The signs have nearly all been taken down now, and the last hurrah had been hurled in the direction of the winners. Now all that’s left of campaign 2008 is a memory or two — and for some an emptier checkbook.

Pre-election campaign finance reports were submitted to the Lawrence County Board of Elections Oct. 23 by countywide office seekers.

A final post-election report must be filed in December. In the meantime, the pre-election reports give insight into who gave and who spent in pursuit of that county job.

Hey big spender

Newspaper ads, radio commercials, ink pens and pads of paper with their name on it, even billboards. During an election, those means of reaching the prospective voter can be expensive.

While candidates had more than a week between the Oct. 23 pre-election report deadline and the Nov. 4 election, thus far,

Lawrence County candidates shelled out more than $65,000 for those buttons, program ads and so forth.

On the upper end of the scale, incumbent Lawrence County Commissioner Jason Stephens sits at the top of the heap of big spenders for county-wide office. Stephens, a Republican, spent $18,680.18 through Oct. 23. That is six times more than his opponent, Wayne Pennington, spent on his campaign for that same period. Pennington, a Democrat, spent $3,012.30 through Oct. 23.

Stephens said he budgeted approximately $25,000 and by the time the final report is submitted in December his numbers will be closer to that mark.

“But that’s typical of a county-wide race,” he said. “There are 63,000 people in Lawrence County and it does take a lot of money to communicate with people.”

Placing second in the campaign spending category was fellow Republican Cheyrl Jenkins, who spent $10,503.07. By contrast her Democratic opponent, Mike Patterson, spent $4,883.80 to win the clerk of court’s post, which is less than half of what Jenkins spent.

Yet another Republican, Les Boggs, who sought the other available seat on commission, was the third-biggest spender. Boggs’ campaign finance report showed expenditures of $9,343.47. Boggs’ rival, Democrat Tanner Heaberlin, spent $4,880.69 on his campaign.

In fact, between the two parties, Republicans typically were the biggest spenders, with most G.O.P candidates outspending their Democratic counterparts. The exception to the rule was Dr. Portia Canos, the Democrat who ran for county coroner. Canos spent $7,185.55. Her Republican counterpart, Dr. Kurt Hofmann, did not spend any cash on his campaign. He also did not take in any donations although he did list $5,928.92 in in-kind contributions. In the end Hofmann won by approximately 350 votes.

The typical amount spent prior to Oct. 23 was between $3,000 and $7,000. However, several candidates reported spending less than $2,000, including Lawrence County Engineer David Lynd, Lawrence County Prosecutor J.B. Collier Jr., and Lawrence County Probate Judge David Payne, all of whom were unopposed.

Jon Ater, Independent candidate for Lawrence County Recorder, handed in a campaign report that had his name, address and other official information but was otherwise blank, with no information about donations or expenditures.

Friends in high places

The pop tune said “I get by with a little help from my friends” and indeed, candidates rely on friends when they throw their name in the ring for elective office. Some candidates listed dozens of contributors who wanted to play a financial role in their campaign. By far the one with the greatest number of contributors was Stephens, whose contributor’s list totaled 50 names. Second on the list was Sheriff-elect Jeff Lawless, whose contribution list had 28 names on it. Lawless said he didn’t solicit contributions, though he did have a spaghetti dinner fundraiser that brought in $1,500.

“Most of the rest was from people who said they just wanted to help,” Lawless said. “And I certainly appreciate those people who supported me. I’m grateful.”

Lawless’ Democratic opponent, Independent candidate Russ Bennett, listed no contributors others than himself. He was one of many candidates who were their own best friend, contributing their own funds to oil their political machine and receiving few other donations.