Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011

Local business funding Apex campaigns

Mayoral candidates have collected more than $10,000 each in contributions.

Both mayoral candidates have collected more than $10,000 a piece in campaign fundraising contributions.

For the first time since 1999, incumbent Keith Weatherly, a Republican, faces an opponent for Apex's mayoral seat, and his collections efforts appear to have increased as a result.

It's the first time in about a decade that Weatherly has collected enough campaign contributions -$17,270.21- to require disclosure to the county's election board. The threshold has ranged from $3,000 to the current $1,000.

He's using his campaign funds to hire consultants and perform surveys.

His challenger, Apex Councilman Bryan Gossage, who is also a Republican, has raised $11,039.85, according to his most recent report with the Wake County Board of Elections. He has spent his money on campaign signs, consultants and marketing materials.

Big contributors

About a third of Weatherly's campaign contributions, $6,000, came from area developers, according to election filings.

Custom homebuilder Joseph Iannone, of JVI Construction gave about $1,000 in in-kind food and beverage contributions for a campaign event. His wife and business partner Renee Iannone gave $4,000.

JVI Construction built Bella Casa and The Manors of Bella Casa in Apex, where the homes sell for $475,000 and more. The company faced some controversy in late 2010, when the town proposed transportation improvements including construction of a road that would split and potentially devalue the company's property. The council voted 4 to 1 in JVI's favor. Both Weatherly and Gossage supported JVI Construction in the matter.

Raleigh businessmen Art Pope and Bob Luddy, who have been doling out cash to Republican candidates this year, have also dipped into their pockets to give to Weatherly's campaign. Luddy who is president of Captive Aire, a commercial kitchen ventilation manufacturer, gave $4,000. Pope, who is president of Variety Wholesalers, a discount chain corporation, gave Weatherly $1,000.

Sherri Montague, who works for Montague Development, gave $1,000 to Weatherly's campaign. Business owner Harold Nunn, of Peak Resources, also gave $1,000.

Gossage has collected the bulk of his campaign funds from individual contributors including area business owners. His largest contributors were Surry Roberts, owner of Sugar Hollow Retreat, and fundraising consultant Stacey Simpson, owner of Simpson & Company Inc., who gave Gossage's campaign $2,000 a piece. Homemaker Ellen Haynie gave $1,000.

Picking sides

Both candidates have political allies who have lent their financial support through smaller contributions totaling about $1,000 in monetary and in-kind donations.

House Majority leader Paul "Skip" Stam gave $250.

Former Apex Mayor Larry Jordan, owner of LG Jordan Oil, gave $250. Apex Police Chief Jack Lewis donated $250.

Apex Councilman Gene Schulze gave $250 and donated about $30 in-kind contribution for Web hosting fees for Weatherly's campaign.

Gossage has received $573.85 in financial support from former Wake County Commissioner Phil Jeffreys through his campaign fund. The N.C. Healthy Leadership committee also gave $800 and is the fundraising arm for state Rep. Tom Murry. Murry also gave $200.