Rep. Doug McKillip, R-Athens, is prepared to outspend primary challenger Regina Quick four-to-one this month to hang on to his state House seat.
McKillip raised $96,075 from Apr. 1 to June 30, according to a campaign finance disclosure filed with the state Sunday. All but a handful of his contributions came from lobbyists, PACs and fellow legislators, including House Speaker David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, and Speaker Pro Tempore Jan Jones, R-Alpharetta, who also headlined a fundraiser for McKillip in Oconee County July 11. McKillip reported spending $21,208 for the quarter. He had a whopping $115,024 on hand to blanket the district with mail and ads before the July 31 election.
Quick raised $20,527, including contributions from several local doctors and Athens and Atlanta Democrats who are upset about McKillip’s 2010 party switch and a law he sponsored banning abortions after 20 weeks. Other donors included Republicans like Athens Area Chamber of Commerce President and former Athens Mayor Doc Eldridge, University System of Georgia regent, liquor magnate and Athens resident Don Leeburn and former state Rep. Bob Smith of Watkinsville. Quick spent $15,466 in the second quarter and had $32,979 on hand June 30.
The source of the candidates’ money has become a campaign issue. McKillip says Quick’s Democratic support shows she is a liberal, a four-letter word in a GOP primary. Quick counters that she has bipartisan support because McKillip is untrustworthy.
Quick, meanwhile, has criticized McKillip for accepting campaign contributions from lobbyists and PACs, as well as free meals and trips like one to watch the Bulldogs play in the Sugar Bowl on the University of Georgia’s dime. McKillip says he’s never voted differently because of a campaign contribution and describes the bowl trip as a chance to spend time with his children.
Candidates for another Athens House seat didn’t raise nearly as much as Quick and McKillip. Rep. Keith Heard, D-Athens, reported just one contribution, $1,000 from a dentists’ PAC. He spent $400 and had $13,098 on hand. Primary challenger Spencer Frye raised $7,055, spent $6,883 and had $19,967 on hand. His donors included a number of local progressives, such as Athens-Clarke Commissioner Andy Herod and planning commissioner Lucy Rowland.
In the Athens-Clarke Commission District 4 race, incumbent Alice Kinman, who is not running for re-election, donated to outgoing school board member Allison Wright’s campaign, as did other progressives like Rowland and R.E.M. manager Bertis Downs. Liberal blogger Brett Johns is running her campaign, according to her financial records. Wright reported raising $6,275, including a $2,000 personal loan, and spending $4,095. Wright’s opponent, lawyer David Ellison, out-fundraised her by a wide margin, reporting $17,221 in contributions and expenses of $8,368. Relatives bankrolled much of his campaign.
The District 6 commission race has been much cheaper so far and mostly self-funded. Planning commissioner Jerry NeSmith reported just one $200 contribution and loaned his campaign $1,400. He spent $1,192. Business consultant Ron Winders loaned his campaign $2,498 and raised no other money. He spent $1,292.
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