MORGANTOWN — Twelve candidates are running for the five seats of the House of Delegates 51st District: Five Republicans, five Democrats and two from third parties. The current delegation is three Democrats and two Republicans.
Overall, the Democrats — incumbents and challengers — have far bigger campaign war chests than the rest of the pack. The only Republican who comes close is a newcomer. Four candidates — two Republicans and the two third-party — barely appear on the money map.
Figures come from their First-General finance reports, covering the period of May 21 through Sept. 23.
Republicans
Incumbent Cindy Frich opened the reporting period with $5,200.71. She raised $5,125 and spent $2,823.98, leaving a balance of $3,228.25 to enter the next period.
Her totals for the campaign season so far are $10,730 raised and $3,228.25 spent.
Incumbent Joe Statler opened with $3,686.83 and raised $1,700. He also received a transfer of excess funds of $4,200 from his and another delegate’s 2016 campaign accounts.
Statler spent $7,468.75, leaving a balance of $2,118.08. His totals are $14,510 raised and $12,391.92 spent.
Aaron Metz has filed no financial reports with the secretary of state.
Roger Shuttlesworth opened with $44.64 and gave his campaign $300. He spent $146.60, leaving a balance of $198.04.
His totals are $900 spent and $657.32 raised.
Debbie Warner is the one exception. She opened with only $1,300 but this period raised $17,300 in individual contributions plus $10,620 at a Charleston fundraiser, along with $1,534.15 in-kind.
She spent $2,632.44, leaving a balance of $26,587.56. Her totals are $30,754.15 raised and $2,632.44 spent.
Democrats
Incumbent Barbara Evans Fleischauer opened the period with $26,090.19. She raised $10,950 in individual contributions and $12,028.03 at fundraisers in Charleston and Morgantown, along with $2,408.49 in-kind.
She spent $12,084.36, leaving a balance of $36,983.86. Her totals for the season are $67,551.95 raised and $45,847.50 spent.
Incumbent Rodney Pyles has the most modest account among the Democrats, though still higher than all the Republicans but Warner.
Pyles opened with $1,956.28 and raised $8,530. He spent just $289.01, leaving a balance of $10,197.27. His totals are $16,930 raised and $6,732.73 spent.
Incumbent John Williams opened with $4,038.46 and raised $12,742 in individual contributions plus $600 at a Charleston fundraiser, and $10 in-kind.
He spent $7,072.08, leaving a balance of $10,308.38. His totals are $61,852 raised and $43,627.94 spent.
The next two challengers have bigger war chests than two of the Democrat incumbents.
Evan Hansen opened with $26,895.88. He raised $19,479 in individual contributions plus $3,192 at a Morgantown fundraiser and $18.71 in-kind.
He spent $9,831.12, leaving a balance of $39,735.76. His totals are $54,905.19 raised and $19,168.34 spent.
Danielle Walker started the period with $7,738.43. She raised $12,368.84 in individual contributions plus $5,397 at three Morgantown fundraisers and $472.32 in-kind.
She spent $4,460.76, leaving a balance of $21,043.51. Her totals are $36,178.25 raised and $11,119.44 spent.
Third party
American Freedom Union challenger Harry Bertram had his candidacy officially recognized July 18.
He entered the period with no prior balance. He raised $206.87 – all but $5 from himself. He spent $201.87.leaving a balance of $5.
Libertarian Buddy Guthrie had his candidacy recognized May 21. He also entered the period with no prior balance.
His report contains errors. It shows he received $150 and spent $100 but doesn’t say where the money came from, where it went or that he has an apparent balance of $50. It wouldn’t be unsafe to believe that the $100 went to his filing fee.
