Candidates in the upcoming County Primary and General Elections have filed their first round of campaign financial disclosure statements, which show candidates seeking the office of Carter County Clerk have spent more than $12,000 combined so far in their election bids.

State law requires most candidates seeking public office to appoint a political treasurer and file quarterly campaign financial disclosure statements on set dates throughout the campaign process. Only candidates seeking election to a part-time office with compensation of less than $1,000 per month and who do not intend to spend more than $1,000 on their campaign are exempt from filing campaign financial disclosure statements under state law.

April 10 marked the deadline for candidates to file their first disclosure statements, which cover donations collected and monies spent from the beginning of the candidate’s campaign through March 31.

The Elizabethton Star obtained copies of the disclosure statements filed by the three candidates for Carter County Clerk — Mary Gouge, Patsy Lewis, and Bruce Pierce. All three candidates are facing off in the May 1 Primary Election to become the Republican nominee for the August General Election.

In total, the three candidates have a combined spending of $12,464.07 during the statement filing period.

The top spender in the campaign so far is Pierce, who reported expenditures of $8,295.83 — nearly double what his two competitors spent combined.

In his report, Pierce notes a self-donation to his campaign in the amount of $8,295.83 and does not list any outside contributors to his election bid.

Under expenditures, Pierce lists purchases of campaign materials such as shirts, signs, hats, buttons, cards, and pencils, as well as advertising expenses.

Coming in second in campaign spending for the filing period is Lewis, who reported expenditures of $2,515.66.

In her report, Lewis lists no contributions to her campaign and does not list any amount of personal financing.

Under expenditures, Lewis lists the purchase of campaign materials and advertising expenses.

Incumbent Gouge came in third place in campaign spending for the County Clerk’s race with reported expenditures of $1,652.58.

In her report, Gouge notes receiving a total of $500 in campaign contributions. Of those donations, $200 was listed as “unitemized contributions,” which is defined in state law as $100 or less from each donor. The remaining $300 was listed as itemized contributions, which state law defines as donations of more than $100 from an individual donor.

Under expenditures, Gouge reports purchases of campaign materials such as buttons and cards, as well as advertising expenses.

The second quarterly campaign financial disclosure statement filing period ends on June 30, and local candidates must file their report with the Carter County Election Commission no later than July 10.

BY ABBY MORRIS-FRYE

STAR STAFF

abby.frye@elizabethton.com

Candidates in the upcoming County Primary and General Elections have filed their first round of campaign financial disclosure statements, which show candidates seeking the office of Carter County Clerk have spent more than $12,000 combined so far in their election bids.

State law requires most candidates seeking public office to appoint a political treasurer and file quarterly campaign financial disclosure statements on set dates throughout the campaign process. Only candidates seeking election to a part-time office with compensation of less than $1,000 per month and who do not intend to spend more than $1,000 on their campaign are exempt from filing campaign financial disclosure statements under state law.

April 10 marked the deadline for candidates to file their first disclosure statements, which cover donations collected and monies spent from the beginning of the candidate’s campaign through March 31.

The Elizabethton Star obtained copies of the disclosure statements filed by the three candidates for Carter County Clerk — Mary Gouge, Patsy Lewis, and Bruce Pierce. All three candidates are facing off in the May 1 Primary Election to become the Republican nominee for the August General Election.

In total, the three candidates have a combined spending of $12,464.07 during the statement filing period.

The top spender in the campaign so far is Pierce, who reported expenditures of $8,295.83 — nearly double what his two competitors spent combined.

In his report, Pierce notes a self-donation to his campaign in the amount of $8,295.83 and does not list any outside contributors to his election bid.

Under expenditures, Pierce lists purchases of campaign materials such as shirts, signs, hats, buttons, cards, and pencils, as well as advertising expenses.

Coming in second in campaign spending for the filing period is Lewis, who reported expenditures of $2,515.66.

In her report, Lewis lists no contributions to her campaign and does not list any amount of personal financing.

Under expenditures, Lewis lists the purchase of campaign materials and advertising expenses.

Incumbent Gouge came in third place in campaign spending for the County Clerk’s race with reported expenditures of $1,652.58.

In her report, Gouge notes receiving a total of $500 in campaign contributions. Of those donations, $200 was listed as “unitemized contributions,” which is defined in state law as $100 or less from each donor. The remaining $300 was listed as itemized contributions, which state law defines as donations of more than $100 from an individual donor.

Under expenditures, Gouge reports purchases of campaign materials such as buttons and cards, as well as advertising expenses.

The second quarterly campaign financial disclosure statement filing period ends on June 30, and local candidates must file their report with the Carter County Election Commission no later than July 10.