Political Science teaches that incumbents generally enjoy higher name recognition, the advantage of running on prior experience and better access to fundraising.
Fayette County is no exception -- at least when it comes to asking for and collecting campaign donations.
All six candidates vying for local elected office have filed their final pre-election campaign disclosure reports. Incumbent County Commissioners Jack Smith and Eric Maxwell and incumbent School Board member Dr. Bob Todd have all significantly out-raised their challengers.
All three are hoping to retain their respective seats in this Tuesday's Republican Primary.
Commission challengers Steve Brown and Al McCarty, as well as Board of Education challenger Charlie Cave, are all running low budget campaigns.
Of the six, Maxwell has raised by far the most money. He has drummed up a total of $72,925 -- including $8,250 since the last reporting period.
However, Maxwell's total also includes a $20,000 personal loan, meaning he has poured a significant amount of his own money into his re-election bid.
Other major recent contributors include Maxwell's parents, Fayetteville Mayor Ken Steele, Fayetteville Councilman Larry Dell and Hollis Harris.
Smith's campaign pulled in about $15,000 from outside contributors and another $11,000 from his personal loans to his campaign.
His listed boosters include former Peachtree City mayor and amphitheater namesake Frederick Brown, Fayetteville Councilman Al Hovey-King, and Dr. F.A. Sams, Jr.
McCarty, a political newcomer who previously worked around the country as a broadcast engineer for groups such as Jim Bakker's PTL Network, is relying heavily on the support of former County Commission Chairman Harold Bost. Of the $6,500 McCarty reported on his June 30 filing, $4,000 came from Harold Bost and his wife, Evelyn Bost.
McCarty put $1,000 of his own money into the campaign as well.
Steve Brown, the former mayor of Peachtree City who is trying to unseat Smith, has also received $4,000 from the Bosts. Robert Ross, the local photographer and former head of the Recall Robert Horgan Campaign, also added $2,000 of cash and in-kind donations to the Brown campaign.
In total, Brown raised a little over $7,000 in cash and in-kind contributions.
The school board race has seen more modest totals, but again, the incumbent Todd has far out-raised the challenger Cave.
Todd reported just one outside donor: Harold Bost, who gave $2,000. All told, Todd has raised $3,550.
Cave reported only $375 in total campaign donations. None of that money came in increments of more than $100, according to Cave's disclosure report.
The election is Tuesday. In order to vote for Smith, Brown, Maxwell, McCarty, Todd or Cave, voters must ask for the Republican primary ballot. All County precincts will be open until 7 p.m.
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