MORGANTOWN — Incumbent Republican Agriculture Commissioner Kent Leonhardt holds a hefty financial lead over his Democratic challenger, Deborah Stiles, after winning a three-way GOP primary.
The numbers come from their 2nd Quarter finance reports covering April 29-June 30.
Leonhardt won a majority of the GOP votes, 50.82%.
During the quarter, he raised $2,770 and spent $29,696.15. That left him an account balance of $48,973.79 heading into the third quarter, which runs through Sept. 30.
Year-to-date, his totals were $239,974.46 raised and $186,306.50 spent. He donated $4,400 to his campaign account.
Former Delegate Joshua Higginbotham took second place, with 30.07%.
All three of his reports are unusual — but legal according to the secretary of state’s office. He took in $8,600 in cash contributions, with $5,600 of that from family members.
The rest of his contributions for the three periods — 1st Quarter, Primary and 2nd Quarter — are listed in the form of in-kind contributions from himself to his campaign, valued at $49,700.40.
Because all of his campaign expenditures are listed as in-kind contributions, he reports no cash campaign expenses.
The $8,600 in cash contributions were never spent and are listed as an available account balance at the end of the second quarter.
His first report, the 1st Quarter, also contains an error that skews his totals on the subsequent reports. On that report, he listed no cash contributions, but $12,083.69 in-kind. But the bottom line, total contributions for the election year-to-date accidentally doubles that.
The error is carried over. So his 2nd Quarter year-to-date figure reported as $70,384.29 should be $58,300.40.
Roy Ramey, of Cabell County, took third place with 19.11% of the vote. He is a small farmer and retired Army officer who practices regenerative livestock and forest farming as well as agro-education.
During the second quarter, he raised $1,075 and spent $6,012.73, leaving a balance of $492.05.
Year-to-date, his totals were $23,275.30 raised and $17,188.25 spent. He gave $3,011.11 to his campaign.
Stiles is a retired journalist, professor and agriculture and rural policy researcher. She lives near Parsons and raises vegetables, sheep, goats, cattle and poultry.
During the quarter, she raised $2,100.80, lent her campaign $1,876.07 and spent $2,868.37.
That left her a balance of $1,604.07 going into the third quarter.
Year-to-date, her totals were $3,000.80 raised and $7,384.29 spent. She lent her campaign $6,297.36 and paid part of it back, leaving $5.454.36 outstanding.
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