The three Republicans seeking to represent Oconee County in the Georgia General Assembly in January begin the fall campaign season with a significant financial advantage over the three Democrats seeking those same seats.
In the Senate District 46 contest, Republican Marc McMain reported in his July 31 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report that he had a $124,111 Ending Monitory Balance, compared with $16,001 for Democrat Ray Smith.
In House District 120, Republican Ward Black reported he had a $53,654 Ending Monitory Balance, while Democrat Suzanna Karatassos had $31,834.
In the House District 121 race, Republican Mack “Dutch” Guest IV said his Ending Monitory Balance on July 31 was $177,405, while incumbent Democrat Eric Gisler reported having $42,279.
McMain and Black had challengers in the May primary, and McMain reported spending $447,082 in his campaign to date, $216,401 of that since May 1, while Black said he has spent $117,785 in his campaign, $5,806 since the beginning of the July 31 reporting period that began on May 1.
Among the Democrats, only Smith has competition in the May primary, and he reported spending $24,296 in his campaign so far, with $9,774 of that since May 1.
All three of the Republican have contracted with War Room Strategies of Watkinsville as campaign consultants, and McMain reported spending $290,163 with that firm, Black reported spending $100,688, and Guest reported spending $34,053 with War Room Strategies.
All three Republicans reported to the State Ethics Commission considerably higher percentages of their campaign contributions coming from Corporate/Business/Unregistered Committees rather than individuals compared with the three Democrats.
The Democrats reported slightly higher percentages coming from out of state than did the Republicans, according to the State Ethics Commission.
Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report
The State Ethics Commission deadline for filing the July 31 Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report (CCRD) was July 31, but candidates are given a seven day grace period.
The July CCRD is the third required for this election year and covered the period from May 1 to July 31. The party primaries were on May 19.
The first report was due on Jan. 31, and the second on April 30.
The State Ethics Commission web site provides access to the filed CCRDs but also provides a summary of campaign contributions and expenditures for each of the candidates.
It also is possible to download a date file listing contributions and expenditures for each of the candidates.
Candidates for federal office must file reports with the Federal Election Commission, not with the State Ethics Commission.
Mirroring the situation in state Senate District 46 and State House Districts 120 and 121 races, Republican Houston Gaines enters the fall campaign in the 10th Congressional District with an immense funding advantage over Democrat Pam DeLancy.
As of June 30, Gaines had received $2.3 million in contributions, had spent $1.6 million, and had $703,419 on hand.
DeLancy had raised $23,080, had spent $11,121, and had $8,705 on hand.
Oconee County falls entirely in the 10th Congressional District and entirely in State Senate District 46.
The Oconee Northeast precinct is in the 120th House District, and the three remaining Oconee County precincts–Oconee South, Oconee Central, and Dark Corner–are in the 121st House District.
Senate District 46 Reports
McMain, from Walton County, reported that on May 1 he had $211,720 in his campaign account.
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He said he received $28,792 in contributions and loaned his campaign $100,000 during the May 1 to July 31 campaign period.
McMain reported spending $216,401 during the May 1 to July 31 campaign period, resulting in his balance, with monies carried over from the previous period, of cash on hand of $124,111.
Across his campaign, McMain reported that 75.0 percent of his campaign funds came from individuals, with the remainder coming from corporate/business/unregistered committees, and that 96.9 percent of his funding is from Georgia sources.
Across his campaign, McMain reported five donors giving more than $5,000. His largest contribution received in the May 1 to July 31 period was $3,300 from the Committee to Elect Jason Anavitarte. Anavitarte from Paulding represents Senate District 31.
Smith, from Oconee County, reported that he had $6,280 in his campaign account on May 1.
He said he received $19,496 in campaign contributions during the May 1 to July 31 campaign period.
Smith reported that he spent $9,774 during the May 1 to July 31 campaign period, leaving his account, with monies carried over from the previous period, with the balance of $16,601.
Across his campaign, Smith reported that 91.5 percent of his campaign contributions came from individuals, and that 81.2 percent came from in-state sources.
Across his campaign, Smith reported four donations of more than $3,000. During the May 1 to July 31 campaign period, he received two donations of $3,300, one from Ray Smith of Macon, a wealth management financial advisor, and the other from Danielle Tehrani, unemployed, also from Macon.
House District 120
Black, from Jackson County, reported that on May 1 he had $53,654 in his campaign account.
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He said he received $18,885 in contributions during the May 1 to July 31 campaign period.
Black reported spending $5,806 during the May 1 to July 31 campaign period, resulting in his balance, with monies carried over from the previous period, of cash on hand of $53,654.
Across his campaign, Black reported that 60.0 percent of his campaign funds came from individuals, with the remainder coming from corporate/business/unregistered committees, and that 93.9 percent of his funding is from Georgia sources.
Across his campaign, Black reported 10 donors giving $3,300 or more. His largest contributions received in the May 1 to July 31 period were $3,300 from homemaker Cindy Scott and that same amount from RAC Properties Owner Robert Scott, both with a Bogart address.
Karatassos, also from Jackson County, reported that she had $31,834 in her campaign account on May 1.
She said she received $24,728 in campaign contributions during the May 1 to July 31 campaign period.
Karatassos reported that she spent $10,806 during the May 1 to July 31 campaign period, leaving her account, with monies carried over from the previous period, with the balance of $31,834.
Across her campaign, Karatassos reported that 99.4 percent of her campaign contributions came from individuals, and that 84.8 percent came from in-state sources.
Across her campaign, Karatassos reported four donations of $3,000 or more. During the May 1 to July 31 campaign period, she received two donations of $2,500, one from Ronald Jones, and one from June Heard, both of Athens and both listed as not employed.
House District 121
Guest, from Oconee County, reported that on May 1 he had $177,405 in his campaign account.
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He said he received $25,900 in contributions during the May 1 to July 31 campaign period.
Guest reported spending $37,521 during the May 1 to July 31 campaign period, resulting in his balance, with monies carried over from the previous period, of cash on hand of $177,405.
Across his campaign, Guest reported that 60.4 percent of his campaign funds came from individuals, with the remainder coming from corporate/business/unregistered committees, and that 92.8 percent of his funding is from Georgia sources.
Across his campaign, Guest reported 16 donors giving $3,300 or more. His largest contributions received in the May 1 to July 31 period were $3,300 from Welbrook Logistics LLC, Mack H. Guest, LAD Truck Lines Inc. CEO, and Camila Guest, all of Oconee County, and that same amount from Southeast Utility Trailer LLC of Stockbridge and from ABM Properties LLC of Cumming.
Gisler, also from Oconee County, reported that he had $42,279 in his campaign account on May 1.
He said he received $37,582 in campaign contributions during the May 1 to July 31 campaign period.
Gisler reported that he spent $19,548 during the May 1 to July 31 campaign period, leaving his account, with monies carried over from the previous period, with the balance of $42,279.
Across his campaign, Gisler reported that 74.0 percent of his campaign contributions came from individuals, and that 79.8 percent came from in-state sources.
Across his campaign, Gisler reported six donations of $3,000 or more. During the May 1 to July 31 campaign period, he received $3,000 from Sherry Gisler, retired, from Jonesboro, and that same amount from Pamela Woodley, not employed, of Decatur.
Candidate Forum
All six of the candidates seeking to represent Oconee County in the state General Assembly in January have agree to participate in a candidate forum from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Sept. 24 at the Community Center in Oconee Veterans Park, 3500A Hog Mountain Road.
The Oconee Enterprise and Oconee County Observations will host the forum.
Citizens will pose their questions directly to the candidates, each of whom will have a fixed amount of time to respond.
The forum will consist of four separate 30-minute panels for the Democratic and Republican candidates for U.S. Congressional District 10, for state Senate District 46, for state House District 120, and for state House District 121.
In the Congressional District 10 race, DeLancy has agreed to participate in the forum. Gaines has said he has a scheduling conflict that he is trying to resolve.
Patrick Graham, publisher of the Enterprise as well as publisher of The Walton Tribune and The Covington News, will co-moderate the forum.
The Atlanta Press Club has released its debate schedule for the November elections. The schedule does not contain the congressional races, meaning the Sept. 24 match-up may be the only opportunity for citizens to pose questions to the two Congressional candidates together.
DeLancy will be given the opportunity to answer questions from the audience even if Gaines is not able to fit the forum into his schedule.
The forum will be video recorded and made available to the public.
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