Incumbents collect, spend most
By Joel Davis | (joeld@thedailytimes.com)
All three of Blount County’s incumbent state legislators have enjoyed substantial advantages in campaign contributions over their primary opponents.
State Sen. Doug Overbey, R-Maryville, who started with a $261,721 war chest, raised and spent the most campaign funds during 2012. He raised $70,648 in individual contributions and $71,564 in donations from dozens of political action committees. These totals do not include unitemized contributions of $100 or less.
Overbey has spent $227,701 on his campaign through the most recent reporting period. By contrast, the other five state legislative candidates only spent $133,200 in total.
State Rep. Art Swann came in second in fundraising with $15,845 in individual contributions and $43,750 from PACs. He has spent $44,423.
Overbey’s challenger, Scott Hughes, raised $42,356 in individual contributions and $14,400 from PACs. He has spent $53,180.
State Rep. Robert Ramsey raised $5,600 in individual contributions and $26,700 from PACs. He spent $18,812.
Grady Caskey, who is opposing Swann, dropped $6,145 of personal funds to his campaign and received $1,000 from a PAC. He spent $9,310.
Tona Monroe, who is opposing Ramsey, raised $3,710 in individual contributions. She spent $7,427.
PAC contributions
Overbey received about 67 separate donations from PACs. His largest contribution, $5,000, came from the Tennessee Education Association Fund For Children and Public Education. His second-largest donation was $4,000 from the Tennessee Bankers Association.
Swann’s largest contribution was $6,500 from Tennessee Parents/Teachers Putting Students First.
Ramsey’s largest PAC contribution was $3,000 from the Tennessee Banker’s Association.
Hughes received the largest single contribution from a political action committee: $7,100 from Truth Matters, which, according to news reports, is funded by Andrew E. Miller, a Nashville venture capitalist. Miller has given more than $120,000 to PACs to help challengers facing incumbent Republican state legislators or to fund ads against them.
Caskey received $1,000 from the Tennessee Education Association Fund For Children and Public Education.
Monroe received no PAC contributions.
Individual summaries
The following are fundraising and expenditures per reporting period for each candidate. Quarterly totals include itemized and unitemized contributions. State law does not require a candidate to itemize contributions of $100 or less.
Overbey
Overbey began the first quarter of the year with $261,7215 on hand. He raised no money and spent only $15,251.
In the second quarter, he raised $84,630 and spent $103,989.
Since the end of the second quarter, he has raised $55,776 and spent $110,750, ending the reporting period with $172,138 on hand.
Hughes
Hughes, Overbey’s challenger, began the first quarter with $41 on hand. He raised $21,386 and spent $3,489.
In the second quarter, Hughes raised $30,130 and spent $23,070.
Since the end of the second quarter, he has raised $12,875 and spent $27,906, ending the reporting period with $9,965 on hand.
Ramsey
Ramsey began the first quarter with $62,218 on hand. He raised no money and spent $683.
In the second quarter, Ramsey raised 13,550 and spent $12,120. Since the end of the second quarter, he has received $24,100 and spent $7,456, ending the reporting period with $79,768 on hand.
Monroe
Monroe, Ramsey’s challenger, began the first quarter with no money and ended with $600. In-kind contributions are not included in the ending balance.
In the second quarter, Monroe raised $4,879 and spent $1,726.
Since the end of the second quarter, she has raised $485 and spent $5,904, ending the reporting period with $99 on hand.
Swann
Swann began the first quarter with $37,080 on hand. He raised no money and spent $490.
In the second quarter, Swann raised $26,100. He spent $25,738.
Since the end of the second quarter, Swann has raised $21,370 and spent $20,595, ending with $37,726.
Caskey
Caskey, Swann’s challenger, began the second quarter with no money. He raised $8,869 in itemized and unitemized contributions and spent $8,023.
Since the end of the second quarter, he raised $1,050 and spent $1,745, ending with $151 on hand.
