Crowded city races drive active campaign spending

Incumbent Cookeville City Council member Chad Gilbert reported the largest campaign balance among the candidates seeking one of five seats on the council, according to second-quarter campaign finance reports.

Gilbert began the reporting period with $112,721.85. His campaign received $7,301 in contributions and reported $46,174.44 in expenditures, leaving an ending balance of $73,848.41.

His largest expenditures included more than $11,000 to Battleground Strategies Group, more than $10,000 to Privy Clear Marketing, $5,000 to Anchor Research, $2,500 to Pennington Productions, $2,076.48 to the Herald-Citizen, $2,000 to the Upper Cumberland Business Journal and $700 to a local lifestyle publication.

Incumbent Ali Bagci began the quarter with $4,000. He reported $4,050 in contributions and $2,876.56 in expenditures, leaving an ending balance of $5,173.44. His report also lists an outstanding loan balance of $1,000.

Bagci’s expenditures included campaign signs, flyers, print and social media advertising, supplies, sponsorships and billboard advertising.

Vice Mayor Luke Eldridge began the quarter with $4,107.24. He reported $10,730 in contributions and $8,163.69 in expenditures, leaving an ending balance of $6,673.55.

Eldridge’s expenses included campaign signs, T-shirts, social media advertising, food, supplies and activities for his campaign kickoff. His report also lists a $250 payment to the Putnam County Republican Party.

Cigi England began the quarter with $2,099.76. She reported $12,970 in contributions and $5,217.35 in expenditures, leaving an ending balance of $9,852.41.

England’s expenses included printing, a venue rental, entertainment and campaign merchandise.

Mason Harville reported a beginning balance of $83.19, contributions of $450 and expenditures of $2,096.35. His report also lists an outstanding loan balance of $1,902.60 and an outstanding obligation of $559.73.

His expenditures included printing, advertising, food, decorations and expenses associated with his campaign kickoff.

Sam Matson began the quarter with $100. He reported $4,490 in contributions and $1,468.79 in expenditures, leaving an ending balance of $3,121.21.

Matson’s contributions included $2,900 from the candidate. His expenses included signs, printing, supplies and a table at the Upper Cumberland Pride event. His report also lists donations to two Putnam County Commission campaigns.

Kelly Parkison began the quarter with $8,688.68. She reported $10,769.86 in contributions and $9,479.95 in expenditures, leaving an ending balance of $9,978.59.

Her campaign expenses included a website, signs, campaign merchandise, print advertising, a CityScape membership, event costs and sponsorships.

Damon “Dee” Prince began the quarter with no balance. He reported $2,247.17 in contributions and $1,544.16 in expenditures, leaving an ending balance of $703.01.

Prince contributed $383.37 to his campaign, while another individual contributed $1,863.80. His expenses included campaign signs, a kickoff event and a sponsorship for Cookeville Takes Flight.

Sam Raper began the quarter with $553.98. He reported $12,140.68 in total contributions, including $3,596.54 in in-kind contributions, and $5,632.52 in expenditures. His ending balance was $7,062.14.

Raper’s in-kind contributions included food, supplies, bookkeeping and graphic design services. Other expenses included signs, advertising, printing, website services and campaign merchandise.

Trenton Strode reported no contributions, expenditures or campaign balance during the quarter.

No campaign finance report for Nick Stone was on file by the reporting deadline.

A one-page filing under Jason Flatt’s name listed an $80 expenditure for two signs. Flatt is not among the 11 candidates currently listed in the Cookeville City Council race.

Algood

Three candidates are seeking the office of Algood mayor.

Tiffany Anton began the quarter with $45.18. She reported $1,532.74 in contributions and $1,086.40 in expenditures, leaving an ending balance of $491.52.

Anton’s contributors included candidates for Putnam County Commission and Algood City Council. Her expenses included signs, postcards, advertising, food and a venue rental.

Billy Bilbrey filed a one-page report listing $800 in receipts and $800 in expenditures for campaign signs.

Danny Richardson’s report contains conflicting totals. The cover page lists $250 in receipts, while the itemized schedules list $1,561.40 in contributions and the same amount in expenditures.

The itemized contributions include $1,311.40 from Richardson and $250 from two other individuals. The expenditures were for printing and an event at the Algood Diner.

Four candidates are seeking two seats on the Algood City Council.

Bryan Payne reported $5,325 in contributions and $2,929.54 in expenditures, leaving a calculated balance of $2,395.46. His expenses included signs, advertising, printing and mapping software.

No campaign finance reports for Taylor Hill, Tim McPherson or Dan Taylor were on file by the reporting deadline.

Baxter

Four candidates are seeking two seats on the Baxter City Council.

Brian Burgess reported $1,421.90 in total contributions, including a $921.90 in-kind contribution for campaign signs. He reported total expenditures of $1,072.19, including the corresponding in-kind expense.

Burgess reported $500 in cash contributions and $150.29 in cash expenditures, leaving a cash balance of $349.71.

No reports for Caleb Bryant, Greg Phillips or Richard Waller were on file by the reporting deadline.

Monterey

Chris Landers, the only candidate for Monterey mayor, began the quarter with $750 and reported no additional contributions or expenditures.

Charlotte Cleary, a write-in candidate for Monterey alderman in Ward 4, reported $550 in contributions and $490.86 in expenditures, leaving a balance of $59.14. Her expenses included campaign cards, signs and shirts.

No reports for unopposed alderman candidates Spencer Delk, Brian Q. Williams or James Wolfgram were on file by the reporting deadline.

Editor’s Note: Some candidates seeking part-time municipal offices may qualify for an exemption from campaign finance reporting requirements under state law. The absence of a report does not necessarily indicate that a candidate failed to comply with the law.