Gardner leads money race for sheriff

May 04--Republican sheriff hopeful Joey Gardner will begin the general election campaign with a bigger war chest than whichever candidate emerges as his Democratic opponent.

Gardner doesn't have a primary on Tuesday, but he still edged out both Sheriff Calvin Woodard Jr. and his Democratic primary challenger, Charles Harris, in fundraising. The GOP candidate raised $12,355, and he still has $8,881 in the bank, according to campaign finance reports.

Woodard raised $12,111 in the first quarter of 2014, but he's spent about 91 percent of that cash on the primary. Harris reported $11,449 in campaign contributions and has spent 93 percent in hopes of winning the Democratic spot on November's ballot.

In the Republican primary for the Wilson County Board of Commissioners District 7 seat, challenger Bill Blackman has raised nearly 10 times as much as incumbent Commissioner Tad Piner. Blackman, a former Wilson city councilman, reported $6,410 in contributions to Piner's $655.

Political heavyweights, prominent businesspeople and elected officials are backing different candidates in the sheriff's race, disclosure reports filed Tuesday at the Wilson County Board of Elections show.

Former Gov. Jim Hunt and U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield are supporting Woodard, animal advocate Max Fitz-Gerald and Wilson City Councilman Logan Liles contributed to Harris' campaign and the owners of S.T. Wooten Construction Co. and Kenly Ford gave to Gardner.

CALVIN WOODARD JR.

Hunt, a Wilson County resident and North Carolina's longest-serving governor, gave the incumbent sheriff a $1,000 contribution. Butterfield, a Wilson native representing North Carolina's1st Congressional District in the U.S. House, also contributed $1,000 to Woodard's campaign.

Cox Auto Salvage owner J. Fred Cox gave Woodard $1,000, Joseph Chesson of Chesson Realty chipped in $250 and J.C. Harris Cadillac'sRichard Harris donated $100. Wilson real estate agent E.B. Jordan of Jordan Realty and Lee Motor Co.'sJohn F. Lee each gave $250 to Woodard's committee.

Pender Sharp of Sharp Farms at Rock Ridge made a $250 contribution, Steve Wordsworth of Rocky Mount-based Meadowbrook Meat Co. gave $750, Wilson funeral director Carol Stevens added $100 and retired teacher Bessie R. Poole contributed $1,000.

Several Wilson County sheriff's deputies boosted their boss's re-election fund. They are Chief of Staff Wanda Samuel, who also serves as the campaign committee's treasurer ($500), Detective Josh Bissette ($150), George Edwards ($100), Danny Newsome ($150), Jason Newsome ($200) and logistic officer Harry Williams ($100). Retired deputy James G. Tant made a $100 contribution.

Woodard also received $250 from Dr. Dudley Anderson of Wilson, $100 from Will Boykin of Wilson, $75 from Turner's Mini-Mart owner Dahmane Dehici of Wilson, $500 from Wilson retiree Annie Hicks, $200 from Debra Keller of Wilson, $200 from court stenographer Amy Moore of Wilson and $250 from Betty McCain, a longtime Wilson Democratic leader.

Woodard reported an additional $1,886 in aggregated contributions from individuals. Those who contribute $50 or less are not required to disclose their names, addresses and occupations for campaign finance records.

CHARLES HARRIS

Max Fitz-Gerald, who owns and operates the animal rescue group For the Love of Dogs, contributed $500 to the retired sheriff's office major. Logan Liles, a Wilson city councilman, pitched in $100.

Worrell's Seafood owner Mazin Saleh of Wilson gave $1,500 to Harris' campaign committee, joining businesspeople Alice Scott of Scott Farms ($500), contractor and real estate owner Ralph Hodges ($500), J. Dale Breedlove of Breedlove and Associates property management ($250) and Christopher A. Bass of Lucama-based Bass Farms ($775) in the Harris camp.

Wilson County auctioneer Phillip Batchelor contributed $700, retired military veteran Jesse L. Lucas of Wilson added $500, J. Carol Stevens of Stevens Funeral Home gave $250, plumber Elsie R. Watson gave $225 and Elijah Winstead Jr. of Wilson pitched in $500.

Harris made 11 contributions to his campaign committee totaling $3,174.79. He also received $350 in aggregated contributions from individuals.

JOEY GARDNER

Gardner edged out both Democratic candidates in fundraising, reporting several donations of $2,000 or more apiece from local business owners.

Seth T. Wooten, owner of Wilson-based S.T. Wooten Construction, and Thomas W. Boyette, who owns Kenly Ford, each contributed $2,500 to Gardner's campaign. Walter Lee Powell, who owns Big Boy's Truck Stop in Kenly, gave $2,000.

Retired teacher Mammie W. Boyette of Wilson chipped in another $2,500 and Southern Piping owner C. Buren Williford of Wilson gave $1,000.

John T. Bass Jr., a retired tobacco company worker who lives near Lucama, gave $500. Carter Bank manager Guy Dixon of Wilson added $100 and Manheim Auto Auction clerk Amanda Johnson of Kenly contributed $500.

Johnston County sheriff's deputy Robert G. Crocker Sr. gave Gardner $200, Wilson police officer Kevin Johnson gave $100 and retired law enforcement officer Michael E. Lane of Wilson donated $500.

Other contributors include retired State Bureau of Investigation agent R. Lawrence Young ($100), retired Wilson County employee John G. Taylor ($250), Bud's Service Center owner M.J. Pittman ($375) and Eagle Transport vice president Edwin R. Jones ($250).

Gardner reported $480 in aggregated contributions from individuals.

COUNTY COMMISSIONER PRIMARY

Blackman racked up $6,410 in campaign contributions during the first quarter of 2014, dwarfing Piner's fundraising total of $655.

Blackman's largest single contribution is a $1,000 check from Dr. Venkatesh Lakshman of Carolina Gastroenterology. Wilson County Clerk of Superior Court Andrew Whitley gave $100 to his campaign.

Wilson attorney Paul Blake gave Blackman $250, Wilson city councilman and Evans Metal Fabrication owner Donald Evans gave $500, attorney Walter Hinson of Wilson pitched in $200 and Engine Systems Inc. employee Renee Farmer of Wilson added $500.

Other contributors to Blackman's campaign who gave $100 each include Johnson Bissette of Wilson, Christopher Boykin of Sims, Henry Babb, Carroll Coleman, Lou Craig, Guy Dixon, Eddie Ellis, Lee Jenkins, Linda Matthews and Robert Thaxton.

Blackman had an additional $260 in aggregated contributions from individuals.

Piner, the incumbent District 7 commissioner, received $150 from Ben Moore of Wilson, who is regional manager of Unifour Fire and Safety. Wilson accountant Scott Overholt gave $100, as did Hershey's Ice Cream area manager Howard Murphy, who also is Piner's campaign manager.

The Wilson County Republican Party gave $100 each to Piner's and Blackman's campaign committees.

Piner also reported $205 in aggregated contributions from individuals.

OTHER COMMISSIONER RACES

Board of Commissioners candidates on the general election ballot who do not face a Tuesday primary also submitted campaign finance reports.

Republican Glenn Blackwell is challenging Democratic Commissioner Rob Boyette for the District 5 seat. Blackwell has raised $3,900 and Boyette reported $2,400 in first-quarter contributions.

Blackwell received $1,000 each from Charlie H. Bedgood III of Wilson and Roger C. Luther, owner of Wilson-based Luther Construction Co. Retiree Vance T. Forbes Jr. pitched in $500, Guy Dixon of Carter Bank and Trust and retirees Lou Craig and Michael J. Bradshaw all gave $100 each and Wilson insurance agent Averette Lamm contributed $150.

Blackwell gave $550 to his campaign committee and his uncle, Robert Gano of Phoenix, Ariz., donated $250. Blackwell also received $50 in aggregated contributions.

Boyette received $250 from retired teacher Doris Boyette, $150 from farmer Susan Barnes of Kenly, $125 each from retiree William Johnson and accountant Ann F. Johnson and $100 each from Pearl L. Finch and Lou Lyon Craig Jr.

Boyette contributed $1,000 to his campaign committee and also reported $550 in aggregated contributions.

Republican Chris Hill, who is running for the District 6 seat on the county board to which he was appointed, has received $4,000 in contributions. His Democratic opponent, Tony Gaetano, plans to spend less than $1,000 on the campaign and is not required to file a disclosure report.

United Tobacco Co. president Steve Coyte and developer Clyde Harris Jr. gave Hill $1,000 each. Wilson real estate agent Harry Gauss gave Hill $300 and Stephenson Millwork owner Lee Stephenson added $200.

Incumbent commissioners running unopposed in November are Democrat Leslie T. Atkinson (District 1), Democrat Thomas Lucas (District 2), Democrat Bobbie D. Jones (District 3) and Republican Roger Lucas (District 4).

Those candidates did not file disclosure reports, indicating they will spend less than $1,000 on any re-election campaigns.

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