Politics & Government
No Shortage of Cash in District 8 Senate Race
Other races lag well behind in dollars spent and raised.
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 , 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.
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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.
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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
09/09/2009
IFAPAC-SC
P.O. Box 1502
Columbia, SC 29202
$1,000.00
09/09/2009
Duke Energy Corporation
422 S. Church Street, PB05D
Charlotte, NC 28202
$1,000.00
01/11/2010
Medco Health Solutions, Inc. & Medco Health Affiliates
100 Parsons Pond Road
Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
$1,000.00
01/11/2010
McNair Law Firm, P.A.
PO Box 11390
Columbia, SC 29211
$1,000.00
06/22/2010
Property and Casualty Insurers of America
2600 S. River Road
Des Plaines, IL 60018-7800
$1,000.00
03/28/2011
United Healthcare Services, Inc.
P. O. Box 1459
Minneapolis, MN 55440
$1,000.00
03/29/2012
Blue Choice Health Plan
P. O. Box 6170
Columbia, SC 29260
$1,000.00
03/29/2012
Companion Property and Casualty Insurance Co.
P. O. Box 100165
Columbia, SC 29202
$1,000.00
03/29/2012
Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Elzroth & Detrick
P. O. Box 457
Hampton, SC 29924
$1,000.00
03/02/2012
UHC, Inc.
5901 Lincoln Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55436
$1,000.00
01/18/2012
Allstate Insurance Co., PAC
3100 Interstate North Circle
Atlanta, GA 30339
$1,000.00
03/17/2009
SC Orthopedic Association
17503 Mallard Ct.
Lutz, FL 33559-5559
$1,000.00
06/01/2009
SC Bankers State Political PAC
P. O. Box 1483
Columbia, SC 29202
$1,000.00
06/01/2009
Columbia Eye Clinic, PA
P. O. Box 290879
Columbia, SC 29229
$1,000.00
06/01/2009
Southern Eye Associates of SC, PA
104 Simpson Street
Greenville, SC 29605
$1,000.00
06/01/2009
Nelson, Mullins, Riley & Scarborough
P. O. Box 11070
Columbia, SC 29211
$1,000.00
06/01/2009
NUVOX, Inc.
Two N. Main Street
Greenville, SC 29601
$1,000.00
06/01/2009
SCPMA PAC
P. O. Box 64
Columbia, SC 29202
$1,000.00
06/01/2009
Manufactured Housing Institute of SC PAC
P. O. Box 1781
Columbia, SC 29202
$1,000.00
06/01/2009
Waste Management
P. O. Box 3027
Houston, TX 77253
$1,000.00
06/01/2009
Blue Cross Blue Shield of SC
1-20 @ Alpine Road, MC AX-234
Columbia, SC 42164
$1,000.00
06/01/2009
SC Credit Union League
P. O. Box 1787
Columbia, SC 29202
$1,000.00
05/21/2012
Republic Services, Inc.
18500 N. Allied Way
Phoenix, AZ 85054
$1,000.00
05/21/2012
Palmetto Patriots
730 Main Street, Suite 268
N. Myrtle Beach, SC 29582
$1,000.00
05/07/2012
SCACPA-PAC
570 Chris Drive
West Columbia, SC 29169
$1,000.00
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.
06/01/2009
Rick Quinn and Associates
1600 Gervais Street
Columbia, SC 29201
Senate Campaign Survey/Mailouts/Campaign Services
$37,500.00
05/21/2009
Rod Shealy
P. O. 2104
Irmo, SC 29063
Job Posting
$1,600.00
05/14/2009
Rod Shealy
P. O. 2104
Irmo, SC 29063
Business Jobs Posting
$6,311.00
05/01/2009
Donehue Agency
P. O. Box 7431
Columbia, SC 29202
Fund Raising
$625.00
01/18/2012
Acme Mail Service
305 Calypso Road
Gilbert, SC 29054
Direct Mail - Special Report
$3,368.11
01/09/2012
Acme Mail Service
305 Calypso Road
Gilbert, SC 29054
Direct Mail - Christmas Message
$2,965.30
01/09/2012
Starboard Communications
1043 Barr Road
Lexington, SC 29072
Direct Mail - Working for You
$1,330.43
04/21/2009
Rod Shealy
P. O. 2104
Irmo, SC 29063
Campaign Mailout - Job Forum
$1,824.00
04/13/2009
Donehue Agency
P. O. Box 7431
Columbia, SC 29202
Fund Raising
$2,723.50
04/09/2009
Rod Shealy
P. O. 2104
Campaign Mailout - Breakfast Club
$11,321.00
04/25/2012
Ground Game Strategies
300 Hickory Lane
Mauldin, SC 29662
Voter List Services
$1,200.00
04/12/2012
Strategic Communications
P. O. Box 2104
Irmo, SC 29063
Campaign Research/Tracking
$1,124.00
04/12/2012
The Mace Group
108 North Norfolk Way
Goose Creek, SC 29445
Internet Services for Campaign
$2,307.19
Groover Donations
12/31/2011
James Galyean
140 Wexford Dr.
Anderson, SC 29621
Attorney
$1,000.00
12/31/2011
Robert Clark
5409 Augusta Rd.
Greenville, SC 29605
Attorney
$1,000.00
12/31/2011
Chad Groover
400 Canewood Pl
Mauldin, SC 29662
Attorney
$1,000.00
2/29/2012
J Faulkner Wilkes
114 Whitsett St.
Greenville, SC 29601
Attorney
$1,000.00
02/15/2012
John Sandiford
1286 Cedar Ave
East Earl, PA 17519
Consultant
$1,000.00
02/15/2012
Rhonda Sandiford
1286 Cedar Ave.
East Earl, PA 17519
Retired
$1,000.00
05/15/2012
Moore Beauston & Woodham
3447 Pelham Rd.
Greenville, SC 29615
$1,000.00
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.
03/31/2011
Duke Sandwich Productions Inc
10 Carlisle Drive
Simpsonville, SC 29681-6100
Business
$1,000.00
03/04/2011
The Corporate Associate
12 Waite St. Suite A-2
Greenville, SC 29607
Business
$1,000.00
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.
02/21/2012
Andrea Volpe
740 Stucco Lane
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
Retired
$1,000.00
02/16/2012
Caroline M Bailey
208 William Street
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
Retired
$1,000.00
02/16/2012
Leon J Hendrix
215 Rockingham Road
Greenville, SC 29607
Small Business Owner
$1,000.00
02/16/2012
Michael Cinquemani
23 Deer Track Road
Simpsonville, SC 29681
Chief Executive Officer
$1,000.00
02/16/2012
Louis P Batson Jr.
18 Viewpoint Drive
Greenville, SC 29609
Sales
$1,000.00
03/21/2012
Culinary Connection
297-C Garlington Road
Greenville, SC 29615
Catering Business
$1,000.00
03/06/2012
James Hill Jr.
148 Watson Road
Fountain Inn, SC 29644
Retired
$1,000.00
03/06/2012
Furman G. Lee Jr.
112 Wynward Pointe Drive
Salem, SC 29676
Sr. VP Sales & Marketing
$1,000.00
02/29/2012
Richard J. Payton
908 Spaulding Farm Road
Greenville, SC 29615
Regional Manager
$1,000.00
02/29/2012
E. Smyth McKissick III
1611 Parkins MIll Road
Greenville, SC 29607
Manufacturing Co. CEO
$1,000.00
02/29/2012
James W. Griffith
2463 Brentwood Road N.W.
Canton, OH 44708
Manufacturing Co. CEO
$1,000.00
02/23/2012
Bill Hendrix
340 Surfsong Road
Kiawah Island, SC 29455
Retired
$1,000.00
02/23/2012
Pam Hendrix
340 Surfsong Road
Kiawah Island, SC 29455
Retired
$1,000.00
05/21/2012
Dove Data Products
P.O. Box 6106
Florence, SC 29502
Printers, Service and Supplies
$1,000.00
04/24/2012
Enviro Ag Science
85 Olde Springs Road
Columbia, SC 29223-6002
Construction Management
$1,000.00
04/10/2012
Terry M. Fulmer
205 Walnut Trace Court
Simpsonville, SC 29681
Manager Motor Services Company
$1,000.00
04/10/2012
Carol R. Fulmer
205 Walnut Trace Court
Simpsonville, SC 29681
Homemaker
$1,000.00
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.
03/30/2012
Jeffrey Hilderbran
105 Meilland Drive
Greer, SC 29650
small business owner
$1,000.00
03/30/2012
Rachael Lawrence
133 Hammett Pond Court
Greer, SC 29650
small business owner
$1,000.00
03/30/2012
CoTransCo, LLC
2123 Old Spartanburg Road Suite 334
Greer, SC 29650
$1,000.00
03/30/2012
Rhonda Hilderbran
105 Meilland Drive
Greer, SC 29650
small business owner
$1,000.00
03/28/2012
I.I.A.S.C. Public Affairs Committee
PO Box 210008
Columbia, SC 29221
$1,000.00
03/28/2012
Michael Boliek
24 Parkins Mill Court
Greenville, SC 29607
Lawyer
$1,000.00
03/20/2012
Brad Bylenga
11 Lawson Way
Greenville, SC 29605
small business owner
$1,000.00
03/20/2012
John Collins
119 Collins Creek Road
Greenville, SC 29607
business
$1,000.00
03/20/2012
Whitney Collins
119 Collins Creek Road
Greenville, SC 29607
community Volunteer
$1,000.00
03/16/2012
Daniel Jackson
48 Round Pond Road
Greenville, SC 29607
business
$1,000.00
03/14/2012
Lee Powell
533 Mahaffey Road
Greer, SC 29651
small business owner
$1,000.00
03/13/2012
Recover Incorporated
P.O. Box 27089
Greenville, SC 29616
$1,000.00
03/12/2012
Todd Collins
208 Babbs Hollow
Greenville, SC 29607
businessman
$1,000.00
03/12/2012
Risa Collins
208 Babbs Hollow
Greenville, SC 29607
community volunteer
$1,000.00
03/09/2012
Steven Thompson
509 Watts Avenue
Greenville, SC 29601
Accountant
$1,000.00
03/07/2012
The Tollison Law Firm
24 Vardy Street Suite 203
Greenville, SC 29601
$1,000.00
02/16/2012
Anne Turner
208 Pimlico Road
Greenville, SC 29607
insurance
$1,000.00
02/12/2012
James Wilson
105 Barksdale Greene
Greenville, SC 29607
doctor
$1,000.00
02/10/2012
John Uprichard
113 Rockingham Road
Greenville, SC 29607
small business owner
$1,000.00
02/08/2012
John Chastain
401 Henderson Road
Greenville, SC 29607
businessman
$1,000.00
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.
03/24/2012
Barbara League
PO Box 3626
Greenville, SC 29608
business owner
$1,000.00
03/16/2012
Lillian Flemming
398 Oscar Street
Greenville, SC 29601
city councilmember
$950.00
05/23/2012
Bob Brittain
1630 North Main Street, 140
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
requested
$1,000.00
05/23/2012
Unitemized Contributions
398 Oscar Street
Greenville, SC 29601
$4,484.00
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.
04/10/2012
J. P. Strom Jr.
2110 Beltline Boulevard, Suite A
Columbia, SC 29204
Attorney
$1,000.00
04/09/2012
John Peace
Post Office Box 8087
Greenville, SC 29604
N/A
$1,000.00
04/06/2012
Harrison, White, Smith & Coggins, P.C.
178 W. Main Street
Spartanburg, SC 29304
$1,000.00
04/02/2012
Albert V. Smith
410 Magnolia Street
Spartanburg, SC 29304
Lawyer
$1,000.00
03/26/2012
Michael D. Brown
145 North Church, Suite 210
Spartanburg, SC 29306
Legal
$1,000.00
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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