Bentonville mayoral candidates raise more than $62,000

BENTONVILLE -- Mayoral candidate Jim Webb raised three and a half times more campaign contributions than three of the other candidates combined.

Webb received $48,450 from 92 contributions between Aug. 1 and Oct. 27, according to his pre-election campaign contribution and expenditure report.

The reports were due before close of business Tuesday. Terry Shannon was the only one of the five mayoral candidates who hadn't turned in a report. Shannon didn't respond by 8:30 p.m. to a message asking about the report.

Reports are only required if a candidate raised or spent at least $500. The general election is Tuesday.

Stephanie Orman received $10,015 from 26 contributions from July 20 through Oct. 29, while John Skaggs received $3,790 from 13 contributions from Aug. 23 through Oct. 26. Charlie Turner didn't raise any money and only spent $143 for signs and cards, according to the reports.

Some donors contributed more than once for certain candidates and some contributed to more than one candidate.

For instance, Nicholas Dozier, a retired Rogers resident, gave $2,700 each to Orman and Webb. It was Orman's highest contribution.

Webb received three additional $2,700 contributions. They were from Christopher Crossland, CEO of Crossland Global; Kris Compton, principal of Jimmy Dean Properties in Hendersonville, N.C.; and Jeff Smithers, CEO of Smithers Merchant Builders in San Antonio.

David Glass, owner of the Kansas City Royals baseball team and former Walmart president and CEO, gave Webb $1,000. It was one of 14 $1,000 contributions Webb received.

John Furner, Sam's Club CEO, provided Webb with $500.

Webb also received donations from several bicycling leaders including $50 from Jenn Dice, president of People for Bikes and Colorado resident; $150 from Paxton Roberts, chief bicycle officer for BikeNWA; $150 from Ben Upchurch, owner of The Bike Route; and $500 from Brendan Quirk, cycling program director of Runway Group.

Runway Group, a group focused on developing quality of life initiatives in Arkansas, was founded by Tom and Steuart Walton. Runway's creative director Mike Abb gave Webb $250, and Mike Malone, Runway NWA coordinator, gave $150.

A couple of employees of Ropeswing -- a boutique hospitality company Tom Walton leads -- also backed Webb with cash. Benjamin Craig, project manager, gave $400, and Sarah Hegi, marketing manager, gave $250.

Orman received three $1,000 contributions from Kelly Jones, whose listed occupation is "self," John Phillips from Naples, Fla., and is retired, and from Bryan Doffin, account manager at J.B. Hunt Transport Services.

Orman's other contributions ranged from $50 to $500, including $65 from the Benton County Republican Women.

Skaggs' largest contribution was $1,500 from the NWA Board of Realtors. He also was backed by Jody and Terry Coberly with $100. Terry Coberly is a former Bentonville mayor who now lives in Fayetteville.

Gary Black, retired Benton County judge, also supported Skaggs with $100.

Webb, Orman and Skaggs each also took out loans -- $3,000, $3,066 and $6,569, respectively.

The three candidates each spent the largest amount of their campaign money for direct mailings. Webb spent the most with $19,835. Orman came in second spending $4,116, followed by Skaggs who spent 3,068 on direct mailings.

Final campaign contribution and expenditure reports are due Jan. 2. Final reports are required for all candidates regardless of the amount of contributions or expenditures.

NW News on 10/31/2018