Campaign finance reports shed light on candidates

Aside from a sign in the front yard, few things show a voter’s support of a candidate more than a campaign contribution.

Who supports a candidate spotlights a candidate’s roots, how close they are to their alma mater and even their endurance for the campaign trail.

The Pinal County Attorney candidates, Republican Lando Voyles and incumbent Democrat James P. Walsh are fundraising opposites.

Walsh’s fundraising geared up after the primary while Voyles received the bulk of his funding prior to it.

Of Walsh’s total funds raised during his entire campaign, 17.9 percent was raised during the post-primary period Aug. 17 through Sept. 17.

Walsh has raised $64,005.88 total during the race; $11,441.00 accrued during the post-primary period.

A chunk of Walsh’s total funds – $1,736.00 – were contributions of less than $25, and $1,510 has come from six out-of-state donors.

Walsh counts among his supporters Arizona State University professors, Phoenix and Tucson legal professionals, retirees, state House Representative Lela Alston and a Washington, D.C. lobbyist.

Walsh’s largest single campaign expenditure was $2,500 for campaign consulting.

He had $24,826.50 cash on hand left to spend at the end of the last reporting period.

Unlike Walsh, 11 percent of Voyles’ total campaign funds were raised after the primary.

Voyles, who has been running with incumbent Sheriff Paul Babeu and as such has agreed to split expenses with the Babeu campaign, has raised $22,476.70 during the entire race and $2,586.70 during the post-primary period.

Voyles’ largest donors are scattered across the greater Phoenix Valley and live in Phoenix, Paradise Valley and Sun City.

His largest expense has been $543.60 for signage.

Voyles had $10,053.54 left in his war chest on Sept. 17.

In the Pinal County Supervisor race for the newly created District 4, which includes Maricopa, Republican Anthony Smith has raised far more money than his opponent, Democrat Henry Wade.

Smith has raised $17,303.42 during his entire campaign, mostly before the primary. During the post-primary reporting period, Smith raised $790.

Smith’s supporters include the SaddleBrooke Republican Club and the Patriots of SaddleBrooke.

That’s not indicative of Smith lacking resources, however, as he had $1,515.93 cash on hand on Sept. 17.

Conversely, Wade has raised $5,004.93 for the entire race, $1,472.85 of which was raised during the post-primary reporting period.

Wade counts among his supporters Maricopa City Councilman Edward Farrell, who contributed $200 to his campaign as well as the management team of the Integra Group real estate brokerage firm in Tucson.

He had $389.92 cash on hand as of Sept. 17.

In the Pinal County Sheriff’s race, incumbent Republican Sheriff Paul Babeu has far outpaced his challengers, raising $611,906.28 total during the campaign, $9,267 of which was raised during the post-primary reporting period.

Babeu had $8,961.82 cash on hand at the end of the post-primary period.

Among his largest supporters is the Radcliff Consultants SuperPAC which contributed $2,000.

His largest expenditures include $1,979.56 paid to Reliant Consulting for what is described as a mailer and a $1,000 retainer for Guerin, Inc., a Virginia-based consulting firm.