Who donated to Ryan Mears, Cyndi Carrasco campaigns for Marion County Prosecutor?
With two weeks to go before the Nov. 8 elections, Republican candidate for Marion County Prosecutor Cyndi Carrasco has raised more money this year than Democrat incumbent Ryan Mears but falls short of her opponent in cash on-hand.
Carrasco’s campaign started the year cashless but has since collected a total of $577,058. Most of those contributions came in during the pre-election campaign finance reporting period that started in April and ended Oct. 14. Candidates were required to report their numbers by Friday.
Mears began 2022 with $215,657 cash on-hand but raised a total of $623,057, meaning he pulled in $407,400 in contributions between the start of the year and mid-October.
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After expenses Mears ended the pre-election reporting period with $363,245 on hand – nearly 50% more than his opponent, who reported $237,016. Carrasco, however, has spent about $80,000 more than Mears. She reported $340,043 in expenditures year-to-date while Mears reported $259,832.
High-profile Hoosiers, from state politicians to business magnates to local lawyers, gave to both campaigns. The biggest single contribution reported by either candidate this period was from Deborah J. Simon, the daughter of shopping mall mogul Melvin Simon. She gave Mears $40,000.
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Gov. Eric Holcomb’s campaign stands as Carrasco’s biggest financial backer, with $25,000 in year-to-date contributions.
You can see the full list of who donated to Mears here, and who donated to Carrasco here.
Below are just a few of the notable people and groups that showed up this period, plus some of the top contributors for each campaign. (All contribution amounts are year-to-date contributions.)
Six notable contributors
Martin Obst, Former Vice President Mike Pence's political advisor – Cyndi Carrasco - $1,041
Greg Pence for Congress (U.S. Rep. Greg Pence) – Cyndi Carrasco - $2,500
Victoria Spartz for Congress (U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz) – Cyndi Carrasco - $2,000
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Everytown for Gun Safety AF PAC, a firearms control advocacy group based in New York – Ryan Mears - $1,000
Indiana N.O.R.M.L., a cannabis legalization advocacy group – Ryan Mears - $250
Richmond for Congress (Former Louisiana U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond) - Ryan Mears - $1,000
Mears’ top individual contributors
Deborah J. Simon, Carmel - $40,000
Lacy Johnson, Indianapolis - $15,000
Ann Stack, Indianapolis - $12,000
Rachel Simon, Indianapolis - $9,500
Alan Hogan, Indianapolis; Cynthia Simon, Carmel - Each contributed $5,000
Nathaniel Lee, Indianapolis - $4,069
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Mary Terhune Bookwalter, Indianapolis - $3,642
Gregory Hahn, Indianapolis - $3,500
Nora Hiatt, Indianapolis - $3,377
Joe Whitsett, Indianapolis - $3,200
Mears’ top non-individual contributors
This includes corporations, organizations, PACs and other groups.
LIUNA State IN District Council State PAC, Terre Haute - $20,000
Better Indiana PAC, Zionsville - $12,600
IBEW PAC Voluntary Fund, Washington, D.C. - $10,000
ICE PAC, Indianapolis - $10,000
IN KY OH Regional Carpenters, Indiana COPE, Greenwood - $5,500
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Weston Property Management, Indianapolis - $5,000
Frost Brown Todd PAC, Indianapolis - $2,500
RISE Indy PAC, Indianapolis - $2,000
Barnes & Thornburg LLP, Indianapolis; Taylor for State Senate Committee, Indianapolis; Huelskamp & Rivas PC, Indianapolis; HEALTHPAC, Indianapolis - Each contributed $1,500
Sallee Law LLC, Indianapolis - $1,250
Carrasco’s top individual contributors
Donald F. Woodley, Indianapolis - $10,000
John Hammond III, Indianapolis - $7,500
Elaine Bedel, Indianapolis - $6,246
Jefferson Shreve, Indianapolis - $6,000
Lawrence E. Dewey, Indianapolis - $5,200
Captain Les Sebring, Indianapolis; Elizabeth Elsener, Indianapolis; Craig Huse, Indianapolis - Each contributed $5,000
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Mark Shublak, Indianapolis - $4,650
William J. Dahm, Fishers - $4,000
Luke Bosso, Indianapolis - $3,505
David P. Shepherd, Carmel - $3,276
Carrasco’s top non-individual contributors
This includes corporations, organizations, PACs and other groups.
Eric Holcomb for Indiana, Indianapolis - $25,000
FOP-PAC, Indianapolis - $21,000
Cannon Research Group LLC, Kansas City, Mo. - $7,500
McNeely Law LLP, Shelbyville - $6,000
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KRG Finance LLC, Indianapolis; R Falcone Real Estate LLC, Indianapolis; M-H Midwest, Indianapolis - Each contributed $5,000
Committee to Elect Steve Collier, Lawrence; JMH Properties LLC, Fishers; Friends of Susan Brooks, Indianapolis - Each contributed $4,000
Sherman for State Representative, Indianapolis - $3,950
Kroger, Gardis and Regas LLP, Indianapolis - $3,000
Greg Pence for Congress, Beverly, Mass.; REI Real Estate Services LLC, Carmel; Todd Huston for State Representative, Fishers; Steuerwald for State Rep, Danville; Myers for Greenwood, Greenwood - Each contributed $2,500
RJL Solutions, Terre Haute - $2,041
Call IndyStar courts reporter Johnny Magdaleno at 317-273-3188 or email him at jmagdaleno@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @IndyStarJohnny
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Marion County Prosecutor: Who's funding Ryan Mears, Cyndi Carrasco
