Campaign finance reports filed in May show two local political candidates spending thousands of dollars on their respective 2024 primary election campaigns, while many others spent a few hundred dollars or less. The two candidates reporting the greatest expenditures also identified sizeable monetary contributions from individuals in their bid for seats on the Owen County Board of Commissioners and Owen County Council.  

The Owen News reviewed all available campaign finance report filings covering Jan. 1 to April 12, the end of the pre-primary reporting period. It should be noted that campaign contributions included in-kind contributions and loans, as well as cash contributions.  

Owen County Commissioner, District II

Incumbent commissioner Robert (Bob) Curry, a Republican, reported $0 cash on hand at the beginning of the reporting period. He listed a single $700 itemized contribution from his wife, Brenda Curry, along with one expenditure, also totaling $700, for yard signs purchased from Nite Owl Promotions.

Republican opponent Leonard “Sam” Hobbs II also reported $0 cash on hand at the beginning of the reporting period, while his itemized contributions totaled $26,200. He reported a loan to himself totaling $5,000, in addition to a direct contribution of $10,000 from Mike McCracken, a second $10,000 direct contribution from Mike McCracken, a $1,000 direct contribution from Will Daubenspeck, and a $200 direct contribution from Ernie Dufault. 

Hobbs’ campaign expenditures totaled $11,032.12 and included: Main Street Checks ($17.71), Winners Circle Designs ($3,000), Spencer Hardware ($468.02), Daniel Browning ($200) campaign contribution, Norman Warner ($200.00) campaign contribution, UPrinting ($250.80), Postcard Mania ($662.34), Postcard Mania ($932.69), Postcard Mania ($813.38), Winners Circle Designs ($1,280), 48-Hour Print ($214.26), Postcard Mania ($813.97), Norman Warner ($200) campaign contribution, Republican Party-Owen County ($300), Postcard Mania ($555.95), Postmaster-Spencer ($53), and Winners Circle Designs ($1,070). 

Hobbs’ remaining cash on hand at the end of the reporting period totaled $15,167.88. 

Owen County Commissioner, District III

District III challenger David Risk, a Republican, reported $0 cash on hand at the beginning of the reporting period, while his itemized contributions totaled $23,050. Contributors to his campaign for the county commissioner seat in District III included a $10,000 direct contribution from Mike McCracken, along with an $8,000 direct contribution/loan, also from Mike McCracken. Additionally, his campaign finance report listed a loan to himself totaling $5,050.

Risk’s campaign expenditures totaled $16,902.55, including: Main Street Checks ($17.71), Patriot Manufacturing ($150.32), Uprinting ($250.82), Postcard Mania ($662.34), Rocket Signs ($6,398.25), Fountain County GOP ($44.90), UZ Marketing ($608.18), Winners Circle ($909.50), Postcard Mania ($932.69), 48-Hour Printing ($214.26), Kelsie Reyes ($1,000), Walmart ($18.84), Owen County GOP ($300), Spencer Hardware ($134.63), Walmart ($30.58), Vistago Print ($659.95), Walmart ($55.70), USPS ($205.00), USPS ($106.68), RWB Consulting ($500), Committee to Elect Kristi Risk ($2,000), Postcard Mania ($539.76), Postcard Mania ($539.76), USPS ($106.68), Ethan Wright ($500), and USPS ($106). 

Risk’s remaining cash on hand at the end of the reporting period totaled $6,147.45.

Republican challenger Amy Casebeer reported $1,705 cash on hand at the beginning of the reporting period. She did not list any itemized or unitemized contributions.

Casebeer reported a lone direct campaign contribution from herself totaling $1,705 and one expenditure, also totaling $1,705, to Nite Owl Promotions. 

In the District III democratic race for county commissioner, John Wayne Keene reported $0 cash on hand at the beginning of the reporting period. He also listed $0 cash on hand at the end of the reporting period and no expenditures.

Democratic challenger William Jennings reported $0 cash on hand at the beginning of the reporting period and made note of itemized contributions totaling $628.15, all self-funded. He reported $0 cash on hand at the end of the reporting period.

Jennings’ expenditures included: Johnnys Signs ($335.00), WCLS radio announcement ($97.76), Johnnys Signs ($192.60), and Staples ($37.44).

Owen County Council, At-Large

Incumbent Republican Polly Chesser reported $0 cash on hand at the beginning of the reporting period and itemized contributions to her re-election campaign totaling $1,800. Contributors to her campaign for county council at-large included a direct contribution from herself totaling $1,700, along with a $100 direct contribution from Nina Morris.

Chesser’s reported expenditures totaled $1,548.55 and included: Owen County Republicans ($100), Rob Mason ($157.44) for equipment repair, Postmaster-Martinsville ($68), Tab Co. ($1,148.11) for printing, and the Gosport Community Building ($75).

Her remaining cash on hand at the end of the reporting period totaled $251.45.

Republican challenger Norman Warner reported $75 cash on hand at beginning of the reporting period and itemized contributions totaling $1,451.29. He received a direct contribution from the Committee to Elect Sam Hobbs totaling $400, along with a direct campaign loan from Warner and his wife, Lori, totaling $1,051.29.

Warner did not list any itemized expenditures or any remaining cash on hand at the end of the reporting period.

Daniel Browning, also a Republican, reported $0 cash on hand at the beginning of the reporting period and one itemized contribution, a $200 direct contribution from Leonard Sam Hobbs.

Browning’s itemized expenditures totaled $413.03 and included: Vista Print ($46.42), Signs on the Cheap ($266.96) for yard signs, and Amazon ($99.65) for hats. 

Republican challenger William Pursell reported $0 cash on hand at the beginning of the reporting period and one unitemized contribution totaling $100. His campaign finance report did not identify any campaign expenditures in his bid for county council at-large, or remaining cash on hand at the end of the reporting period. 

Daniel Joseph “Joe” Frye, also a Republican, reported $0 cash on hand at the beginning of the reporting period and a lone itemized contribution totaling $1,500, a self-funded campaign loan. 

Frye reported one itemized expenditure totaling $1,217.23 to signsonthecheap.com ($1,217.23) for signs. His remaining cash on hand at the end of the reporting period totaled $282.77.

In the democratic race for Owen County Council at-Large, Sandra (Wood) Calvert reported $0 cash on hand at the beginning of the reporting period and one unitemized contribution totaling $40. Her remaining cash on hand at the end of the reporting period also totaled $40.

Owen County Auditor

Incumbent county auditor Sheila Reeves, a Republican, noted no expenditures were incurred by her campaign due to utilizing yard signs remaining from her prior election bid. She reported $0 cash on hand at the end of the reporting period.

Precinct Committee Members

Republican Viola Hall, incumbent precinct committee member for Wayne I, reported $0 cash on hand at the beginning of the reporting period and itemized contributions totaling $295.32, all self-funded.

Her expenditures also totaled $295.32 – a single purchase of yard signs from Nite Owl Promotions.  She listed $0 cash on hand at the end of the reporting period.

Larry Bruce Norman, Republican challenger for Wayne I precinct committee member, reported $276.45 cash on hand at the beginning of the reporting period, all self-funded. His itemized contributions totaled $251.45 and unitemized contributions $25. 

Norman’s expenditures totaled $276.45 and included: Signs on the Cheap ($251.45) for yard signs and Hub City Slaps ($25.00) for decals and stickers.

In the race for Morgan Township precinct committee member, Republican candidate Sharon Close reported $200.47 cash on hand at the beginning of the reporting period. She made note of one itemized contribution totaling $200.47 from herself and one expenditure, also totaling $200.47, from Signs on the Cheap. She reported $0 cash on hand at the end of the reporting period.