Marion County voters trim the field in primary
Voters trimmed the field of 10 Marion County Democrats hoping to represent the House of Delegates 50th District down to three in the June primary.
There was a marked difference in the vote tallies and campaign fundraising of the top two candidates compared to the rest of the pack. The winner of the third, meanwhile, got by on less than a shoestring, ending the most recent reporting period in the red.
On the GOP side, all three Republican candidates passed through to the Nov. 3 general election.
The figures cited here come from the candidates’ Primary Reports, covering April 1-May 24, and Second Quarter Reports, covering May 25-June 30. Candidates are presented by party and in order of vote totals.
The next report covers July 1-Sept. 30.
Candidates are presented in order of votes received, divided by party primary.
Democrats
Delegate Michael Angelucci was the only incumbent in the primary, as his other two colleagues are seeking other offices. He tallied 4,545 votes, 21.14%.
He opened the primary period with $4,950 in his campaign account and raised $7,750. He spent nothing, then raised another $1,500. He spent $979.05, leaving a balance of $13,220.95 to enter the next period.
His totals for the year were $14,200 raised, just $979.05 spent.
Joey Garcia, who served as deputy legal counsel and legislative director under Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, came in a close second with 4,202 votes, 19.55%. His fundraising and spending was unmatched by anyone in this race.
He opened the primary period with $22,789.41 and raised $4,510. He spent $16,857.24. During the second quarter he raised $1,585 and spent $5,428.80. That left him a balance of $6,598.37.
His totals for the year were $35,881.58 raised and $28,493.63 spent.
From there, the votes and money dropped off.
Third-place Ronald Straight tallied 2,945 votes, 13.7%.
He went into the primary period with just $386.79 in his account and raised $500. He spent nothing, then raised nothing in the second quarter but spent $1,000.
That put his account balance in the red by $113.21. Candidates are not permitted to have negative account balances. Asked about this, the secretary of state’s office said his report appears to have left off some donations and an amended report should be coming.
His totals, as reported, were $2,155 raised and $2,218.21 spent.
Fourth-place Stephanie Tomana spent more money but received fewer votes, topping the list of those not making the cut for the general election. She received 2,677 votes, 12.45%.
She began the primary period with $692.07 and raised $1,205 along with $2.80 in-kind. She spent $1,596.99. During the second quarter she received $65 plus a $72.95 refund on prior ad spending.
She spent $483.03 and zeroed out her account. Her totals were $3,878.32 raised and $3,669.95 spent.
Former County Commissioner Cody Starcher received 2,206 votes, 10.26%. His account also showed a negative balance, with no contributions at all. The secretary of state’s office said he was filing an amended report reflecting that his campaign was largely self-funded.
As reported, Starcher opened $2,166.49 in the red, with nothing raised and $223.18 spent. With the election past, he raised and spent nothing in the second quarter and ended $2,389.67 in the red.
Jon Dodds received 1,673 votes, 7.78%.
He began with $146.45, raised nothing and spent just $7.50 on bank service fees. In the second quarter, he again raised nothing and spent $15 on bank service fees. As state law permits, he donated his remaining $123.95 to a festival fund.
His totals were $422.90 raised and $231.45 spent, plus the festival donation.
Aryanna Islam tallied 1,327 votes, 6.17%.
She opened with $1,233.38, raised $101.81 and spent $943.63. In the second quarter, she received
$10 and spent $11.70, leaving a balance of $389.86.
Her totals were $2,810.31 raised and $2,221.10 spent.
Andrew Mills tallied 996 votes, 4.63%.
He began with $349.47, raised $1,125 and lent his campaign $2,500. He spent $3,252.66. In the second quarter he raised $10 plus $38.82 from an online T-shirt fundraiser sale. He spent $732.74 that period, leaving $47.89 in his account.
His totals were $2,423.82 raised and $4,875.93 spent.
Rounding out the Democratic contender slate, Jarryd Powell tallied 924 votes, 4.3%.
He opened with $178.49, raised $30 and spent $8.14 on fundraising and a bank service fee. In the second quarter he raised nothing. He spent $20.66 on fundraising and bank service fees and donated his remaining $179.69 to a teachers union PAC.
His totals were $1,196.07 raised and $373.20 spent.
Republicans
Former Delegate Guy Ward is hoping to return to the Capitol and topped the GOP poll with 3,477 votes (more than all but the top two Democrats), 38.98%.
He began the primary period with $2,560.61 and received $4,300. He spent $2,069.98. In the second quarter he raised $1,100 and spent just $265.33, leaving a balance of $5,625.30.
His totals were $8,510 raised and $2,884.70 spent.
Phil Mallow tallied 2,964 votes (also more than all but the top two Democrats, 19 more than Straight), 33.23%.
He began with $1,713.85 but raised and spent nothing. In the second quarter he raised $682,81but again spent nothing, leaving a balance of $2,396.66. His totals were $1,982.81 raised and $100 spent.
Darton McIntire received 2,478 vote, 27.78%.
He opened with $966.38. He raised nothing and spent nothing both periods, leaving his balance unchanged. His totals were $1,897.10 raised and $830.72 spent.
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