Nashville mayoral election: Where candidates stand in final stretch finances

Cassandra Stephenson, Nashville Tennessean
·4 min read
Early voting for the Nashville mayoral election continued at a steady pace at the Margaret Maddox East YMCA in Nashville, July 28, 2023. Election Officer Linda Ray Miller said more voters had been taking advantage of early voting as the voting period neared its end.
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Nashville mayoral candidates have shelled out a combined nearly $3 million in the last month as election day quickly approaches.

Each candidate reported funds raised and spent between July 1 and July 24.

Top spenders

Matt Wiltshire spent the most this month at $878,362.86. This includes $37,627.74 in refunded runoff contributions (Wiltshire was initially incorrectly told he could accept contributions intended for a runoff during the general election campaign).

Jim Gingrich, who suspended his campaign on July 17, reported spending nearly $657,300 over the last month. His disclosures show he loaned his campaign an additional $600,000 this reporting period. Gingrich's name will remain on the ballot.

Jeff Yarbro ($482,333.36) and Freddie O'Connell ($459,602.29) follow.

The remaining candidates reported spending less than $200,000.

Nashville voter guide 2023: Our hub for mayoral, Council election coverage

Top fundraisers

Wiltshire reported raising nearly $570,840 since July 1, including a new $250,000 personal loan. He reports a total of $450,000 in outstanding personal loans.

O'Connell reported pulling in just under $114,170, followed by Yarbro at just over $85,000 and Rolli at about $54,900.

The remaining candidates reported receiving less than $40,000.

TV and digital ad buys, printing and texting services top spending lists

Where did campaign dollars go between July 1 and July 24? Here are some highlights.

Yarbro paid 20/20 Insight LLC $379,195 for media purchases.

Wiltshire paid Counterpoint Media $487,020 for ad buys, $29,000 to Hart Research for polling, $9,189.68 to Hustle for texting services, $124,680.01 to Impact Politics for digital ads, $269,159.33 to Mission Control for direct mail, and $12,000 to Winning Strategies for paid phones.

Vivian Wilhoite spent a few thousand dollars on printing. She paid $3,996.67 to Texting for Less for advertising, $2,100 to Cumulus Nashville for advertising, and $500 to WENO for advertising.

Alice Rolli paid McShane LLC for several forms of campaign advertising, including:

  • $4,799 for consulting

  • $3,635.82 for a call/walk app

  • $10,000 for digital advertising

  • $30,005 for TV advertising

  • $5,495.94 for robotexts

  • $25,998 for data purchases

Rolli paid $21,000 total for video production, $40,404.46 to Fox Digital Printing for printing, $5,030 to Cumulus Nashville for radio advertising and $3,480 to Star News Digital Media for radio advertising.

O'Connell paid Old Town Media $266,175 for media purchases, $12,500 to McKenna Media for production, $22,500 to Highland Strategies for campaign management, $3,752.90 to PC Signs for printing, $2,360.82 to Switchboard Public Benefit Corp. for messaging services, $5,700 to Left Rising LLC for consulting, $3,425 to PowHER Consult for consulting and $928.63 to NGP VAN for a database.

Sharon Hurt paid Snyder Pickerill Media $81,965 for media purchases and $1,857.25 to John Smith Marketing for yard signs.

Gingrich spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on "voter contact" products from various strategy companies. He paid GBAO $38,720 for research.

Bernie Cox's lone $1,000 expenditure went to billboard advertising through Outfront Media.

Campbell paid $70,000 to Technicolor Political for media purchases, and $10,308.97 to Peerly Inc. for texting services.

Fran Bush paid $2,185 to John Smith Marketing for yard signs, spent $1,000 on TV ad development and paid WTVF Channel 5 News $956.25 and WSMV Channel 4 News $446.25 for TV ads.

Natisha Brooks reported no expenses.

Disclosures during 10-day election countdown

Campaigns must also disclose contributions, loans and expenditures (if each totals $1,000 or more) in the 10-day period leading up to election day.

Heidi Campbell reported raising $13,955 and spending $8,902.79 (on retainers, staff and office expenses) between July 25 and 29.

Freddie O'Connell reported raising $26,500, including $7,400 from the Tennessee Laborers' PAC (which previously donated $2,000 to O'Connell), between July 25 and 29.

Alice Rolli reported spending $17,481 between July 25 and 27, including $2,975 for radio ads, $6,006 for data and $1,000 for digital ads. The remaining $7,500 went toward event space at Coco's Event Center.

Matt Wiltshire reported raising $8,300 (including $2,500 from the Cumberland Health & Wellness PAC) and contributing another personal loan of $100,000 from July 25 through 28. During the same period, he reported spending $227,357.50, including $150,000 on an ad buy from Counterpoint Media, $40,900 to Counterpoint Media for media costs, $34,491 on digital ads and $1,966.50 for catering from Swett's Restaurant, where Wiltshire plans to host his election night watch party.

Jeff Yarbro reported raising $10,575 from July 25 through 28, including $1,500 from the Cumberland Health & Wellness PAC. During the same period, Yarbro reported spending $34,035, including $20,435 on media and $13,600 on digital consulting.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville mayoral election: Inside candidates' final stretch finances