By Debbie Hall
Finance reports recently filed with the State Board of Elections suggest that challenger Wren Williams is outpacing incumbent Del. Charles Poindexter in donations through the period ending March 31.
Williams, a Stuart attorney seeking the GOP nomination in the June 8 primary for the 9th District House of Delegates seat, raised $73,988, according to data from the Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP).
Donations include $67,050 from 75 cash contributions of $100 and $6,938 from cash contributions of less than $100, the data shows.
Among the highest donors reported were $5,000 from Buddy E. Williams, $2,500 from each Warren L. Williams (Feb. 15 and Feb. 12), Gary A. Birkett (Feb. 19 and Feb. 19), Warren Lee Williams, Wren M. Williams, Terri W. Birkett (Feb. 19 and Feb. 19), Schneider and Williams PC, Holly S. Williams (Feb. 12 and Feb. 19), Pauline Williams, Rachel M. Williams, Ken Hutchens and Ken Polk.
Williams spent $37,216, including $9,200 to Point1 LLC on March 1, $7,523 to Point1 LLC on March 15, $3,600 to Point1 LLC on March 1, $3,150 to Point1 LLC on March 1, $2,111 to Point1 LLC on March 9 and $2,000 to JLK Strategies LLC on March 2, data shows.
Williams ended the period with a balance of $36,771, according to VPAP.
Poindexter, R-Glade Hill, began the election cycle with $16,467 on hand as of Jan. 1, the data suggests.
In the Jan. 1 to March 31 period, Poindexter for Delegate reported a total of $34,538, with total expenses of $8,872, according to VPAP data.
Through March 31, Poindexter received 49 cash contributions of more than $100 totaling $28,750 and 35 cash contributions of $100 or less, totaling $2,535. Also reported were four in-kind contributions of more than $100, totaling $3,253.
Among the top donors were $5,000 from Dominion Energy PAC, $2,500 from Kilgore for Delegate, $2,000 from Gilbert for Delegate, and $1,000 each from Friends of Kirk Cox, McNamara for Delegate, Friends of Nick Rush, Friends of Barry D. Knight, David Pace, Danny Marshall Election Committee, Jesse Rutherford, Virginia Well PAC and Rob Bell for Delegate.
Among the highest expenses reported were $2,000 to Cody Hanshaw, $359 to Virginia Office Supply, $353 to Franklin County Treasurer, $330 to Piryx, Inc., $330 to USPS and $305 to Charles D. Poindexter.
Southside Victory Fund, a committee associated with Poindexter, reported a beginning balance of $10,036 on Jan. 1, 2021. The ending amount was unchanged, with neither donations or expenses listed for the period ending March 31, data showed.
