By By KERRY WHIPPLE BEAN – Publisher
With less than a month to go before the June 6 primary, candidates for sheriff in Escambia County have spent a total of $11,050 in their bids for the job.
The sheriff's race between incumbent Grover Smith and former sheriff Tim Hawsey - both Democrats - is the only contested race in the county this year.
According to campaign finance reports filed with the probate judge's office 45 days before the primary, Hawsey has raised $4,000 for his campaign, including $2,000 from himself.
Meanwhile, Smith has raised $7,050 in individual contributions, including $4,000 from himself.
Hawsey has spent $3,592 so far, while Smith has spent $5,127.
While Escambia County has only one contested race, statewide offices are garnering much attention this year.
They won't face each other on the ballot until November, but state Senate District 22 candidates have raised thousands of dollars so far for the race.
W.H. &#8220Pat” Lindsey, the Democratic incumbent in the district that includes Escambia County, started the year with $158,415 in his campaign warchest.
He had received contributions of $57,650 in 2005. Since the beginning of the year, he has logged another $43,685 in contributions, according to his 45-day pre-election report.
John McMillan of Stockton, who is running as a Republican in District 22, raised $51,525 in 2005. He reported no campaign finance activity since then.
Both candidates have raised more than $30,000 from political action committees.
In the House District 66 race, Brewton resident Alan Baker faces longtime Democratic incumbent Frank &#8220Skippy” White in the November election. White has not reported any campaign activity this year, but in January Baker reported contributions of $5,000 of his own money in his annual campaign finance report.
In the House District 64 race, incumbent Greg Albritton, a Republican, faces Henry Shiver, a Republican and retired educator and businessman, and Elliot D. &#8220Dick” Weaver.
Shiver and Weaver reported no campaign finance activity this year, while Albritton reported contributions of $14,950.
In House District 92, incumbent Democrat Seth Hammett, speaker of the House, started the year with a whopping $1.1 million in his warchest.
Challenger William Edward Blocker, a Republican, had made no campaign finance reports, according to the Secretary of State's office.