It’s safe to say that none of the five candidates pursuing the GOP nomination to represent District 8 in the State Senate are doing so for the money. But they sure are spending plenty of it.

In their efforts to win votes for the District 8 seat in Tuesday's primary, Jim Lee, Joe Swann, incumbent David Thomas and Ross Turner have all spent more than the annual salary of $10,400, to which they would be entitled if they won. The fifth candidate, Chad Groover has spent nearly $8,000.

According to the latest fundraising totals, which are available at the State Ethics Commission website, the candidates have collectively raised approximately $400,000 while spending approximately $325,000. Those totals are through May.

The fundraising haul is led by Swann and Thomas, who have raised approximately $150,000 and $100,000 each. Those two candidates have also spent the most, with Swann spending just under $100,000 and Thomas spending just over $150,000.

But those numbers require a caveat.

Part of the money Swann raised was via a $100,000 loan he received from South Carolina Bank and Trust.

In addition, if elected, Swann has committed to donating his entire Senate salary to a scholarship fund for technical education.

Thomas’ fundraising totals are over a three year span. And of the money he has spent in pursuit of an eighth term, roughly $75,000 of it was spent prior to December 2009.

Turner has been competitive from a fundraising perspective with both Swann and Thomas. He’s raised nearly $100,000—including a $10,000 loan he gave to his campaign—and spent just over $60,000.

Lee and Groover are well back of the top three in terms of money raised and spent. Lee has raised approximately $18,500 and spent nearly $17,000. Groover has raised $12,500, and, as mentioned above, spent nearly $8,000.

The winner of the GOP primary would face Jeff Dishner, who had been removed from the Democratic ticket in the suit that has affected hundreds of candidates, but has since been reinstated.*

In District 7, Lillian Brock-Flemming and Karl Allen, two veterans of the local Democratic political scene, are squaring off for the right to take retiring Sen. Ralph Anderson’s seat. Ennis Fant was originally competing against Brock-Flemming and Allen for the Democratic nomination, but he was bounced during the ballot purge.

Whoever wins the Democratic primary will face Jane Kizer, a newcomer who is running unopposed for the GOP nomination.

Brock-Flemming and Allen have been competitive in fundraising, but neither has posted anywhere near the amounts as that of their counterparts in the Senate 8 race.

Brock-Flemming has raised just under $20,000 and spent just under $12,500. Allen has raised more money than Brock-Flemming (over $23,000), but spent less (slightly under $8,500).

Voters will also have the opportunity to determine who will run against Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-4) for the area’s Congressional representation. Deb Morrow and Jimmy Tobias will match up in a Democratic primary for the right to challenge the extremely popular Gowdy.

So, who gave the candidates money and how was it spent?

For Districts 7 and 8, Patch has included, from the State Ethics Commission website, a list of donors for each candidate who gave the maximum $1,000. We have also listed the candidates’ largest expenses.

District 8

Sen. David Thomas' largest donors have been doctors and insurance companies.

Thomas Donations 

Thomas Expenses

Thomas’ biggest expenses have been to consultants. In June 2009, he paid Rick Quinn and Associates in Columbia $37,500. Prior to the August 2010 death of Rod Shealy, Sr. Thomas was billed by Shealy’s firm for nearly $20,000. In January 2012, Thomas spent over $6,000 on direct mail. He also paid an Irmo-based company called Strategic Communications over $30,000. 

Groover Donations

Groover Expenses

Groover's biggest expense was in the amount of $3,040 to the Stoneridge Group in Alpharetta, Ga.

Lee Donations

In terms of number of donors, Lee is as competitive as anyone. It's the dollar amount that is the difference.

Lee Expenses

Lee's two biggest expenses were to graphics and printing firms in Spartanburg County, totaling $2,400.

Swann Donations

Swann, who is 69, saw his largest donations come from two groups--retirees and the business community.

Swann Expenses

Much like Thomas, Swann's biggest expenses have been to consultants. The campaign was billed for $48,502.86 by Starboard Communications, a consulting firm based out if Irmo. Interesting enough, Thomas also used that firm's services, but to a lesser extent. He was billed just over $1,300.

The campaign also was billed by Complete PR, a Mauldin-based firm affiliated with Mauldin resident Tim Brett, for $18,130.14. $2,000 of that amount went toward telephone polling.

Turner Donations

Turner's biggest donors were people who self-identified as small business owners and families who share the same address.

Turner Expenses

Just as Thomas and Swann have spent their largest sums with consulting firms, so has Turner.

Turner paid Columbia-based Crantford & Associates $6,500 for a survey, Greenville-based Smoak PR over $12,000 and an Atlanta-based company called Campaign Services over $16,500.

District 7

Brock-Flemming and Allen have kept their spending limited mostly to signage, but Brock-Flemming has worked with consultants.

Brock-Flemming Donations

Brock-Flemming gave herself $950 and has received nearly $5,000 in what are described as unitemized contributions.

Brock-Flemming Expenses

Brock-Flemming's biggest expenses are to the Macrina Group for campaign consulting in the amount of $2,500.

Allen Donations

Several attorneys have donated to Allen's campaign and they are his biggest group of contributors.

Allen Expenses

Allen's largest expenses have been on advertising.

*- CORRECTION - This story originally stated that Jeff Dishner would not be on the ballot. He has been reinstated by the Greenville and South Carolina Democratic parties to represent District 8 in the November election.

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