Winners not always big spenders
Ron Cross had the biggest war chest and won the war.
Now it'll take him two years just to break even.
Cross handily defeated Andy Kingery for the chairmanship of the Columbia County Board of Commissioners in August. He'll be sworn into in the position in January - a position that pays only $10,500 a year, a position he spent $19,000 of his own money to win.
According to campaign disclosure forms filed with the Columbia County Board of Elections earlier this month, Cross raised $55,598 - including $1,000 from his wife, $8,000 from himself and $10,000 from his construction company, CCI Construction - through Sept. 30. A lot of the money in Cross' coffers came from Columbia County's development community: builders, suppliers, plumbers and real estate agents gave nearly $16,000.
It was money Cross had no problem spending. He spent more than $53,268 - four times the money spent by his opponent. The money went for mail-outs, billboards and more than $20,000 in television commercials.
By comparison, Kingery spent only $13,150, mostly on campaign signs, handouts, newspaper and radio ads and $2,711 on a controversial campaign postcard.
The postcard - asking residents to vote for a slate of candidates including Kingery - caused a stir in the days leading to the August primary. The postcard said it was paid for by the "Republicans of Columbia County." Actually, Kingery paid for it - and caught the ire of Columbia County's Republican Party.
Kingery raised $13,150 during the campaign - including donations from current commission Chairman Jim Whitehead, longtime politico Harold Mays, and campaign chairman and Columbia County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Chairman Brett McGuire.
There were a few names that showed up on both men's campaign contribution lists. Commercial real-estate agent Vernon Smith gave both men $200. Former Augusta Mayor Larry Sconyers provided $2,000 in barbecue for a Kingery fund-raiser and gave Cross $250. Father and son A.M. Gray Jr. and A.M. Gray III split their loyalty: Gray Jr. gave Kingery $250, while Gray III gave Cross $250.
The Grays took a similar approach to the District 1 commission race between Steve Brown and Frank Spears. Gray Jr. gave Spears $500 and Gray III gave $500 to Brown, who won the race.
Brown also won the fund-raising race - but by less than $100. He raised $16,759 to Spears' $16,675. Brown's contributions included nearly $900 from families in West Lake, $1,000 from his parents, $101 from current Columbia County Commissioner Tom Mercer and $500 from Commission Chairman Whitehead - $250 from his business, Jim Whitehead Tire Service, and $250 from him and his wife, Peggy.
Spears' coffers - which started 2002 at $11,199 - was boosted by donations from various sources, including $1,000 from the Builders PAC, $750 from Herbert Homes and $2,000 from the Coalition for Quality Government.
Spears did win the spending race - shelling out $27,874 to Brown's $16,603.95. Spears' money went for radio, television and newspaper advertising, direct mailers and an airplane banner. Brown bought brochures, radio and newspaper ads, campaign signs and a victory party.
In the other county commission race - a special election and runoff to fill the District 3 seat - winner Mark Devoti didn't raise or spend the most. That distinction belongs to Tony Mundy - who invested $6,132.22 of his own money in the race and lost in the August runoff. In all, Mundy raised and spent $19,766.82.
Devoti's campaign raised $11,700, including $500 from the Friends to Elect Joey Brush, $650 from Benchmark Homes and $200 from Apple Cross Ltd. He spent $11,566.67 on campaign mailers and advertising.
The other candidate in the District 3 race - Peggy Lichtenberg - spent $5541.76 on the race. According to her Sept. 30 report, all that money, save $100, came from the candidate - she bought signs, shirts and advertising out of her own pocket.
By the numbers
Columbia County Commission Chairman
Ron Cross
Period ending June 30, 2002
Contributions: $14,390
Expenditures: $0
Period ending Sept. 30, 2002
Contributions: $41,208.98
Expenditures: $52,953.71
Andy Kingery
Period ending June 30, 2002
Contributions: $2,850
Expenditures: $340
Period ending Sept. 30, 2002
Contributions: $10,300
Expenditures: $12,810
Columbia County Commission District 1
Steve Brown
Period ending June 30, 2002
Contributions: $7,585
Expenditures: $3,939.48
Period ending Sept. 30, 2002
Contributions: $9,174
Expenditures: $12,664.47
Frank Spears
Period ending June 30, 2002
Contributions: $7,525
Expenditures: $7,393
Period ending Sept. 30, 2002
Contributions: $9,150
Expenditures: $19,368.52
Columbia County Commission District 3
Mark Devoti
Period ending September 30, 2002
Contributions: $11,700
Expenditures: $11,566.67
Tony Mundy
Period ending Sept. 30, 2002
Contributions: $19,766.82
Expenditures: $19,766.82
Peggy Lichtenberg
Period ending Sept. 30, 2002
Contributions: $5,641.76
Expenditures: $5,541.76