MORGANTOWN — The primary election is May 10 and Monongalia County voters will choose candidates for the six new House of Delegates districts. The candidates’ first round of campaign finance reports was due last week, and we’re taking a look here at how much each has raised and spent.
Most Mon County voters are now represented by five delegates from the 51st District. Some on the western end are in the 5th District, which also represents Wetzel County. And some in the southeast corner are in the 49th, which also covers a portion of Marion and most of Taylor.
The new map will take effect when the new delegates are seated in 2023, and all six Mon districts sit entirely within Mon County. To find out what district you’re in, go to https://www.mapwv.gov/vote/.
The First Quarter report covers the period of Jan. 1 through March 31. The next report due is the Primary Report and will cover April 1-24.
77th District
The 77th is geographically the largest, covering the entire western half of the county. Neither incumbent 51st District Republican Joe Statler nor Democrat challenger Ben Swanson has a primary opponent.
Statler brought a $500 balance from last year and raised another $750 from two PACs. He spent nothing, leaving a balance of $1,250.
Swanson received $3,900 from two union PACs and two businesses — one in South Carolina and one in Morgantown. He also spent nothing, leaving a balance of $3,900.
78th District
The 78th covers the eastern portion of Mon, between Cheat Lake and Browns Chapel. Jeffrey Budkey is the sole Democrat. Three Republicans are vying: Geno Chiarelli, Toni DiChiacchio and Scott Nale.
Budkey opened with a $60 balance and raised $1,555 — from two PACs and several individuals, including $250 he gave himself. The progressive West Virginia Can’t Wait gave him $151.36 in in-kind service.
He spent $123.15, leaving a balance of $1,491.85.
Chiarelli raised $2,558.87, all from individuals, along with $89.88 in-kind from himself. He spent $2,299.39, leaving a balance of $259.48.
DiChiacchio opened with a balance of $3,300 and raised another $15,125 — all from individuals except $100 from one PAC. The $15,125 includes $2,000 she gave herself. She also lent herself another $8,000. She spent $9,882.94, leaving a balance of $16,542.06.
Nale received $300 from two individuals and $350 in-kind. He lent himself $3,000 and spent $40, leaving a balance of $3,260.
79th District
The 79th covers part of Morgantown and South Hills. Republican Zach LeMaire is unchallenged. Democrat incumbent Evan Hansen has a challenger in Matthew Kolb.
LeMaire began with a balance of $70 and gave himself $230. He spent $100, leaving a balance of $200.
Hansen opened with $13,569.85 and raised $5,495, all from individuals. He spent $1,335.85, leaving a balance of $17,729.
Kolb opened with $50, raised nothing this period and spent $23.60, leaving a balance of $26.40.
80th District
The 80th includes Suncrest, Star City and Granville. Republican Justin White and Democrat incumbent John Williams are unopposed in the primary.
White raised and spent nothing, and has a $0 balance.
Williams opened with $5,053.35 and raised $4,025 from individuals and PACs. He spent $151.58, leaving a balance of $8,926.95.
81st District
The 81st covers the area that includes the WVU Research Park and the airport. Republican Steven Harris and incumbent Democrat Danielle Walker are unopposed in the primary.
Harris received $129.10 from two individuals, along with $501.01 in-kind from himself. He spent $104.10, leaving a balance of $25.
Walker opened with $34,040.41 and raised another $14,820.25 — all from individuals except for $1,000 from one PAC. She spent $9,202.08, leaving a balance of $39,658.58.
82nd District
The 82nd covers the Cheat Lake area from the Monongahela River to the Preston County line. Katie Fallon is the sole Democrat. Three Republicans are vying: former Delegate Cindy Frich, Drew Talbott and Debbie Warner.
Fallon gave herself $200 and $156 in-kind. She then recorded the $156 as an expense — rental for a post office box — leaving herself a balance of $44. In-kind contributions are typically not tallied with expenses, and her true balance is $200.
She has no prior filings on record, but notes total contributions of $712 and total expenditures of $312, and it’s unclear where those numbers came from. Most likely, her treasurer somehow doubled the total contributions of $356 and expenditures of $156.
Frich raised and spent nothing and has a $0 balance.
Talbott also raised and spent nothing and has a $0 balance.
Warner raised $18,150, all from individuals and a small business, except for $1,250 from three PACS. She spent $8,125.48, leaving a balance of $10,024.54.
TWEET David Beard @dbeardtdp
EMAIL dbeard@dominionpost.com
