Anson County’s state senator is off to an early lead in fundraising for the race to represent District 25, according to campaign finance reports.
While Sen. Tom McInnis, R-Richmond, had $23,762 in his war chest on New Year’s Eve, challenger Dannie Montgomery of Lilesville had just $100 in her campaign’s bank account. Disclosures for fundraising between July 1 and Dec. 31 were due at the N.C. State Board of Elections office last week.
Acting as her own campaign treasurer, Montgomery listed her only expenditure as a $207 check to pay the General Assembly filing fee. Because she filed for office nine days before opening the campaign’s bank account, the fee is listed as an in-kind contribution, along with a $100 personal check she deposited in the account.
McInnis, meanwhile, collected $14,868 in campaign contributions from individuals and $2,250 from political action committees during the July-December reporting period. He had $10,403 in the bank when the campaign finance cycle began.
Contributors to McInnis’ campaign include Richmond County Board of Commissioners Chairman Kenneth Robinette, who gave $2,500, state transportation board member Patrick D. Molamphy of Pinehurst, who made a $2,500 contribution, Ellerbe Mayor Lee Berry, who pitched in $200, Sen. Tommy Tucker, R-Union, who wrote a $250 check, and Richmond County solid waste and recycling director Jerry Austin, who gave $100.
Attorney William R. Webb Jr. of Ellerbe made a $1,000 contribution to McInnis, Rockingham optometrist Dr. Donald Van Covington chipped in $500 and Tom Hudson of Laurinburg and Ronald M. Hudson of Rockingham, both of Hudson’s Paving Inc., gave $500 each. Electronics Service Co. owner Murry Van Billingsley of Rockingham also contributed $500.
Superior Cranes owner Joe Everett wrote a $2,500 check to the McInnis campaign, retired banker and Richmond County Board of Education Chairman Wiley Mabe gave $500 and Kevin Pattan of Rockingham, event coordinator for Iron Horse Auction Co., made a $1,000 contribution.
Jeff Vuncannon, owner of E.E. Vuncannon’s Inc. in Ellerbe, and Ed Vuncannon, who retired from the family feed store, each pitched in $200 to support McInnis. Rockingham attorney Alden B. Webb contributed $100 and Albemarle Oil Co. executive Larry Graham gave $500.
The N.C. Home Builders Association’s Build PAC made a $1,000 contribution, the North Carolina Bank PAC pitched in $750 and the North Carolina Chamber PAC added $500.
McInnis was elected to his first two-year state Senate term in 2014. He is senior vice president of Rockingham-based Iron Horse Auction Co. and was a Richmond County school board member prior to joining the General Assembly.
Montgomery is a computer application skills teacher at Anson Middle School who has previously chaired the Anson County Democratic Party and was a superdelegate to the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
Campaign finance reports for the first quarter of 2016 are due at the State Board of Elections office on May 7.
Reach Editor Corey Friedman at 910-817-2670 and follow him on Twitter @corey_friedman.