VOTE 2020: Fayetteville candidates disclose campaign finances

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The pre-election fundraising reports are in, and it’s time to see how much money candidates have raised so far for their campaigns in Fayetteville.

Arkansas law requires any opposed municipal candidate who received or spent more than $500 to file official reports with the County Clerk’s office no later than seven days before the election. As part of the requirements, each candidate must list all contributions over $50 and all expenditures over $100. The reports are to cover all campaign activity through Oct. 24.

According to finance and expenditure reports filed this week, Fayetteville’s mayoral candidates have raised nearly $60,000 this election season. In the City Council races, candidates have raised over $72,000, compared to about $21,000 in the previous election.

Final campaign contribution and expenditure reports for all municipal candidates are due 30 days after the end of the month in which the candidate’s name appears on the ballot, which is Dec. 30.

Mayoral candidates

Mayor Lioneld Jordan raised the most money, gathering $37,326 in monetary contributions with 60 donors giving more than $50. That’s about $1,600 less than he reported in 2016. He did not report any personal loans to his campaign. Jordan’s largest donations included $2,800 each from Steuart and Tom Walton. Jordan also received $2,000 from Jeff Koenig; $2,000 from Scott Rice; $1,500 from Carl Collier; $1,000 from Hershey and Denise Garner; $1,000 from Josh Mahony; $1,000 from Judy and Jay McDonald; and $1,000 from WH Taylor (see full list). He has so far spent $30,244 on his campaign.

Tom Terminella received the second-most amount of money in the mayor’s race at $21,650 with 19 donors who gave more than $50. That’s about $13,000 less than he reported in 2016. He did not report any personal loans to his campaign. Terminella’s largest donations included $5,600 from the Arkansas Realtors political action committees; $2,000 from Richard Dean McNeal; $2,000 from Tim Stanley; $1,500 from Monica Terminella; $1,000 from Chris Elkins; $1,000 from Jorgensen & Associates (ESDG, LLC); $1,000 from Trevor Lavy; $1,000 from Bob & Bonnie Morris; $1,000 from Darron Riggins; $1,000 from Scot Stokenbury; $1,000 from Sweetser Properties; and $1,000 from Venetian Professional Offices (see full list). He has so far spent $7,600 on his campaign.

Ron Baucom and William Harris did not file a report by the deadline, according to the County Clerk’s office. Candidates who don’t raise or spend at least $500 aren’t required to fill out a campaign finance form.

Ward 1 candidates

Three candidates in Ward 1 filed reports for over $23,000 in donations. That’s over two and a half times the amount of money raised by three candidates in Ward 1 in the 2018 election.

D’Andre Jones raised the most money in Ward 1, gathering $9,724 in contributions with 33 donors giving more than $50. He reported $1,600 in personal loans to his campaign. Jones’ largest donations included $2,150 from Nancy Harris; $1,000 from Jeff Koenig; $1,000 from Jennifer Creel and Curt Richardson; $500 from Lance Reed; and $400 each from Kathleen Conway and James Norys (see full list). He has so far spent $11,214 on his campaign.

Tanner Pettigrew reported the second-most money in Ward 1 at $8,966 with 12 donors who gave more than $50. He reported $330 in personal loans to his campaign. Pettigrew’s largest donations included $5,600 from the Arkansas Realtors political action committees; $1,000 from Steven Schrader; $500 from the Arkansas Homebuilders Association political action committee; $500 from Jarod and Amber Kersey; and $500 from Connie Tolbert (see full list). He has so far spent $8,985 on his campaign.

Pedro Fimbres received the third-most money in Ward 1, with $4,400 reported and 11 donors who gave more than $50. He reported $100 in loans to his campaign. Fimbres’ largest donations included $1,000 from Angela Smith; $500 from Tanner Bassett; $500 from Avery Johnson; $500 from Debra and Darren Johnson; $500 from Nomads Down Under, LLC; $500 from mayoral candidate Tom Terminella; and $300 from the Washington County Republican Women organization (see full list). He has so far spent $4,060 on his campaign.

Oroo Oyioka did not file a report by the deadline, according to the County Clerk’s office. Candidates who don’t raise or spend at least $500 aren’t required to fill out a campaign finance form.

Ward 2 candidates

Two candidates in Ward 2 filed reports for over $12,000 in donations. That’s over eight times the amount of money raised in Ward 2 in the 2018 election.

William Chesser received the most money in Ward 2, gathering $8,970 in contributions with 19 donors giving more than $50. He did not report any loans to his campaign. Chesser’s largest donations included $2,800 from the Arkansas Realtors political action committee; $1,000 from Jeff Koenig; $1,000 from Chris Elkins; $1,000 from Mel Collier; $500 from Robert Karas; and $500 from Scott Berna (see full list). He has so far spent $8,722 on his campaign.

Council Member Matthew Petty raised the least money in Ward 2, reporting $3,145 with 18 donors giving more than $50. He did not report any loans, but noted about $400 in carryover funds from his 2016 campaign. Petty’s largest donations included $300 from Keaton Smith; $250 from Jeff Starling; $200 from Mervin Jebaraj; and $150 from Emil Koch (see full list). He has so far spent $2,187 on his campaign.

Ward 3 candidates

Two candidates filed finance forms in Ward 3, but only one reported raising any money. Total contributions in Ward 3 were over double the amount reported in the 2018 election.

Council Member Sarah Bunch received $6,250 in Ward 3 with five donors giving more than $50. She did not report any loans, but noted $500 in carryover funds from her 2016 campaign. Bunch’s donations included $5,600 from the Arkansas Realtors political action committee; $250 from City Clerk Kara Paxton; $200 from Fran Free; and $100 from former chief of staff Don Marr (see full list). She has so far spent $519 on her campaign.

Peter Tonnessen filed a form which noted $1,470 in expenditures, but included no reports of any contributions.

Ward 4 candidates

Three candidates in Ward 4 filed reports for over $30,000 in donations. That’s quadruple the amount of money raised in Ward 4 in the 2018 election.

Holly Hertzberg received the most money in Ward 4, reporting $14,870 with 22 donors giving more than $50. She reported $157 in loans to her campaign. Hertzberg’s largest donations included $5,600 from the Arkansas Realtors political action committee; $2,800 from Todd Hertzberg; $2,000 from Deron Johnson; and $500 each from Jason Folwer, Hutz Hertzberg, Jeff Koenig, Terri McNaughton and John Rausch (see full list). She has so far spent $11,195 on her campaign.

Council Member Kyle Smith raised the second-most money in Ward 4 at $13,822 with 38 donors giving more than $50. He reported $2,000 in loans to his campaign. Smith’s largest donations included $2,800 from Timothy Whitley; $1,000 from Bryan Blair; $1,000 from Peter LaBrie; $500 from Jason Moore; and $250 each from Ryan Higgins, Kristifier Paxton, Marsha Scott and Craig Underwood (see full list). He has so far spent $7,260 on his campaign.

Paul Waddell reported the third-most money in Ward 4 at $1,925 with five donors giving more than $50. He didn’t note any loans to his campaign, but listed himself on his itemized contributions. Waddell’s receipts included $650 from himself; $500 from Lisa Orton; $500 from Louise Mann; and $200 from Frank Waddell (see full list). He has so far spent $1,942 on his campaign.

Adam Fire Cat did not file a report by the deadline, according to the County Clerk’s office. Candidates who don’t raise or spend at least $500 aren’t required to fill out a campaign finance form.

* Did not file by the deadline. Candidates who don’t raise or spend at least $500 aren’t required to fill out a campaign finances form.

Source: Washington County Clerk’s Office