Cherokee Tribune – Laughridge outspends four others running in District 14 combined

CANTON — The last campaign filings in Tuesday’s special election for the District 14 seat in the state Senate show Matt Laughridge has spent more than the other four candidates combined.

Laughridge, of Cartersville, has spent $118,368 so far in his bid to replace Barry Loudermilk (R-Cassville) in the state Senate seat, according to his last report filed Oct. 28 with the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission.

That number is more than the amount spent by fellow candidates Bruce Thompson, Dwight Pullen, Nicole Ebbeskotte and Christopher G. Nesmith combined.

But Cherokee County GOP Chairman Rick Davies said spending in general doesn’t always translate into votes.

“The amount of money doesn’t always equate to a win, but it certainly helps you get your name and your voice out there,” Davies said Friday. “I think the way elections are being won nowadays is the candidates are getting out, going door to door.”

Laughridge said the spending was necessary.

“We all wish that it wasn’t that expensive to run a campaign,” Laughridge said Thursday. “It’s a very big territory, and it’s very expensive.”

So far in his bid for the seat covering parts of Cherokee, Bartow and Cobb counties, Laughridge has brought in $123,567 in contributions, with $107,819 of that being in loans, reports show. He and his family members made the loans, Laughridge said.

When asked why he would spend so much going for a job that pays just over $17,000 a year, Laughridge said “It was never about the compensation.”

More than a few of Laughridge’s contributions received were from supporters in the automotive industry, where the candidate is employed as a vice president at a car dealership in Cartersville.

Another Bartow candidate, Thompson, comes in second in both contributions and spending.

Thompson’s last filing with the state Oct. 28 shows he has brought in $42,814, including a $10,000 loan he made to his campaign, and he has had $23,547 in expenditures.