Cherokee Tribune – GOP primary candidates file financials GOP Chairman Money isn t everything in 14

CANTON — Just weeks away from the May 20 primary, some candidates for the District 22 state House seat and the Cherokee Board of Commissioners are pulling in large sums, while others appear to be running their campaigns on less so far.

In the races for the Board of Commissioners, the incumbents running have taken in and spent much more than their competitors. The District 22 race, however, shows challengers to state Rep. Sam Moore (R-Macedonia) have taken in much more in contributions than the incumbent.

The candidates were required to file reports with officials declaring their campaign financials as of March 31. The commission and state House candidates are vying for the Republican nominations in the primary, though no candidates from other parties have signed on to face them in the general election in November.

While money plays a part in who gets elected, Cherokee GOP Chairman Rick Davies says it isn’t everything.

“I think we’re seeing a shift now where people want to hear from the people who wish to represent them. They want to hear from these folks, whether it’s a forum-type setting, or one-on-one; they just want to have the ability to interact,” Davies said Thursday. “But money does play a factor in this. Being able to get your name out there and get name recognition, and get the signs and the push cards and everything else, that it is extremely important as well.”

The race for Moore’s District 22 House has seen the most money changing hands, though most of it is in his opponents’ war chests.

Moore reported $6,903 in contributions and $3,503 in expenditures. He had $3,399 on hand as of March 31.

Of his contributions, $2,000 came from Moore’s wife, Galina. Trenton Adams, a member of the Cherokee GOP’s vetting committee, gave $500 in website work, according to the report. Adams recused himself from the vetting process for the House 22 race, Davies said.

Cherokee school teacher Meagan Biello, who lost to Moore in a runoff Feb. 4, brought in the most contributions with $35,426 and also spent the most with $30,183 in expenditures. She had $5,243 as of March 31.

Notable contributions included $500 from retiring Rep. Ed Lindsey’s (R-Buckhead) campaign committee and $2,500 from the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association’s political action committee. PACs for the Georgia Pharmacy Association, the Georgia Hospital Association and the Georgia Association of Realtors also gave to Biello.

Wes Cantrell, a Woodstock youth pastor, came in second in contributions in the race for Moore’s seat, with $24,259. He had $11,142 in expenditures and had $13,117 on hand.

Notable contributions included $1,000 from Johnny Hunt, the pastor at First Baptist Woodstock, where Cantrell works, and $2,000 from Andy Stanley, pastor at the large Alpharetta church, Northpoint Community Church.

According to Commission Chairman Buzz Ahrens’ report, he had taken in $27,196 in contributions, more than twice that of his challenger, former Holly Springs City Councilwoman Jackie Archer.