If this fall’s Amsterdam Election District race for the Board of Supervisors seat is an indicator of things to come, it’s getting expensive to run a local contested election— at least for a supervisor’s seat.
Steve Clinton and Todd Dodson spent a combined $24,583.83 during the campaign. That’s actually more than the six candidates spent on three supervisors’ races the last time any seats were contested in 2011.
There were no contested supervisors’ races in 2013 and 2015.
Clinton, who unseated Dodson, raised $14,014 through contributions to his Steve Clinton for Supervisor campaign account. He spent $13,768.28.
Dodson’s campaign account, Friends of Todd Dodson, raised $11,477.20 and spent $10,815.55 in his unsuccessful bid for re-election.
In comparison, when current board members Mac Scothorn, Billy Martin and Jack Leffel ran in 2011, they and their three opponents spent $24,304 between the six of them.
Leffel, who had served 12 years on the School Board, raised and spent the most— $8,125— in his bid for the Fincastle Election District seat.
Interestingly, in that same election, Treasurer Bill Arney was in a three-way, countywide race. The three candidates together spent $27,700.
The contested race for the Amsterdam District seat on the School Board was much less costly.
Anna Weddle won the election over longtime incumbent Ruth Wallace. Weddle raised $2,065 and spent $1,890.91.
Wallace provided the only funds for her campaign, $425. Of that, she spent $411.90 on advertising and sign material.
Weddle received six contributions of over $100 and seven contributions of $100 or less that totaled $505.
The contributions over $100 came from:
ECI Construction, Fincastle, $150
Leffel Consulting Group, Eagle Rock, $150
Elizabeth Provost, Buchanan, $300
Jack Leffel for Board of Supervisors, Eagle Rock, $440.68
Rebecca Webb, Earlysville, $150
Christopher Weddle, Troutville, $400.
Dodson received 31 contributions that were $100 or less and totaled $2,187. He received 19 contributions over $100.
Clinton received 32 contributions that were $100 or less that totaled $2,249. He also received 16 contributions over $100.
Clinton’s contributors over $100 included:
Robert Allen, Fincastle, $275
James Hickenbotham, Fincastle, $150
Anna Lawson, Daleville, $3,000
Alan Long, Daleville, $200
John W. Rader, Troutville, $200
Danny Kyle, Troutville $660
Michelle Patrick, Daleville, $200
Kevin Roberts, Fincastle, $200
James Cherney, Roanoke, $500
Creigh Deeds, Millboro, $250
Cecil Doyle, Roanoke, $200
George Holt, Daleville, $250
Alvin Thacker, Daleville, $200
Linda Webb, Troutville, $500
Harold Wingate, Troutville, $500
Kathy Austin, Buchanan, $1,000
Dodson’s contributors over $100 included:
Lisa Dodson, Fincastle, $350
Realtors Political Action Committee, Glen Allen, $1,500
Donald Scothorn, Roanoke, $700
Blue Ridge Best Foods Inc., Cullman, Ala.
Botetourt County Republican Committee, $1,500
Richard Lafone, Daleville, $200
Terry Austin, Buchanan, $200
Ben Cline for Delegate, Lexington, $500
Larry DeHaven, Fincastle, $250
Donald Dodson, Roanoke, $250
John Etzler, Troutville, $200
Mike Flint, Troutville, $150
Jerry Fraley, Eagle Rock, $200
Lawrence Investments LLC, Buchanan, $250
Robert Omer, Fincastle, $300
Ralph Smith, Roanoke, $250
The Good Fund Multicandidate Committee, Springfield, $250
Wendell Walker, Lynchburg, $150
John Williamson, Buchanan, $350
