The latest fundraising totals ahead of May 21 elections show five Augusta Commission candidates have raised far more than the approximately $29,000 they’d take home in salary and car allowance if elected.
As usual, most of the candidates accepted donations from city contractors and lobbyists, most notably from Infrastructure Systems Management or ISM, the engineering firm headed by former city Engineering Director Abie Ladson and former Traffic Engineer Steve Cassell.
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ISM, which has a $7 million contract to manage Augusta Recreation projects, in addition to contracts to perform engineering work for other city departments, gave a combined $10,000 or more in donations to six commission candidates during the period.
Unofficial city lobbyist Wilbert “Butch” Gallop gave $4,500 reported by candidates during the period.
The largest campaign war chest is held by VA physician Marshall Bedder, who’d raised $86,644 as of May 7 to run for Augusta Commission District 7.
Bedder defended making a $75,000 loan to himself, saying he would not ask supporters to donate to a campaign he wouldn’t give to himself.
Bedder’s other contributors include Omega Physicians, a group associated with Doctors Hospital, which gave $3,000, businessman George Snelling, who gave $1,000 and ISM, which gave $500.
Bedder and lifelong District 7 resident Tina Slendak are vying for the seat held by Sean Frantom, who is term-limited. Slendak reported raising $8,237 to date and had $3,349 on hand. Her largest donors included William Hardy of Capital Electric, who gave $1,000, and her employer, Cheatham Fletcher Scott, which also gave $1,000.
In the Super District 9 race, incumbent Francine Scott is leading in contributions. Scott reported she has raised $53,946 to date for her reelection campaign and had $12,232 on hand.
Scott’s big donors included V. Fort LLC of Acworth, which gave $1,500, ISM, which gave $2,500, and city contractor Hudson Grassing, which gave $1,500.
Scott was one of two candidates to receive contributions from the campaign committee of Commissioner Alvin Mason, which gave her $1,000. She also had donations of $300 from Commissioner Tony Lewis and $250 from former Senate Majority Leader Charles Walker.
Her challenger, former Commissioner Marion Williams, reported raising $12,560 to date and had $8,850 on hand. Williams’ largest donations included $1,500 from Jim Felton, $1,600 from Pond Maintenance, $1,500 from Tutt Construction, $2,000 from ISM and $1,500 from Gallop.
Former Commissioner Matt Aitken is the apparent fundraising leader in the District 1 contest with incumbent Jordan Johnson.
Aitken reported raising $32,825, in addition to $7,925 in in-kind contributions not identified on his campaign financial report. Aitken reported loaning himself $10,000 toward that total and had $3,978 on hand.
Aitken’s largest donor was his employer, real estate broker Joe Edge, who gave him $3,300. Retired businessman Jeff Annis gave $2,000. Aitken received $2,500 from Hudson’s Grassing and $1,000 each from ISM, Havird Usry, Paul Davis, Andy Jones, Jim Blanchard and H.M. Osteen.
Aitken’s largest expenditure was $18,306 with Southeastern Marketing.
Johnson had raised $25,025 to date, including $8,065 in contributions of less than $100, and had $14,210 on hand.
Johnson’s largest donors were V. Fort LLC, which gave $1,500, rental manager Paul King, who gave $1,000 and Euro Cleaning owner Peter Tuchyna, who gave $1,000.
District 1 newcomer Kenny Osorio reported he lent his campaign $8,500 and spent big on marketing.
Osorio’s report said he’s spent $29,092 to date, including $14,596 with Alison South Marketing.
Candidate Jo’Rae Jenkins has filed no reports as of Sunday.
Network operations manager Don “DC” Clark has out-raised incumbent District 5 Commissioner Bobby Williams by more than three to one.
Clark reported raising $37,079, including a $5,000 loan to himself in his effort to unseat Williams. He spend $26,448 since January and had $10,631 on hand.
Mason also gave Clark $1,000, as did Dan McConnell, Dittilio Shepherd, former Augusta fire chief Chris James and contractor Alternative Construction and Environmental Solutions. Pot Hui Mosley of Evans and Jeffery Ennis each donated $3,000.
Gallop donated $3,000 to Clark’s campaign, Walker donated $750 and state Rep. Gloria Frazier, D-Hephzibah, gave Clark $500.
Williams reported raising $10,658 as of Thursday, when he received a $2,000 contribution from Priority EMS, owner of city provider Central EMS. William, who has paid for billboards with Azalea and Lamar advertising, received $1,000 from Paul Davis.
District 3 challenger Carol Yancy had slightly out-raised incumbent Catherine Smith McKnight in the latest reports. The retired educator raised $20,309, including $13,559 in amounts of $100 or less. She’d spent $11,617 and had $8,692 on hand.
McKnight had raised $19,400 to date and had $11,713 on hand. Her large donors included Hudson Grassing and IFS, which each gave $1,500. Thomas Poteet and Son, Tommy Dozier, Nick Evans, Frank Abbott, Wright McLeod and Charles Anderson each donated $1,000 to McKnight.
The third candidate for District 3, dentist Joidaz Gaines, filed an affidavit stating he did not plan to raise or spend more than $2,500.
This week is the final week of early voting in the May 21 general primary and special election. More than 5,000 people, or 3.8% of active registered voters, have already cast ballots in the election.
