KINGWOOD — Top spenders in the May election were not always the winners in Preston County, according to final campaign finance reports for the election.
The final of three campaign financial reports was due June 18. Most local candidates met the deadline.
In the circuit judge’s race, Prosecuting Attorney Melvin C. Snyder III spent $7,436.27. Most of that was his own money. His largest donation was $500 from Ernest Petters of Wildwood, Florida.
Winning candidate Steve Shaffer expended $6,636.04 on the race, according to the reports. Again, the candidate was the largest contributor. But Shaffer also received $1,000 from attorney Wesley Metheney, $1,000 from Richard Shaffer, $500 from Barrister’s Development LLC, $250 from attorneys Shuman, McCuskey and Slicer, and $250 from attorney Mark Barney.
Judicial candidate Lisa Hyre’s campaign reported expenses of $2,955. She reported individual contributions of as little as $50 totalling $4,435.97. The two largest of those individual contributions came from Peggy Jennings, $1,000, and Jesse Jennings, $500.
Hyre also received in-kind donations valued at $2,042.97 and spent $262 of her own money.
The fourth candidate for Preston Circuit Judge, Buddy Turner, reported expenses of $1,903.27, donations of $1,850 and in-kind donations of $672.89.
The top three contributors of cash to Turner’s campaign were fellow attorney Jim Dailey, at $500 total, Robin Goodwin at $400 total, and Dawn Milne at $350 total.
Magistrate race
Two candidates, winner P.L. Grimm and challenger Rhonda Sypolt, vied for the unexpired term of magistrate. Grimm reported spending $1,927.53. All but $125 was her own money. Sypolt spent $1,025, all her own money.
County commission
The Republican race for Preston Commission attracted six candidates. Samantha Stone pulled out the win and spent $4,944.65 of her own money to get it.
Coming in second in the voting was Lucas Tatham. Tatham reported expenses of $4,299.09 and contributions of $4,584.66. The largest contribution was $1,000 from his mother, Joyce Tatham. His other contributions were $200 or less from each person.
Tracy Polce had not filed the third report after the primary by Thursday. In her second report, she reported having spent $988.75 of her own money up to the primary.
Art Lipscomb reported expenses of $3,872.76, all but $200 of it his money. Karen Bright spent $2,551.95 on her campaign. There were small donations, but she and her husband gave most of the money.
Anne Armstrong withdrew from the Republican commission primary, but her name was still on the ballot. She had spent $586.97 of her money before deciding not to compete.
John Crippin was the sole Democrat running for the county commission and reported expenses of $413.26, which he paid.
Board of education
Little money was spent in the race for three seats on the Preston County Board of Education. Winners Jack Keim and Jeffrey Zigray reported spending only the filing fee — $25.
Fellow candidate and winner Robert “Mac” Mccrum spent $106 of his own money, according to the second of the three required reports. He had not filed the third report by Thursday.
Ron Marthey reported paying expenses of $391.49 from his pocket. Allen Rogers did not file any of the three campaign finance reports required by state law.
