With the May 3 primary a little more than one week away, Warsaw mayoral candidate Joe Thallemer has raised the highest amount of campaign contributions as of April 8. Mayoral candidate Kyle Babcock has raised the second highest amount of contributions from individuals and corporations. Babcock is the only mayoral candidate to receive campaign contributions from individuals and corporations outside of Kosciusko County. Mayoral candidates Michael Alspaugh and Tony Miller did not receive any campaign contributions from individuals or corporations, and got money for their campaigns from their own pockets. The Times-Union obtained the report of receipts and expenditures of candidates, and campaign finance forms from Jason McSherry, Kosciusko County clerk, Thursday morning. The reports represent campaign contributions collected from mid January until April 8. The next campaign contribution reports are due to the clerk’s office in October for the Nov. 8 election. Candidates who receive $1,000 or more in campaign contributions from a single contributor between April 9 until the May 3 primary must file a supplemental large contribution report by a candidate’s committee form with the clerk’s office, McSherry said. Babcock filed a large contribution report on April 13 for a $1,000 campaign contribution he received from DLZ Indiana, South Bend. Thallemer’s total campaign contributions as of April 8 are $7,335, expenditures total $3,675.81; and cash on hand is $3,659.19. The top two campaign contributors for Thallemer were a $500 donation from Grossnickle Eye Center and $500 from the Dane and Mary Louise Miller Foundation. The top two campaign contributors for Babcock were a $2,500 corporation-funded donation from DD&A Properties LLC, Milford, and contributions of $1,000 each from DLZ Indiana, South Bend, and a $1,000 donation from Brian Keith and Jill Bryant, of Trafalgar, Ind. Thallemer’s contributions include the following: Mr. and Mrs. Joe Thallemer, $200; Mr. and Mrs. George Clemens, $300;, Charles Smith, $200; Chuck and Lois Niemier, $250; Steve Beehler, $200; Dennis and Kristina Cultice, $150; Matthew and Rachel Johnson, $200; Mike and Jeanine Degeeter, $150; Ernie and Deb Wiggins, $200; Jennifer Hollar, $200; Michael and Rebecca Kubacki, $250; Bruce and Jeanne Grossnickle; $200; Rob and Ann Metzger, $200; and Rocky and Karol Clemens, $200. Babcock’s total is $5,883.26. Expenditures were $2,434.84. Cash on hand was $3,448.42 Of that, contributions include the following: Robert and Melody Grand, Indianapolis, $500; Timothy and Kristen Rushenberg, Indianapolis; $250; Cender & Company LLC, Merrillville, $250; Meyer Najem Corp., Fishers, $500; Dant Advocacy Inc., Indianapolis, $250; and Fundraising By Net LLC, Washington DC, $123.26. Alspaugh did not receive any contributions and donated $3,000 himself for his campaign; expenditures are $3,000; and cash on hand is $500. Miller did not receive any contributions and donated $702.45 himself for his campaign, expenditures are $702.45; and cash on hand is zero.
