Candidates seeking state office in Covington County have raised more than $195,000 for their campaigns in the past year.

Mike Jones Jr., who is seeking election to the Alabama House of Representatives in District 92, has raised the most money, with campaign finance reports showing that he’s received contributions of $88,455 since he began campaigning. That’s more than twice the $35,579 in contributions reported by David Darby, who’s seeking the office as a Democrat, and five times the $15,975 raised by Don Cotton, who’s seeking the office as an independent. Members of the House of Representatives earn approximately $49,500 annually for part-time work. The figure includes a low salary plus expenses. (Source: Sunshine Review).

Candidates recently filed 45-day reports with the Alabama Secretary of State. In the most recent reporting period, Jones received $47,340, while Darby received $7,900. All of Cotton’s contributions have been in the current reporting period. As an independent candidate, he did not participate in party primaries earlier this summer.

Jones

In the most recent financial disclosure, Jones reported contributions of $500 or more from:

• $13,000 from the Alabama Republican Party

• $5,000 from Friends of Mike Hubbard

• $3,000 from Truk-PAC, the political action committee of the Alabama Trucking Association.

• $2,000 from TELPAC, a political action committee chaired by Robert Geddie of the Montgomery lobbying firm Fine and Geddie. The PAC is funded primarily by health insurers like Blue Cross Blue Shield.

• $2,000 from EDPAC, a political action committee chaired by Joe Fine of the Montgomery lobbying firm Fine and Geddie. The PAC has received large contributions from health insurers and Great Southern Wood.

• $1,000 from Alabama Optometric PAC, the political action committee of the Alabama Optometric Association. Funded by optometrists across the state, the group contributed to both Democratic and Republican candidates in the most recent reporting period.

• $3,000 from Alabama Branch of Assoc. General Contractors of America, PAC

• $5,000 from Dorothy Stokes Gullberg

• $1,000 from the Covington County Chapter Alabama Dog Hunter’s Association

• $3,510 from his parents, Mike and Jean Jones

• $500 from Andalusia Dental Group

• $500 from Lorillard Tobacco Co.

• $500 from Steve Windom LLC

In the same time period, Jones spent $22,129.

Darby

Darby reported contributions of $500 or more from:

• $5,000 from ECODEV PAC, a political action committee chaired by Montgomery lobbyist John D. Crawford. Its funding in the most recent reporting period was from other PACs.

• $1,000 from Mark Conradi

• $500 from SDI Andy, Inc.

• $600 from APA PAC, the political action committee funded by the Alabama Pharmacy Association, of which Darby is a member.

In the same time period, Darby spent $2,949.

Cotton

Cotton reported contributions of $500 or more from:

• $2,500 from Children’s PAC. Information about this PAC was not available from the Alabama Secretary of State Web site.

• $2,000 from Sea PAC, the political action committee funded by state employees.

• $2,000 from Champ PAC, a political action committee chaired by Linda Champion. The group’s last campaign finance report was filed with the Secretary of State’s office in 2007.

• $1,000 from Franklin PAC, a political action committee chaired by Montgomery lobbyist John D. Crawford.

• $1,000 from Keith and Jatricia Pugh

• $1,000 from Tommy and Dorothy Thompson

• $1,000 from Art Knowles

• $1,000 from his parents, Donald and JoAnn Cotton

• $700 from Shannon and Beverly Pugh

• $500 from Pugh and Sons, Inc.

• $500 from DMD Engineering

• $500 from John and Charolotte Wallace

• $500 from Dr. John F. Maddox

• $500 from Gary Smith

In the same time period, Cotton spent $11,461.

District attorney’s race

In the race for Covington County district attorney, Republican Walt Merrell has received 60 percent more contributions than incumbent Greg Gambril, a Democrat.

Merrell has received $34,050 in contributions since he began campaigning, while Gambril started with $4,636 from the 2004 election and has added $20,981. His campaign has benefited from a loan.

District attorneys in Alabama earn approximately $148,935 annually, a figure which does not include benefits and expenses. (Source: Sunshine Review)

Merrell

In the most recent reporting period, Merrell has received contributions of $500 or more from:

• $1,500 from ECODEV PAC, a political action committee chaired by Montgomery lobbyist John D. Crawford. Its funding in the most recent reporting period was from other PACs.

• $1,000 from Rudy King

• $500 from Castleberry Logging

• $500 from Sonic

• $500 from Renegade Investments, Inc. of Opp.

• $500 from Tammy Holt Farms

• $500 from LBB, LLC of Opp

• $500 from Mac Bracewell

In the same time period, Merrell spent $13,351.

Gambril

In the most recent reporting period, Gambril has received contributions of $500 or more from:

• $1,000 from Gary Smith

• $1,000 from Gitty Up N Go

• In-kind contributions of $630.16 from Bobby Scott and $581.26 from Erin Scott.

Gambril also received a loan of $2,000 from Joe and Anita Bratton

In the same time period, Gambril spent $9,696.