Newly released public records show how political candidates raised and spent money in the final few months before the Nov. 8 election.
The reporting period for the most recent release began on July 1 and ran through Oct. 22. Reports were due to have been filed to either the local or state board of elections by Nov. 1.
Candidates who pledge to raise or spend under $1,000 do not have to file such reports, but those who plan on going above that threshold are required to file reports at roughly quarterly intervals throughout the election cycle.
This reporting period’s campaign finance reports for the two candidates in the Columbus County Sheriff’s race, Republican Jody Greene and Democrat Jason Soles, were not available on the North Carolina State Board of Elections website by presstime. The campaign finance report on file at the Columbus County Board of Elections for Scott S. Floyd, the Republican running for the District 7 seat on the Columbus County Board of Commissioners, did not include detailed receipts and expenditures for the campaign this period.
Campaign finance reports for the next period (Oct. 23 to Dec. 31) are due on Jan. 11, 2023.
Here’s a summary of the candidates’ most recent campaign finance reports.
The Committee to Elect Ernie Gaskins
Ernie Gaskins is running for the Whiteville City Schools At-Large District seat, to be vacated by Coleman Barbour, who decided not to run for re-election.
Elgin Tremayne Collier and R. Byron Fisher are also running for this seat, but they did not have campaign finance reports on file at the board of elections.
Gaskins’ campaign received a total of $1,445 in monetary contributions this quarter, with $45 coming from aggregated individual contributions and $1,400 coming from named individual contributions.
The largest individual monetary contribution to Gaskins’ campaign came from Shannon Register of Fayetteville, who contributed $500 twice.
Of the six named individual contributions, the average donation to Gaskins’ campaign for this quarter was $233.33.
Gaskins also received a total of $1,786 in in-kind contributions, with the top three being from Chelsea Perkins in the form of event decor, T-shirts and earrings ($465); from Delightful Cuisine of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, in the form of food, dessert and drinks ($464); and from Chris Wilcox in the form of a venue for an event ($375).
Gaskins’ committee’s operating expenditures for this period totaled $1,390, with two payments, both listed as being to Budget Printing Center of Whiteville ($1,000 and $390). Gaskins’ disbursements report does not specify what these payments were for.
Committee to Elect Chris Worley
Chris Worley is running for Columbus County Schools District 4 seat, to be vacated by Worley T. Edwards, who did not file for re-election.
After fellow candidate Wanda Brooks’ candidacy was canceled by the board of elections in July due to her living outside the district, Worley was running unopposed for the seat until Donterius Rich successfully completed the petition to become a write-in candidate in August.
Rich did not have a campaign finance report on file at the elections office.
Worley’s campaign received a total of $3,798.51 in financial contributions this quarter, with $2,838.51 coming from named individual contributions and $960 coming from political party committees.
The largest individual monetary contribution to Worley’s campaign came from Chad Watts of Tabor City, who contributed $1,000.
Of the five named individual contributions, the average donation to Worley’s campaign for this quarter was $470.
Worley also received a total of $1,448.51 in in-kind contributions, with the top three being from the Columbus County Republican Party in the form of yard signs ($960) and two from Worley himself in the form of “cozy drink holders to hand out” ($308.51) and “pens to hand out” ($180).
Worley’s committee’s operating expenditures for this period totaled $1,481.31, with the top three expenditures being to Kellie Davis of Cerro Gordo for T-shirts ($630), Budget Printing of Whiteville for cards ($400.31) and Total Solutions of Fairmont for yard signs ($240).
Haynes for WSBE District 1
Phyllis W. Haynes is running for the Whiteville City Schools Board of Education District 1 seat, currently held by Anna Richardson. Richardson is also running for this seat, but she did not have campaign finance reports on file at the elections office.
Haynes’ campaign received a total of $2,505 in monetary contributions this quarter, with $205 coming from aggregated individual contributions and $2,300 coming from named individual contributions.
The largest individual monetary contribution to Haynes’ campaign came from Shannon Register of Fayetteville, who contributed $500 twice, and Haynes, who contributed $500 of her own money.
Of 11 named individual contributions, the average donation to Haynes’ campaign for this quarter was $209.09.
Haynes’ committee’s operating expenditures for this period totaled $2,078.96, with only two expenditures, listed as being for yard signs ($1,312.17) and postcards ($766.79) from Mr. Postman Print Shop of Whiteville.
Committee to Elect Timothy Lance
Timothy Lance is running for the District 2 seat on the Columbus County Schools Board of Education, currently held by Ronnie Strickland, who serves as chair of the board. Strickland also filed a campaign finance report.
Lance’s campaign received a total of $3,539 in monetary contributions this quarter, with all of it coming from individual contributions.
The largest individual monetary contribution to Lance’s campaign came from Shannon Register of Fayetteville, who contributed $1,000.
Of the 16 named individual contributions, the average donation to Lance’s campaign for this quarter was $221.19.
Lance’s committee’s operating expenditures for this period totaled $507.60, with the top three expenditures listed as being for business cards from Vista Print of Reno, Nevada ($250.85), for an exhibit booth at the Columbus County Agriculture Fair ($150) and for magnetic car signs from Budget Printing Center of Whiteville ($106.75).
Committee to Elect Ronnie Strickland
Ronnie Strickland is running to keep his District 2 seat on the Columbus County Board of Education.
Strickland’s campaign received a total of $5,093.25 in monetary contributions this quarter, with $3,153.25 coming from individual contributions, $1,440 coming from political party committees and $500 coming from other political committees.
The only individual monetary contribution to Strickland’s campaign came from Strickland himself, consisting of a check of $3,153.25. Strickland also received a $1,440 in-kind contribution from the Columbus County Republican Party in the form of campaign yard signs as well as a $500 check from the Committee to Elect Brenden Jones.
Strickland’s committee’s operating expenditures for this period totaled $3,053.25, with the top three expenditures listed as being for signs from Awesome Campaigns of Elgin, Illinois ($2023.20), and two entries labeled “Personal Debit Card payment” to Total Solutions and Logistics of Fairmont ($537.65 and $342.40).
Committee to Elect Barbara Roseboro Featherson
Barbara Roseboro Featherson is the Democratic candidate running for the District 1 seat on the Columbus County Board of Commissioners. With no Republican primary candidates having filed for the race, after Featherson won the Democratic primary in May she appeared virtually guaranteed the seat — until Randy Williams, a Republican, successfully petitioned to become a write-in candidate in the general election.
Williams did not have a campaign finance report on file at the elections office.
Featherson’s campaign received a total of $1,215 in monetary contributions this quarter, with $1,015 coming from aggregated individual contributions and $200 coming from individual contributions.
The only two individual monetary contributions to Featherson’s campaign came from Anthony Anderson and Bonita Blakney, both of Whiteville, who each donated $100.
Featherson’s committee’s operating expenditures for this period totaled $697.55, with the top three expenditures listed as being for yard signs ($287.90), postcards ($181.48) and shirts ($169.78) from Mr. Postman Print Shop of Whiteville.
Frankye Boone for Columbus County School Board
Frankye Boone is running for the District 3 seat on the Columbus County Schools Board of Education, to be vacated by Dan Strickland. William Irvin Enzor III is also running for this seat, but he did not have campaign finance reports on file at the elections office.
Boone’s campaign received a total of $2,580 in monetary contributions this quarter, with $30 coming from aggregated individual contributions and $2,550 coming from named individual contributions.
The largest individual monetary contribution to Boone’s campaign came from Summer Register of Whiteville, who contributed $1,000.
Of the 11 named individual contributions, the average donation to Boone’s campaign for this quarter was $231.82.
Boone’s committee’s operating expenditures for this period totaled $2,521.70, with the top three expenditures listed as being for two purchases of signs from Mr. Postman Print Shop of Whiteville ($480.38 and $453.69) and the other listed as being for a video from True Faith Media Productions of Whiteville ($350).