Barker slows campaign spending, Sanderson contributions up sharply in month before election

In fact, Sanderson received more donations Oct. 1-25 than he had during any other campaign financial reporting period.

Barker and Sanderson were vying for the Tennessee House of Representatives seat vacated by retiring Rep. Phillip Pinion. District 77 covers Lake and Obion counties as well as the northern and western halves of Dyer County.

Barker, a Union City attorney, won the election with an unofficial tally of 11,389 votes. Sanderson, who runs a furniture store in Kenton, snared 10,862 votes districtwide. Sanderson soundly swept Dyer County with 62.94 percent of the votes.

Candidates are required to file campaign financial disclosure forms at the end of each quarter (covering two months) and before the primary and general elections (covering one month). The pre-general disclosure forms were submitted Oct. 28. Fourth-quarter reports are due Jan. 26.

According to the Oct. 28 forms:

* Barker counted $16,569.60 in contributions and $22,637.27 in expenditures between Oct. 1 and Oct. 25.

That was, by far, the smallest amount of expenditures Barker reported during the campaign period. She'd reported spending $28,724.95 in the second quarter (April 1-June 30), $40,617.10 in the pre-primary (July 1-28) and $52,647.89 in the third quarter (July 29-Sept. 30).

Pre-general contributions marked the second-lowest sum of Barker's campaign with $16,569.60. Only the pre-primary total was lower with $13,564.07. She received $66,250 during the second quarter and $77,787.10 in the third quarter.

Barker's campaign also reported a total of $6,240.76 worth of in-kind contributions and a $29,500 loan from the candidate.

The campaign coffers had an ending balance of $29,543.56.

* Sanderson received $33,425 in contributions - the largest amount he'd ever reported for a single filing period. His previous contributions had amounted to $30,026 in the second quarter, $1,100 in the pre-primary and $16,320 in the third quarter.

Sanderson's spending held steady with $15,600.90 in expenditures during the pre-general period, $17,647.33 in the third quarter, $11,102 in the pre-primary and $3,808 in the second quarter.

Sanderson's campaign also reported a total of $675 worth of in-kind contributions and a $2,100 loan from the candidate.

The campaign coffers had an ending balance of $30,667.77 on Oct. 25.

Incumbent Sen. Mark Norris and incumbent Rep. Craig Fitzhugh both ran unopposed.

Norris, a Republican from Collierville, represents the 32nd Senatorial District, which includes Dyer, Lauderdale, Tipton and part of Shelby counties.

Norris reported receiving $8,995.40 in contributions and making $27,909.73 in expenditures during the pre-general period. That brings his campaign total for this election to $85,902.80 in contributions and $132,423.15 in expenditures. The ending balance for his campaign fund was $109,303.17 on Oct. 25.

Fitzhugh, a Democrat from Ripley, represents the 82nd House District, which includes Lauderdale and Crockett counties and the southeastern corner of Dyer County.

Fitzhugh reported $7,825 in contributions and $150 in expenditures during the pre-general period. That brought the campaign totals to $39,975 in contributions and $8,535.68 in expenses. He has an ending balance of $79,310.30, but has $31,200 in outstanding loans.

Barker's details

During the pre-primary period, Barker received donations of $250 or more from: Marvin Alexander of Martin, $250; Wendell Alexander of Dresden, $250; J.B. Baker of Madison, $250; Russell Caldwell of Hornbeak, $400; Concerned Automotive Retailers Political Action Committee (PAC) of Nashville, $300; Eastman PAC of Kingsport, $250; Farris Mathews Branan Bobango and Hellen PAC of Memphis, $250; Annette Ferguson of Union City, $500; David Fowler of Union City, $250; Friends of THA of Nashville, $300; Jeffrey Garrety of Jackson, $500; Insurors of Tennessee PAC of Nashville, $500; William "Tinker" Kelly Jr. of Nashville, $250; Wayne McCreight of Martin, $250; Michael McWherter of Jackson, $250; David Murphy Sr. of Martin, $250; National Health Corp. PAC of Murfreesboro, $500; Gary Odom of Nashville, $750; Randy Rinks of Pickwick Dam, $1,000; Gary Sasser of Cookeville, $250; Smith Harris and Carr PAC of Nashville, $250; Tennessee Association of Nurse Anesthetists PAC of Nashville, $500; Tennessee Education Association Fund for Children and Public Education of Nashville, $1,000; Tennessee Employees Action Movement of Nashville, $400; Tennessee Federation of Democratic Women of Jackson, $300; Tennessee Forestry PAC of Nashville, $250; Tennessee Highway Contractors PAC of Nashville, $500; Tennessee Nurses PAC of Nashville, $250; Tennessee Realtors PAC of Nashville, $500; Tennessee Truck PAC of Nashville, $500; THMTNPAC of Parsons, $250; Harry Tindell of Knoxville, $1,000; Michael "Mike" L. Turner of Old Hickory, $500; James "Jimmy" H. Westbrook Jr. of Dresden, $250; Wholesalers Association PAC of Nashville, $250; Terry Wiseman of Troy, $250; and Wyeth Good Government Fund of Madison, N.J., $250.

During the same period, she reported expenses of $250 or more involving: Fletcher Rowley Chao Riddle Inc. of Nashville, $5,773.12 for advertising; LSG Strategies Services Corp. of Washington, D.C., $570.72 for advertising; Tyson Saltwell of Medina, $500 for campaign organizer; Tennessee House Democratic Caucus of Nashville, $14,886.54 for advertising; Union City Trustees Lodge 538, $500 for rent.

Sanderson's details

During the pre-primary period, Sanderson received donations of $250 or more from: State Rep. Mike Bell of Riceville, $1,000; CAS-PAC of Franklin, $7,000; Larry Combs of Covington, $1,000; Troy Mayor Jimmy Hart, $1,000; Jay Ray Hobbs of Kenton, $775; Hollomon and Dalton of Union City, $250; Mary Littleton of Dickson, $300; Majority Tennessee of Nashville, $5,000; MUMPAC of Nashville, $5,000; NRW PAC of Nashville, $1,000; John Rose of Hickman, $1,000; Jeff Sanderson of Kenton, $1,000; Steve Sims of Hornbeak, $1,000; Richard Skiles of Kenton, $1,000; Tennessee Safe Communities PAC of Memphis, $500; Volunteer PAC-Tennessee of Nashville, $5,000; and Emmett Whitaker of Germantown, $1,000.

During the same period, he reported expenses of $250 or more involving: American Express of Dallas, Texas, $439.73 for advertising; AT&T Universal Care of Jacksonville, Fla., $1,789.53 for signs; Banner Publishing in Tiptonville, $1,061.24 for advertising; Margin of Victory of Collierville, $10,592; Paul Stringham of Newbern, $575 for advertising; Thunderbolt Broadcast of Martin, $544 for advertising; and WENK Radio Station in Union City, $350 for advertising.

Norris' details

During the pre-primary period, Norris received donations of $250 or more from: Abbott Laboratories Employee PAC of Abbott Park, Ill., $250; Burlington Northern Railroad PAC of Fort Worth, Texas, $300; Caterpillar Employees PAC of Peoria, Ill., $1,000; William Clark Jr. of Memphis, $1,000; Coca-Cola Consolidated Employee Committee on Good Government of Charlotte, N.C., $500; Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. Employees PAC of Atlanta, Ga., $500; Conservation Action PAC of Nashville, $250; CSX Good Government Fund of Washington, D.C., $1,000; First Tennessee Local PAC 1039 of Memphis, $500; Marathon Oil Co. Employees PAC of Detroit, Mich., $500; Metro Memphis Hotel and Lodging Association PAC of Cordova, $1,000; ServiceMaster Good Government Fund of Memphis, $500; Tennessee Nurses PAC of Nashville, $500; and Walgreen Co. PAC of Deerfield, Ill., $300.

During the same period, he reported expenses of $250 or more involving: Mike Niederhauser of Tullahoma, $1,000 for a political contribution; Tennessee Legislative Campaign Committee of Nashville, $25,000 in donations; and Toof Printing of Memphis, $1,693.48 for postage.

Fitzhugh's details

During the pre-primary period, Fitzhugh received donations of $250 or more from: Abbott Laboratories Employee PAC of Abbott Park, Ill., $325; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee PAC of Nashville, $500; Burlington Northern Railroad PAC of Fort Worth, Texas, $400; Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. Employees PAC of Atlanta, $600; CSX Good Government Fund of Washington, $250; Embarq Corp. Employees PAC of Raleigh, N.C., $300; Farmers Employee and Agents PAC of Brentwood, $500; Judy Hollingsworth of Finley, $250; International Paper PAC of Washington, D.C., $250; Merck & Co. Inc. Employees PAC of San Rafael, Calif., $350; National Health Corp. PAC of Murfreesboro, $300; Tennessee Bankers Association PAC of Nashville, $250; Tennessee Chiropractic Association PAC of Nashville, $500; Tennessee Health Care Association PAC of Nashville, $2,000; Tennessee Nurses PAC of Nashville, $250; and Tennessee Podiatric Medical Association PAC of Nashville, $500.

During the same period, he reported no expenses of $250 or more.