Johnson leads candidates in contributions

Published 10:40 am Thursday, October 15, 2015

Sheriff candidate Lionel P. Johnson Sr. leads all candidates for county office in contributions and spending, according to campaign finance reports filed Oct. 9 with the Warren County Circuit Clerk.

The report covers contributions and campaign expenses for the period from July 1 through Sept. 30, and is mandatory for all candidates, according to the reporting form.

According the state’s campaign finance law, all candidates must file reports once they qualify for office even if they have no contributions or disbursements to itemize, or until they file a termination report. Candidates could face a fine of $50 per day if they file late.

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Johnson, a Democrat, had contributions totaling $15,726.94 and spent the same amount in his campaign to unseat Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace. Pace, an independent, had the second-highest total contributions with $10,419.46 and spent $4,989.56. Leon Kennedy, who is running for sheriff as a Republican, said he forgot to file and would file his report today.

In the race for tax assessor, Ben Luckett, a Republican, reported $9,917 in contributions — third highest among the county candidates — and $6,366.80 in expenses. Incumbent assessor Angela Brown, a Democrat, reported $6,106.54 in contributions and $4,700.68 in expenses.

Circuit Clerk Jan Hyland Daigre, a Republican, reported $5,139.40 in contributions and $3,449.03 in expenses. Daigre is unopposed, after her opponent Greg Peltz dropped out of the race last month.

Chancery Clerk Donna F. Hardy and Tax Collector Antonia Flaggs Jones, who are unopposed for re-election terminated the campaign finance efforts with the clerk’s office and no longer had to file reports.

Other candidates terminating their finance efforts include Central District Justice Court Judge James Jefferson, South District Justice Court Judge Jeffrey Crevitt, Central District Constable Troy Kimble and North Constable Glenn McKay. All are unopposed.

In the North District Justice Court Judge race, Republican Edwin “Eddie” Woods Jr. reported $2,360.05 in contributions and $2,360.05 in expenses. Independent candidate Dennis McLain Walker reported no contributions and $1,429.52 in expenses for the reporting period. Henry Earl Phillips, also an independent, did not file a report, according to Circuit Clerk records. Attempts to contact him were unsuccessful.

In the supervisor races:

• District 1 Supervisor John Arnold, a Republican, reported $5,099 in contributions and $2,972.69 in expenses. Challenger Ed Gregory Gibson, an independent, reported no contributions and no expenses, while Edward Herring, also an independent, reported $2,700 in contributions and $3,445.80 in expenses.

• District 2 Supervisor William Banks Jr., a Democrat, reported $2,000 in contributions and $550 in expenses. Banks is unopposed.

• District 3 Supervisor Charles Selmon, a Democrat, reported $4,595 in contributions and $4,933 in expenses. Challenger Eros Smith, who is running as an independent, said he was told he did not have to file a report until the Oct. 27 pre-election report. He said he would file a report.

• In District 4, Republican John Carlisle reported $550 in contributions and $7,107.90 in expenses. Democrat Casey Fisher reported $2,650 in contributions and $2,505.01 in expenses. Incumbent District 4 Supervisor Bill Lauderdale is not seeking re-election.

• District 5 Supervisor Richard George, an independent, did not file a report. He was also told he did not have to file until Oct. 27, but said he would file a report. His challenger, Republican Joe Wooley, reported $300 in contributions and $920 in expenses.

In the legislative races, Republican State Sen. Briggs Hopson III led all candidates representing Warren County with $57,204.95 in contributions paid to the Committee to Elect Briggs Hopson. The committee reported $46,504.65. Hopson is unopposed.

District 54 Rep. Alex Monsour, a Republican said he filed his report Wednesday, while District 55 Rep. Oscar Denton, a Democrat, reported $15,548 in contributions and $13,617.52 in expenses.

Democrat Deborah Butler Dixon, who represents District 63, reported $26,561 in contributions and $26,130.89 in expenses, and America “Chuck” Middleton, who represents District 85 as a Democrat, had $11,700 in contributions and $11,500 in expenses. All House candidates are unopposed.

About John Surratt

John Surratt is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a degree in general studies. He has worked as an editor, reporter and photographer for newspapers in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. He has been a member of The Vicksburg Post staff since 2011 and covers city government. He and his wife attend St. Paul Catholic Church and he is a member of the Port City Kiwanis Club.

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