Joni Alexander-Robinson brought in more campaign contributions than two other Pine Bluff mayoral candidates, including incumbent Mayor Shirley Washington, although three other candidates had yet to file their paperwork as of the Feb. 27 deadline.
Campaign contribution and expenditure reports were due this past Tuesday, but as of Friday, only half of the mayoral candidates’ filings were available from the Jefferson County clerk’s office.
The mayoral candidates running in the preferential primaries include the incumbent mayor; former Pine Bluff City Council member Alexander-Robinson; State Rep. Vivian Flowers; Marine veteran and former police officer Charles Washington; former director of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department Samuel Glover; and council member Steven Mays Sr.
The only reports obtained by The Commercial were from Mays, Alexander-Robinson and Washington. Mays collected a total of $3,000 in monetary contributions. Washington’s total was $26,409 and Alexander-Robinson’s total was $35,670.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Mays, a sitting member of the Pine Bluff City Council, listed himself as the top contributor of more than $50 with a total of $1,000. Several $400 contributions came from community donations, family and private citizens, with most of his expenses going toward his filing fee of $2,400. Della Mays Dawkins donated $400, Audrey Smith-Scott donated $400 and Brian Coleman gave $300. Mays’ total expenditures equaled $3,110. He filed his paperwork on Feb. 8.
The top contributions for Washington of more than $200 were: Sissy and Murphy Jones with Sissy’s Log Cabin, $2,500; Step Up Political Action Committee with $2,000; and Henry Trotter, with Trotter Ford with $1,000.
Other donations came from Ronad Dallari with $1,000; Amy Cahill with $700; Julie Bridgforth with $600; and Rosalind Mouser, a member of the Go Forward Pine Bluff board; Donald Harris Jr., Barbara Fratesi, Edna Briggs and Kenneth Baim, to name a few, all contributing $500 each.
A donation of $250 came from David Smith, pastor of Old Saint James Church and $250 came from Tommy May, head of Go Forward Pine Bluff.
A total of $9,759 was raised at a fish fry fundraiser. Expenses went toward Melissa Rice’s Catering Service for $5,500; Tramaine Richardson, whose services were described as other advertising, for $5,000; Henry Dabner, sign worker, for $1,000; and Ja’neen Elliott Marketing Agency for $442.14.
The total expenditures for Washington, a two-term mayor attempting a third term, totaled $14,932.94, leaving a balance of $18,575.10 when filing her paperwork on Feb. 23.
Alexander-Robinson, a former member of the Pine Bluff City Council who served one term, raised the most money with many of her contributions coming from private citizens. Glenda Daniels contributed $2,000. Reported donations over $50 included Robert Weaver with $1,000; Robert Daniels with $1,000; ANT National Property with $750; Michael White with $500; Aeury Surratt with $500; Osric Johnson with $500; County Judge Gerald Robinson with $500; Showcase of Floors with $350; Dogtown Farm and Kennel with $200; and Jeff Hubanks with $200, to name a few.
A total of $18,521.79 was spent on billboard advertising and Arkansas Printing expenses, $3,329 on direct mail and $8,275 on fundraising events at Hestand Stadium and a Tea Party fundraiser event.
Alexander-Robinson’s top itemized campaign expenditures included $7,200 toward Rice Catering, $7,075 toward Lamar Billboards and $3,329 to mail out 16,399 mailers. After filing Feb. 29, Alexander-Robinson’s ending balance was $353.97.
Early voting at the Jefferson County Courthouse ends Monday, with election day on Tuesday.