Campaign cash: Big donors in Gaston County's District Court judge race
The campaign for Gaston County's contested District Court judge seat shows the incumbent with a decided advantage in campaign cash heading into Tuesday's primary election.
Republican District Court Judge Craig Collins has raised twice the amount of money and far outspent his primary challenger, Ashley Hyman.
The winner of Tuesday's primary does not face a ballot opponent in November.
Bottom line
Collins, who won his first full term in 2018 after being appointed to the bench two years earlier, has raised $62,847 in his re-election campaign. He has spent $35,594 through April 30, according to campaign finance reports filed with the State Board of Elections in May.
Hyman, who has spent the last six years as an attorney for Gaston County Department of Health and Human Services, has raised $27,557 for her campaign and spent $20,108, according to campaign finance reports.
Collins' big donors
Collins has 41 donors who have contributed more than $500 to his campaign. They are:
Andrew Arthur, fellow with Center for Immigration Studies, Gastonia, $750
Brian Bazemore, insurance broker, Cramerton, $500
Rick Beam, Gastonia attorney, $500
Ken Bowen, Meremitch Enterprises, Cherryville, $500
Charles Philip Byers, president Challenge FDTN Properties, Forest City, $500
Timothy Cannady, Matthews attorney, $500
Blake Caulder, Shelby attorney, $500
Irwin Carmichael, Charlotte, $500
Craig Collins, candidate, $1,292
Timothy Conner, CEO Conner Enterprises, Gastonia, $1,000
Todd Davis, Cramerton, $500
Ralph Dickson, real estate/auto parts, Gastonia, $500
Matt Fleishman, Charlotte attorney, $500
Friends of Tim Moore, Speaker of the House PAC, $1,000
Boyce Garland, Gastonia attorney, $500
Scott Greene, Greene Funeral Home, Gastonia, $500
Miles Hamrick, appraiser, Gastonia, $1,000
Nicholas Hohn, auto detailer, Belmont, $2,500
Mark Jetton, Charlotte attorney, $500
Karen Lands, teacher, Gastonia, $500
Tuan Mai, CTA Investments, Gastonia, $500
McHenry for Congress, PAC, $500
Anil Patel, Vishnu Properties Inc., Cherryville, $500
Jignasha Patel, manager Krisiaji, Gastonia, $500
Jonathan Payne, auto salvage, Clover, S.C., $2,000
Michael Recore, Recore Electrical Contractors, Gastonia, $2,500
Corey Rosensteel, Charlotte attorney, $500
Amy Simmons, A to Z Rentals, Clover, $5,600
Southern State Police Benevolent Association, PAC, McDonough, Georgia, $1,000
Phillip Sparrow, vice president NPC Charlotte, $2,500
Michelle Stewart, Special Kare for Special Kids, Stanley, $2,500
Natalie Tindol, Tindol Ford and Subaru, $500
Josh Valentine, collision safety consultant, Gastonia, $1,000
John Collins of Westport, Connecticut — $1,000
Kevin DiBella, Gastonia chiropractor — $500
David Masters, owner Stat Services of Mount Holly — $500
Tracy Philbeck, Gaston County commissioner — $2,500
Laurence Roberts, Cherryville — $1,000
Ron Shook, Gastonia attorney — $5,600
Frank Stewart, president Premier Body Armor, Stanley, — $5,600
Susan Welch, Gastonia — $1,000
Hyman's big donors
Hyman has nine donors who have contributed $500 or more to her campaign. They are:
Locke Bell, retired Gaston County district attorney, $2,000
Michael Bundy, sales, Cisco, Charlotte, $500
Alan Hyman, candidate's spouce, $4,855
Mark Katkow, retired, Sebastian, Florida, $4,855
Michael Neece, Gastonia attorney, $5,000
Lewis Person, vice president Window Bridge Lenders, Mount Pleasant, S.C., $519
Brent Ratchford, Gastonia attorney, $500
Lew Rowe, cardiologist, Florence, S.C., $5,600
Theresa Rowe, Florence, S.C., $2,500
This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Campaign cash: Big donors in Gaston County's District Court judge race
