a 6.33mil tax increase, at the next meeting he used some jacked up math to try and justify the increase by saying that because we had a tax decrease under the previous board we had to give that back, so because it had been higher previously, it wasn't really like a tax increase, they were just moving back to were it used to be . . . REALLY TIM?!
He has voted over and over to continue to pay Mr. Warnock for engineering plans for roads that the county has no chance in hell of being able to fund the construction of these projects, that is about as stupid and wasteful as you can get, but hey, it's not his money, what does he care?! Plus, the upside, he can approve campaign contributions for he and his buddies through the engineer and the attorney, WHAT A DEAL!
He ignores the will of the people to ran down our throats whatever their group of 6 wants, just look at the tax increase, the third landfill, the formation of a garbage commission and the redistricting fiasco, just to name a few!
He doesn't need to ever serve in public office ever again, he has proved that he can not be trusted with the peoples best interest and certainly not their money!
Since we are going for specifics, please tell me what good he has done for his disctrict or the county?
Hey Rudy, been to Costa Rico lately?
To amend 9:04's question: what good has he done for his district and those Madison county citizens that have not been (corruptly?) enriched by his votes?
Thank you, 10:06.
you can tell when Hays is in the room
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