PAC money flowing locally

With the primary a little more than a month away, the business of getting elected is in full swing. No where is that more evident than the race to represent District Nine in the State House, where two Republicans and one Democrat are hoping to replace Ronald Grantland, who opted against seeking another term.
Financial disclosure forms from each candidate were due last week and show money, including funds from political action committees, are shoring up some candidate coffers.
The largest money raiser was Democrat Kathy White Goodwin. Goodwin reported $15,050 in contributions, the vast majority of which came from two political action committees. Goodwin, who entered the race on the last day of qualifying, showed a zero starting balance and expenditures of $130. She showed a $10,000 contribution from A-Vote and a $5,000 contribution from Penny Pac. The remaining $50 came from Lester McCollam of Hartselle. A-Vote is the acronym for Alabama Voice of Teachers for Education and is headed by Dr. Paul Hubbert. Penny Pac is another education-related political action committee. It’s chaired by Joe Cottle, a member of the Alabama Democratic Executive Committee.
Her opponent, Thomas E. Drake II, did not file a report.
On the Republican side, cardiac imaging specialist Ed Henry and opponent Hartselle Mayor Dwight Tankersley both reported contributions, with a portion of Henry’s funds coming from PACS and a Madison County lawmaker. Tankersley reported no PAC contributions.
Henry’s report shows a beginning balance of $5,651 with $17,665 in contributions and $12,250 in expenses. Included in Henry’s contributions is a $210 in-kind contribution from Grantland, a Democrat. The report says the in-kind contribution was for advertising.
Henry’s largest contributor is Mike Ball, a Republican legislator from Madison. Ball and his wife, Deborah, gave Henry’s campaign $3,500 during the reporting period. Henry gave his own campaign $2,500 and received $1,000 from Bi Pac, $150 from Can Pac and $500 from the Alabama Propane Political Action Committee. Bi Pac and Can Pac are political action committees chaired by Montgomery attorney Joe Fine.
His other contributors are: Gregory and Tara Cheatham, Hartselle, $1,000; Thomas and Emily McFall, Hartselle, $1,000; Roger Cain, Somerville, $1,000; Richard and Virginia White, Hartselle, $250; RV Refrigeration Repair Inc., Falkville, $500; Southern Enterprises, Hartselle, $500; Michael and Cindy Barker, Hartselle, $200; Guaranty Roofing and Construction Inc., Falkville, $200; Melvin Duran, Priceville, $200; Dr. Kevin and Elisa Harris, Hartselle, $200; Richard Carter, Hartselle, $200; James and Shirley Galloway, Hartselle, $200; Wayne Smith, Decatur, $150; Buddie and Sue Brown, Hartselle, $125; Steve and Kelly Ward, Hartselle, $125; Dr. Robert C. Walker, Decatur, $125; Ronald and Melissa Shyrock, Falkville, $125; and Milan and Barbara Dekich, Hartselle, $100.
Tankersley’s report shows a starting balance of $6,041 with $4,398 in contributions and $10,286 in expenses. Included in the amount of donations is $1,000 Tankersley gave to his own campaign.
Other donations include:
Kevin Greeson, Hartselle, $500; Wayne and Peggy Jones, Hartselle, $200; James Hudson, Somerville, $150; Dwight Griffin, Hartselle, $100; Tami and Glenn Reist, Moulton, $100; OSCO Inc., Decatur, $100; Mason and Shannon Booth, Hartselle, $100; Don and Gary Bonnett, Hartselle, $100; Jimmy and Barbara Smith, Decatur, $100; Tom and Bonnie Fredricks, Hartselle, $100; Mack and Karen Gardner, Hartselle, $100; Larry and Tammy Hannah, Hartselle, $100; Mike and Ann Reed, Hartselle, $50; Jack Templeton, Hartselle, $50; Lane and Donna Peace, Hartselle, $50; Mack Vinson, Hartselle, $50; Tim and Hannah Witt, Hartselle, $50; John and Ruth Carlin, Hartselle, $50; Don Hall, Hartselle, $50; Bill and Sue Wood, Falkville, $50; Rodney and Karen Howell, Hartselle, $50; Randy Hames, Hartselle, $50; Bob and Dixie Francis, Hartselle, $50; Jennifer Gillott, Hartselle, $50; Linda Hopper, Hartselle, $50; Jonathan Warner, Hartselle, $50; Chester and Jackie McHan, Hartsele, $50; Joe and Virginia Howell, Hartselle, $50; Butch and Catherine Naylor, Hartselle, $50; Lamar and Sheila Crowe, Hartselle, $50; Josh and Elizabeth Velosky, Hartselle, $25; E-Tech Construction, Hartselle, $50; RaJane Hampton, Hartselle, $50; Lenora Yarbrough, Hartselle, $50; Neil and Dawn Estes, Falkville, $50; Russell and Tammie Frye, Somerville, $50; Mal Patterson, Hartselle, $50; Andy Yarbrough, Chelsea, $50; and Bobby Holliday, Hartselle, $50. Tankersley’s grandsons, Zeke McHan and Seth McHan, each gave $1.
This financial report was for the period from 50-45 days from the primary. The next report is due 10-5 days before the June 1 vote.