The race to fill the state House seat vacated by the retirement of State Rep. Mike Denham is not cheap, according to information filed with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance by candidates.
The latest reports filed by 70th House District candidates Democrat John Sims and Republican John VanMeter show the price of running for public office. The 32-day pre (election) reports were filed on Oct. 7 by both campaigns.
According to information contained in the reports, Sims took in receipts totaling $42,846.94 and made disbursements of $28,081.35. VanMeter showed receipts of $98,291.58 with disbursements of $66,567.15.
The Sims campaign gained $6,000 in funding from political action committees including $1,000 from IBEW PAC Voluntary Fund, $1,000 from Ironworkers Political Action Leage, $1,000 from Kentucky Educators' PAC, $1,000 from Kentucky Workers Association PAC, $500 from Teamsters Local 651 PAC, $500 from TwinPAC and $500 from United Steelworkers District 8. A donation of $200 was made to the campaign by the Fleming County Democrat Women's Club, $100 from the Kenton County Democratic Woman’s' Club and the John Sims Jr. campaign made a contribution of $17,491, apparently funds carried over from the primary election.
For the VanMeter campaign, PAC contributions total $4,000 and include $1,000 from the Bluegrass Committee, $1,000 from GOPAC Election Fund, $500 from Making a Sensible Shift in Elections PAC, $1,000 from Marathon Petroleum Corporation Employees PAC, and $500 from USAA Employee PAC. The Mason County Republican Party also donated $500 to the VanMeter effort. The candidate also made a contribution to his own campaign of $58,000, according to the report.
The next reports will be the 15 pre-General Election report due later this week.
For more information or to learn individual contributors to campaigns visit the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance at http://www.kref.state.ky.us/krefsearch/
Ledger Independent is online at http://www.maysville-online.com