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PARKERSBURG -- Three candidates running for mayor spent more than $1,000 in the weeks leading up to Tuesday's primary election.
According to primary campaign finance reports submitted to Parkersburg City Clerk Connie Shaffer, Republican Mike Cottrell was the top spender in city races since the beginning of April with $1,439.15, most of it going to advertising and signs. During the period, he raised $2,659.14, with $1,050 coming out of his pocket.
Cottrell, a retired engineering project manager and industrial fire chief, received a contribution of $1,295 from Jim Blatt of Parkersburg, the manager of an auto repair business, along with donations of $300 and $14.14.
In total, Cottrell's reports show he has raised $4,219.14 and spent $2,999.15.
Just behind Cottrell with $1,373.04 was Democrat Sherry Dugan, owner of Das Rookhaus and a former City Council member. The money went to brochures, postage costs and advertising.
Dugan loaned her campaign $1,200 and also put in an additional $100 during the period, the reports show. For the election so far, Dugan's received $3,055 and expended $2,266.15.
Republican Byron Meeks spent $1,194 in the period on advertisements and signs. The mechanic and garage owner has largely self-funded his campaign, with only $70 of the $3,372.57 he's spent coming from another contributor.
The other three mayoral candidates spent much less in the period.
Republican Mark Meredith, a union apprentice wireman, spent $201 out of pocket on signs. That brought his contributions and expenditures to $1,189.69.
Dugan's primary opponent, former Councilwoman Nancy Wilcox, listed only one expenditure of $112.14 for a list of voters. The chief financial officer of the Kraton Belpre Federal Credit Union, she received individual contributions in the period ranging from $50 to $170. Wilcox has received $5,420, primarily from a $5,000 loan she made to her campaign, and spent $2,809.71.
Incumbent Mayor Tom Joyce listed just a $5 expenditure for a bank mailing fee. During the period, he raised $2,100, including a $1,000 contribution from James and Rebecca McCutcheon and $1,000 from Parkersburg Parking Facility, which is owned by James McCutcheon.
Joyce has raised $4,063.89 while spending $805, with $800 going to the filing fee.
In City Council races, District 4 Democrat Wendy Tuck was once again the leading fundraiser and spender. She listed $893 in money raised, kicking in $105 herself. The rest came in contributions of $3 to $150. Tuck spent $692.85 on advertising, mailing materials and online fundraising. Her totals are $2,033.31 in contributions and $1,564.14 in expenses.
Her primary opponent, Donna Sue Helmick, listed no contributions or expenditures for the period. She has raised and spent $226.90.
On the Republican side, District 4 incumbent Councilman Eric Barber spent $86 out of pocket on banners and a voter list. His totals are $92.75 raised and spent.
His opponent, Brett Bringardner, had not turned in a report for the period as of last week. He spent $280 in the previous period.
Incumbent District 9 Councilman Jeff Fox received $750 in contributions, $500 from the Parkersburg/Marietta Building Trades and $250 from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Political Action Committee. He spent $509.37 on materials to make signs, his first expenditures beyond the $10 filing fee. His contributions total $3,590.33.
Fox is unopposed in the primary. Republican Austin Richards will run in the general election the seat but is not on the primary ballot and was not required to submit a report.
In District 7, Republican Chris Rexroad raised $475, including $425 from Parkersburg resident Patrick Davis and another $50 contribution. Rexroad spent $425 on signs. Those figures gave him $485 raised and $435 spent.
His opponent, Charity Wise, listed a self-contribution of $18.67, evening up her contributions with the $743.67 in expenditures she listed in the previous period. She had no expenditures this period.
Democrat Thomas Rafferty is unopposed in the District 7 primary. He listed no contributions or expenditures in the most recent period, but previously had $419.81 raised and spent.
In District 1, incumbent Councilman Dave McCrady also had zeroes in the contribution and expenditure columns. His only expense so far has been the $10 filing fee.
His Democratic primary challenger, Andrea "Red" Greer, loaned her campaign $568.74 and spent $571.02, most of it on a website and yard signs. Her totals stand at $651.81 raised and $621.64 spent.
A report for the period had not been received from Republican Jessica Cotrille, unopposed in the District 1 primary, as of last week. She previously listed the filing fee as her only expenditure.
In District 2, incumbent District 2 Councilwoman Sharon Kuhl, a Republican, received one $50 contribution and spent $444.61 on stamps and envelopes. She's raised $1,050 so far and spent $925.61.
Her primary challenger, Michael Hess, listed no contributions and reimbursed himself $300 for previous campaign expenses. That brings his totals to $1,412.17 in contributions and $802.73 in expenditures.
District 5 incumbent Councilman J.R. Carpenter is unopposed in the Democratic primary. He listed no contributions or expenditures in the period, and only the $10 filing fee previously.
As a candidate on the ballot for District 5 in the general election only, Republican Dell O. Pomeroy was not required to file this period.
Incumbent Republican Councilmen Bob Mercer (District 3), Mike Reynolds (District 6) and Zach Stanley (District 8) are unopposed in the primary and, so far, general elections. All three listed the filing fee as their only expenditure.
Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.