Preston County primary election candidates financial reports

KINGWOOD — The big spenders leading up to Preston County’s primary election are in the race for the Republican nomination for sheriff.

State law requires candidates to report how much they spend to get elected and where the money comes from. The first quarter covered the period from Jan. 1 through March 31. The next report, covering the time period through May 24, is due by Friday.

These figures are from the first quarter report.

There are three Republicans running for sheriff: Joel Gordon, Jason Peaslee and Paul “Moe” Pritt. One Democrat, Arnold Tichnell, is on the ballot for sheriff.

The biggest spender in any Preston County race so far is the campaign of Peaslee. It reported expenses of $12,515.57, which he paid.

Pritt’s campaign reported contributions of $3,532.47 through the end of the first quarter and expenditures of $3,242.47. He received one donation for $50.

The Committee to Elect Gordon reported contributions totaling $3,422.22 by the end of the first quarter, all his money. His expenditures were $2,169.89.

Tichnell spent $502.66 of his own money, he reported.

Judicial offices

Three magistrates will be elected in June. Two of the races are uncontested, with incumbents P.L. Grimm in Division 1 and Bo Ward in Division 2 shoe-ins. Division 3 has candidates Aaron Knotts, James Maier, Peggy Pase and Rhonda Sypolt running.

Knotts reported spending $2,246.53 of his own money. Maier spent $1,867.56 of his money, and Pase raised and spent a total of $1,707.99 in the first quarter. All but $200 of the cash came from Pase’s pocket.

Sypolt reported expenses of $2,563.87 through the quarter, all her money. Ward spent only the filing fee, $575, from his own pocket. Grimm spent a total of $824.63 of her own money, which includes the filing fee.

Jay Shay is unopposed on both sides of the ballot in his run for prosecuting attorney. He reported contributions of $3,913.30 through the end of the quarter and expenses of $3,425.12. He received two contributions totaling $387.80. The rest was his money.

Board of education

Little money is being spent in the board of education race for three seats.

Jeanne Dreisbach, Pam Feathers, Bruce Huggins and Peter Liga each spent only the $25 filing fee.

Assessor

In an unopposed race, incumbent Republican Assessor Connie Ervin spent $551.42. Of that, $502.66 was the filing fee. All was her own money.

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