LA GRANDE — Contributions to the campaigns of the candidates for Union County commissioner run the gamut from zero to more than $40,000.

Position 3 on the Union County Board of Commissioners is up for grabs. The seat is currently held by Donna Beverage, who is completing her second four-year term. Beverage cannot seek reelection because of a term-limit measure Union County voters approved in 2016, which disallows commissioners from serving more than eight years.

Nine candidates are vying for the position: Kathleen Cathey, Robin Church, Brent Clapp, Merle Comfort, John Coote, Caleb Sampson, Brian Sather, Jake Seavert and Mark Simmons.

Five of the nine candidates have reported a combined total of $67,753 in cash and in-kind contributions.

The following numbers are according to the Oregon Elections System for Tracking and Reporting — commonly referred to as ORESTAR — as of Thursday, May 9, and are rounded to the nearest dollar.

Simmons at No. 1

Simmons’ campaign has brought in the most money — receiving contributions from organizations, businesses and individuals. The Committee to Elect Mark Simmons has reported $41,050 in cash contributions.

The single largest contribution, $4,500, has come from Oregon West PAC.

Businesses from across Oregon have contributed to Simmons’ campaign. Grande Ronde Angus and Kehr Chiropractic each contributed $2,500, and Intermountain Livestock Exchange and Luke 181 Investors Group each donated $2,000. Nature's Pantry gave $1,500, while Bud Jackson's Eatery and Taps, Brewing America and Imbler Farms each contributed $1,000.

Smaller business donations came from Ryan Tribbett Company, Bowman Trucking and The Lodge at Hot Lake Springs — $500 from each. Paul Swigert Financial Services gave $250.

Simmons’ campaign received one out-of-state donation, from Douglas Bean, of Scottsdale, Arizona, who donated $3,500. The remainder of the contributions have come from individuals in Eastern Oregon:

• Robert Levy, of Hermiston, two donations totaling $4,500

• Madeline Bean, of La Grande, $3,500

• Mary Beck, of Imbler, $2,500

• Sharon Beck, of Imbler, $2,000

• Michael Becker, of La Grande, $1,000

• Shawn Bingaman, of Imbler, $1,000

• Cody Vela, of La Grande, $1,000

• James Kopp, of Cove, $500

• Elizabeth Koza, of Cove, $500

• Sandra McCoy, of La Grande, $500

• Lisa Eisiminger, of Imbler, $300

• Robert Minarich, of Island City, $200

• Sharron Tarter, of Elgin, $200

Simmons’ wife, Joni, also contributed $1,000 toward the campaign as a nonexempt loan.

His committee has reported a total of $26,887 in expenditures. The top campaign expense, $5,946, has been to Elkhorn Media Group for radio advertising. Super Cheap Signs lands in the No. 2 spot, with Simmons’ committee paying $4,090 for signs. This just edged out the No. 3 spending spot, which goes to the Ad Dad, which has been paid a total of $4,000 for the preparation and production of advertising.

Clapp’s campaign tops in-kind contributions

Clapp comes in at No. 2 for campaign money when considering both cash and in-kind contributions. The Committee to Elect Brent Clapp received a total of $8,946 across both types of contributions.

The committee received $6,542 through in-kind contributions — with a large majority from Brent Clapp Media Services. Clapp’s business has contributed $6,359 for preparation and production of advertising, online and social media advertising, broadcast advertising and other advertising.

His campaign has also received $2,403 in contributions. He received out-of-state donations from Andrew S. McHaddad, of Santa Clarita, California, for $364, and John Hensley, of Spangle, Washington, for $104.

The remaining donations have come from Oregon:

• Tim Gleeson, of La Grande, $520

• Steven West, of La Grande, $500

• Edward Hegele, of La Grande, $300

• Andrew A. McHaddad, of Lebanon, $104

• Kelsie Witty, of Cove, $104

• Tom Hanson, of La Grande, $103

Clapp’s campaign also received a handful of miscellaneous cash donations ranging between $25 and $100, and Clapp has contributed $1,000 toward his campaign through an exempt loan.

His committee’s largest expenditure has been $850, to Meadow Outdoor Advertising for billboard advertising.

Cathey comes in at No. 3

Cathey comes in at No. 3 for the most contributions. The Friends of Kathleen Cathey committee has received $7,985 in contributions and $671 in in-kind contributions. The single largest contribution was from the HOOPS PAC for $1,500. The committee also received a $250 contribution from a Hermiston-based business, IRZ Consulting.

Cathey’s campaign has reported one out-of-state donation: $250 from Joshua Kardon, of Washougal, Washington.

The rest of her campaign contribution have come from Oregonians:

• John Shelk, of Powell Butte, $1,000

• Greg Goad, of Pendleton, $500

• John Howard, of La Grande, $300

• Denise Stone, of La Grande, $300

• Suzanne Goodall, of Imbler, $250

• Gregory Harris, Hermiston, $250

• Lisa Rockower, of Portland, $250

• Randy Knop, of Union, three donations totaling $200

• Jennifer Riley, of Milton-Freewater, $200

• Beth Upshaw, of Union, $200

• Barbara Warner, of Portland, $200

The campaign also received a number of miscellaneous cash contributions ranging from $50 to $400. Cathey’s largest campaign expenditure has been to Elkhorn Media Group at $2,500 for radio advertising.

Seavert lands in fourth

Seavert is in the No. 4 spot for receiving the most funding. The Friends of Jake Seavert committee has reported contributions totaling $5,602. The campaign’s largest contribution has been $1,000 from Mitrac Construction Inc.

White Barn Estate donated $500, while the John and Dian Frisch Farm Account contributed $275.

Seavert’s campaign received one out-of-state donation: $104 from Clark Seavert, of Surprise, Arizona. The remainder of the contributions have been form Union County:

• Gale Seavert, of La Grande, $521

• Nathan Weishaar, of La Grande, $521

• Jeana Bingaman, of La Grande, $500

• Robert Hulden, of Union, $500

• Cassandra Miller, of Union, $417

• Kristen Kruse, of Imbler, $209

• David Stirewalt, of La Grande, $200

The campaign received a number of miscellaneous cash contributions ranging between $26 and $202. Seavert's largest campaign expenditure has been to Super Cheap Signs — $3,096 across three payments.

Comfort in fifth

Comfort ranks fifth in contributions. The Committee to Elect Merle Comfort received $3,500 in contributions. Local business Brian Bell Enterprises LLC donated $1,000.

The remainder of the contributions have come from Union County residents:

• Beau Willadsen, of La Grande, $1,000

• Craig Nightingale, of La Grande, $500

• Margaret Schmidt, of Island City, $500

• George Mendoza, of La Grande, $200

Comfort’s committee received three miscellaneous cash contributions totaling $300. His largest campaign expenditure has been to Signs on the Cheap — $1,632 across two payments.

Everyone else

The Committee to Elect Robin Church for Commissioner Pos #3 and John Coote for Commissioner have not reported any contributions or expenditures.

Neither Sampson nor Sather have committees.

Candidates are not required to create candidate committees if they act as their own treasurer, do not already have a candidate committee and do not expect to spend or receive more than $750 on campaign-related costs during the calendar year, according to the 2024 Campaign Finance Manual published by the Secretary of State Elections Division.