The coronavirus pandemic pushed back West Virginia’s may primary election until June 9, but candidates are still campaigning, as the abundant yard signs make clear.
We start our look at campaign finance reports with the House of Delegates 51st District, and their 1st Quarter reports. The next round, the Primary Report, is due May 29 and covers the period April 1 to May 24.
The 51st has five seats, all currently occupied by Democrats. Six Democrats — the incumbents and one challenger — are running in the primary along with five Republicans who will all pass through to the general election. Two former GOP delegates are hoping to return to the Capitol.
Democrats
Jeffrey Budkey of Morgantown is the sole challenger. As of the first report, he’d donated $150 to his campaign and spent $126.97 — $100 on the filing fee and the rest on bank service fees. He entered the next period with $23.03.
Barbara Evans Fleischauer came into the reporting period with $14,738.17. She raised $7450.27 plus $20 in-kind for website promotion. She spent $3,390.57 — $2,080 of that for campaign office rent. That left her with a balance of $19,410.77.
Her total year-to-date fundraising was $32,064.85 and spending was $21,556.74.
Evan Hansen began the period with $14,606.58. He raised $4,990.28 and spent $1,404.17. He ended with a balance of $18,192.69. His year-to-date totals were $21,121.17 raised and $2,928.48 spent.
Rodney Pyles opened with $571.39 and raised $1,165.28. He spent $796.71, leaving a balance of $939.96. His year-to-date totals were $2,468.24 raised, $1,528.28 spent.
Danielle Walker began the period with $12,797.34 and raised $2,828.45. All her contributions were small; she had only two $250 contributions and three $100. She spent $985.31, leaving a balance of $14,640.48.
Her year-to-date totals were $22,008.05 raised and $7,279.85 spent.
John Williams opened with $5,859.03 and raised $8,175 in individual contributions and $1,000 — from a single donation — at an October 2019 fundraiser in Morgantown.
He spent $1,124.57, leaving a balance of $13,909.36. His year-to-date totals were $17,179.55 raised and $3,214.19 spent.
Republicans
Cindy Frich is one of two former GOP delegates hoping to return to office. She has no financial activity reported so far for 2020. Her 4th Quarter 2019 report showed $400.61 in her campaign account.
Zachary LeMaire also has no 2020 activity. He gave his campaign a total of $575 from July through September 2019 and spent all of it on web-based services and consultant fees during those months. His current account balance is $0.
Todd Stainbrook began the period with nothing and received $250. He didn’t spend it so his campaign account remains at $250.
Joe Statler is the other former GOP delegate. He opened with $8,270. He lent his campaign account $10,000 and gave it $145.46 in-kind for the filing fee and a breakfast meeting. He spent $7,617.74, leaving a balance of $10,652.26.
His year-to-date totals were $8,970.46 raised, not counting the loan, and $7,672.74 spent.
Justin White also has no financial activity reported.
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