County office seekers report wide gaps in available funds

Campaign finance reports for the second quarter show wide differences in the amount of money raised and spent by candidates seeking countywide offices in the Aug. 6 Putnam County General Election.

The largest campaign balance among the races reviewed was reported by incumbent Sheriff Eddie Farris.

Sheriff

Farris began the reporting period with $90,754.03. His campaign received $17,360 in contributions and reported $24,986.37 in expenditures, leaving an ending balance of $83,127.66.

The report also lists an outstanding loan balance of $23,200.

Farris’ contributors include local property owners, business owners, physicians and other individuals. His expenditures included venue rentals, yard signs, equipment, advertising, event supplies, clothing, stickers and video production.

His opponent, independent candidate and Cookeville Police Capt. Darrin Stout, began the reporting period with $5,012.15.

Stout reported $5,012.30 in contributions during the quarter and $5,990.17 in expenditures, leaving an ending balance of $4,034.28.

His report also shows that Stout has contributed a total of $15,358.16 to his campaign since it began.

Stout’s expenses included signs, equipment, website hosting, venue rentals, event supplies, advertising and T-shirts.

County mayor

Incumbent County Mayor Randy Porter began the reporting period with $40,015.55.

Porter reported an in-kind contribution valued at $82.92 from Chris McCall for billboard advertising. His expenditures totaled $1,986.25 and included print advertising, venue rentals, food and video production.

Democratic candidate Ryan Dalton began the quarter with $4,870.35. His campaign received $1,260 in contributions and reported $1,039.07 in expenditures, leaving an ending balance of $5,091.28.

Dalton’s report lists $270 in itemized contributions from two donors and $990 in unitemized contributions.

His expenditures included a venue rental, event supplies, advertising and $450 for movie exhibition rights.

County clerk

County clerk candidate Chad Day began the quarter with $918.58.

Day reported $2,784.41 in total contributions and $3,583.29 in expenditures, leaving an ending balance of $119.70.

The contributions included $1,664.40 from Day and a $200 in-kind contribution from Kona Ice of Cookeville, a business owned by the candidate.

His expenses included T-shirts, hats, food for a campaign kickoff and billboard advertising.

Trustee

Incumbent Trustee Jamie Hunter began the reporting period with $7,720.07.

Hunter reported $700 in contributions, $3.15 in interest and $4,996.46 in expenditures, leaving an ending balance of $3,426.76. Her report also lists an outstanding loan balance of $20,000.

Hunter’s report lists contributions from individuals in Columbia and Monterey, along with a $330 in-kind contribution for digital billboard advertising from Absolute Fitness.

Her expenses included pens, sign attachments, digital and print advertising, billboard advertising and a sponsorship of the Cookeville Regional Medical Center Foundation golf tournament.

Her opponent, Jane Sadler, began the reporting period with no campaign balance.

Sadler reported $4,000 in contributions, all of which came from the candidate, and $3,712.17 in expenditures. Her ending balance was $287.83.

Her expenditures included door hangers, campaign cards, yard signs, magnets, print and online advertising and promotion connected with the CRMC Foundation golf tournament.

Editor’s Note: Campaign finance reports may include cash contributions, in-kind contributions, loans and outstanding obligations. In-kind contributions generally represent goods or services provided to a campaign and do not necessarily increase the campaign’s cash balance.