Vivian Jones, running for her fifth term as Wake Forest’s mayor, reported early this month that she had raised $9,195 for her campaign. Her opponent, first-term Commissioner Jim Thompson, has raised $7,991.09.
Jones reported $820 in small – less than $100 – contributions and $8,125 in larger amounts. Some of those writing checks were Ricky and Jane Wright, owners if the Electric Motor Shop, $1,000 each; James and Carol Warren, a lawyer and a retired nurse, $125 each; Robert White, president of Wake Forest Federal Savings and Loan, $250; Dan Petretich, retired, $500; Greg Pearce, owner of Over the Falls restaurant, $500; Joe Paulonis, self-employed, $500; Roe O’Donnell, former Wake Forest deputy town manager, $250; Harry Mitchell, engineer with Bass, Kennedy, Nixon, $100; Art and Doris Minton, owners of Village Pharmacy, $125 each; James Holding, owner of Holding Oil Company, $200; Matt and Teresa Hale, architect and owner of Allied Rehab,$300 together; Friends of Mary-Ann Baldwin, a political group, $250; Sue Anthony, attorney, $250; Deborah Bordeaux, owner of Stay at Home Senior Care, $250; and Randy Bright, owner of Bright Memorials, $250.
Jones’s expenses totaled $1592.25 for her filing fee, yard signs, note cards and postage.
Thompson’s contributors included Bob Johnson, owner of several downtown buildings, $1,100; Jim Adams, president of Mill Ridge Real Estate,$1,000; Ricky Wright, $1,000; Albert Barneto, owner of Wake Forest Coffee Company; David Williams, president of Focus Design Builders, $110; $500 from Triangle Apartment Association, a political action committee, and donations from his colleagues in association management.
A surprising donation was the $200 from Commissioner Margaret Stinnett because board members do not usually contribute to board or mayor candidates.
His expenses totaled $4,019.86 for political signs, vehicle rap signs, badges, and $500 for a booth at Meet in the Street sponsored by the Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce.
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The Gazette will list the financial reports by the five candidates for town commissioner next week. The editor is typing with one hand and one finger because a botox shot to relieve a tremor left two fingers on her right hand unusable for now. The problem will fade away with time.
3 Responses
Carol,
I am “surprised” that you think board members do not contribute to mayor or commissioners running for office during an election! Vivian and Frank were supported by Richard and I in the past, and they happily cashed our checks! We are both citizens of Wake Forest and make contributions to candidates we support at the time. Maybe Richard should have signed the check from our joint account to have not “suprised” anyone!!!
I was surprised to find out that Mayor Jones has hired a Political Consultant. It does not appear that it has shown up on her reports that the money was spent. The Consultant Patrick Sebastian has worked on all three of his uncles’s Pat McCrory’s campaigns for Governor. He has also consulted on the Romney Presidential campaign and former Congresswoman Elmer’s. I am sure Mr. Sebastian’s services do not come cheap. Commissioner Thompson has not hired any Consultants and is just seeking input from concerned citizens. I am helping him on his campaign and it has cost me $50. Mayor Jones has has been involved in Wake Forest for a long time. It should be a concern that she has hired a Consultant.
It should be “a concern” that Ms. Jones is seeking wisdom from someone with experience?!? In my book, that’s the sign of an intelligent leader! And if you are trying to imply she’s hiding something simply because you haven’t seen it reported yet, shame on you! You’ve run for office here in WF before, so you should remember how slowly the reporting office can be with those disclosures. I’ve never known her to be dishonest, and she’s lived a very public life as she’s served our town, so if she has hired someone with her campaign funds, you can be sure it will show up properly in due time. Feel free to support whichever candidate you wish, but don’t disparage the other candidate in the process! You only make yourself and the candidate you support look shallow and desperate.