Campaign Finance Data Shows Some State Candidates Ahead

By Desiree Parker Friday, July 22, 2011

Midyear campaign finance reports are in for General Assembly elections, and so far incumbents rule the roost when it comes to fundraising over 2011.

Fundraising has ramped up in several races, especially between two Senate challengers who are vying for the 1st District in the August Republican primary. Other candidates who have announced their intent to run in November’s general election have fewer dollars so far, with incumbents leading the pack in dollars raised.

Based on campaign finance data available on the Virginia Public Access Project website, some top donors from James City County include Tommy Norment for Senate, Williamsburg Pottery Factory and Sea World (which owns Busch Gardens). Top donors from York County include Bay Electric, ITA International and Brenda Pogge for Delegate. Top donors from Williamsburg include Michael Chohany, Branscome, Inc., Colin Campbell (head of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation) and Henderson Inc.

The largest spread in donation dollars collected is between Mark Frechette and incumbent Sen. Tommy Norment, who are facing off for the Republican nomination for the 3rd Senate District. Norment has raised $214,785 (amount raised includes cash, loans and in-kind donations) in 2011, according to data from VPAP, while Frechette has collected $2,734, all of which has come out of his own pocket.

Norment’s biggest recent donors are the Virginia Bankers Association with $10,028 and Verizon with $7,500. Some donations coming out of the Historic Triangle to his campaign include $4,000 from the Williamsburg Pottery Factory, $1,500 from King’s Creek Plantation and York County’s Orion Air Group, and $1,000 from Colin Campbell.

Tommy Norment for Senate has donated nearly $40,000 this year to various campaigns, including $5,000 for Williamsburg resident Mickey Chohany’s Senate bid and $500 for Brenda Pogge’s reelection campaign.

In the race for the 1st District Senate seat, Democratic incumbent Sen. John Miller has collected $97,128 in 2011. Of that, $11,372 has come from the state Democratic Party and $6,000 is from Richard Saslaw for Senate. Some local donors include the Orion Air Group and the James City County Democrats with $1,500 each.

Miller has only contributed $750 in 2011, all of which went to the Democratic Party.

Miller’s challenger this year is local Republican Mickey Chohany, who has raised $49,068 so far. Of that, $5,000 is from Norment for Senate and $2,699 is out of his own pocket. Chohany has also loaned his campaign $30,000. Other local contributors include $1,000 from Doris Chohany and $500 from David Bowditch.

Democratic incumbent Sen. Mamie Locke has raised $41,310 in 2011 for her re-election bid for the 2nd District seat. Her top donors include the Virginia Bankers Association and Dominion with $2,500 each. Local donors include $500 from Kermit Ashby.

In the House of Delegates race for the 93rd District seat, Democrat Del. Robin Abbott has raised $55,552 this year. Her top two donors are Honeywell with $5,000 and Robert Hatten with $2,500. Some local donors include the James City County Democrats with $1,500 and Nathan Altschuler with $500.

Republican challenger Michael Watson so far has collected $30,292. His top two donors are $5,000 from Ronald Watson and $2,000 from Bob Deeds for Sheriff (Deeds is the James City County/Williamsburg Sheriff). Donors from the Historic Triangle include Control Automation Technologies Corp. with $1,200.

Del. Brenda Pogge has raised $17,760 in 2011 for her re-election bid in the 96th District. Her two largest donors so far are Dominion and Owens-Illinois with $1,000 each and the law firm of Patten, Wornom, Hatten and Diamonstein with $750. Local donors include and Norment for Senate with $500.

Republican incumbent Gordon Helsel has raised $51,816 for his re-election bid for the 91st District seat. The Virginia Dental Association has contributed $3,000, and Norment for Senate gave $1,000.

Finance information is for 2011 only, through June 30. For more detailed information on what funds candidates have raised and spent in previous years as well as funds on hand, visit the VPAP website.

Tomorrow, WYDaily will share 2011 campaign finance information on candidates in local elections in York County and James City County.