NATCHEZ — Election season is underway in Adams County with 54 candidates vying for some 15 countywide offices that are up for grabs.

Campaign signs are prominently placed throughout the county and many candidates are making the rounds handing out campaign flyers and brochures and asking for constituents’ votes.

All of those campaign activities cost money and campaign finance rules require candidates to file campaign expense reports disclosing amounts of campaign contributions and in some cases, who made the contributions.

Contributions, the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office said, must be itemized if they exceed $200 from a particular person, business or entity, the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office said in its “Campaign Finance Guide.”

A disbursement must be included within the itemized total of disbursements “if the year-to-date aggregate total of the disbursement(s) made to a particular person, business, or entity exceeds $200.

“A disbursement separately itemized on the ‘Itemized Disbursements’ must be identified by the recipient’s name and address, the date(s) and amount(s) for the reporting period and aggregate year-to-date total, and purpose of the disbursement.”

The first round of campaign finance reports were due May 10 and today we present the results of that first round of candidate’s financial reporting in eight races: Adams County Prosecuting Attorney, Chancery Clerk, Circuit Clerk, Constables in Northern and Southern Districts, Coroner, County Surveyor, Justice Court Judges in Southern and Northern districts and Tax Collector.

In Friday’s edition we will highlight finance reports for candidates for Sheriff, Tax Assessor and Supervisors in Districts 1-5.

Adams County Prosecuting Attorney

• Carmen Brook Drake, Democratic candidate, reported $1,679.11 in itemized contributions, including payments she made to herself of $32, $32, $705.61 and $909.50. Drake also listed $1,679.11 in itemized disbursements, including $64 to Fiverr, $705.61 to Vista Print for campaign material and $909.50 to Southern Signs Inc. for campaign signs. Drake reported no available balance.
• Lydia Roberta Blackmon, Democratic candidate, reported no contributions and $273.91 in itemized disbursements for printing at Office Depot. Blackmon reported no available balance.
• Lisa J. Chandler, Democratic candidate, reported $1,033.43 in itemized contributions, including payments from her own account of $160, $373.43, $375 and $125 and $150 in non-itemized contributions. Chandler reported $1,033.43 in itemized disbursements of $160 to Southern Signs; $373.43 to Murray Printing for rack cards; $375 to Natchez Transit System for bus sign advertisement; and $125 to Natchez-Adams Chamber of Commerce for a display at city golf tournament.

Chancery Clerk Candidate Finances

• Brandi B. Lewis, Democratic incumbent candidate running unopposed, reported no contributions, no disbursements and no available balance.

Circuit Clerk Candidates Finances

• Jason Wisner, Democrat, reported no contributions or disbursements and no available cash balance.
• Charles L. “Charlie” Vess reported a total $1,500 contribution, not itemized, with $295.31 disbursements, including $63.66 to Vista Print of Lexington, Massachusetts, for political cards, and $231.65 to Ketco Advertising of Natchez for beverage holders (advertising). Vess reported a cash balance of $1,204.69.
• Eva J. Givens reported no contributions and $2,009.88 in disbursements, including $100 to the Adams County Democratic Party; $100 qualifying fee; $785.38 to southern signs for campaign signs; $120 to WTYJ for radio advertising; $155 to Jackson Data for campaign materials; $407 to Threads for campaign materials; $375 to Natchez Transit System for bus sign advertisement; $67.50 to Old River Peddler for campaign advertisement. Givens listed no available cash balance.
• Jennifer “Lady J” Minor Johnson reported no contributions and $1,500 in disbursements non-itemized with no available cash balance.
• Daye Dearing reported itemized donations of  $600, including $250 from Debbie Dawkins of Pass Christian and $350 from Phil Walker of Nashville, Tennessee. Dearing also reported $929.56 in itemized disbursements, for campaign sings to Ketco Advertising of Natchez. Dearing also listed non-itemized disbursements of $2,425. Dearing listed an available balance of $1,208.38.

Constable Northern District Candidates Finances

• Willie B. Jones, Democratic candidate, reported no contributions, no disbursements and no available balance.
• Deselle Davis, Democrat candidate, reported no contributions, no disbursements and no available balance.

Constable Southern District Candidates Finances

• Chris Allen Logan, Democratic candidate, reported no contributions, no disbursements and no available cash balance.
• Randy Freeman, Democratic candidate, reported $1,500 in itemized contributions, including $500 from Ryan Guerra, a self employed shrimper/fisherman of St. Bernard, Louisiana; $500 from Billy Williams, retired, of Washington (Mississippi); and $500 from Jaime May, a C-Spire service technician of Brookhaven. Freeman also reported $290 in non-itemized contributions and no disbursements for a total of $1,790 available balance.

Coroner Candidates Finances

• James Edward Lee Sr., incumbent Democratic candidate, reported no contributions, no disbursements and no available balance.
• Johnathan T. Hargrave, Democratic candidate, did not file a financial report.

County Surveyor Candidate Finances

• Robert D. Greene, a Republican candidate running unopposed, reported no contributions, no disbursements and no available balance.

Justice Court Judge Northern District Candidate Finances

• Audrey B. Minor, a Democratic candidate, reported no contributions, no disbursements and no available balance.
• Eddie Jones, Democratic candidate reported no contributions, no distributions and no available balance.
• Patricia Dunmore, Democratic candidate, reported a $50 itemized contribution from Rosena Profice, retired, of Natchez, no distributions and $50 available balance.

Justice Court Judge Southern District Candidate Finances

• Eileen Mary Maher, a Democratic candidate, reported no contributions and $1,306.40 in itemized disbursements, including $100 to the Democratic Party; $28 to Bluff City Post for a subscription; $65.78 to Office Depot for envelopes; $52.19 to Smith Printing for stamps; $90.75 to Office Depot for copy paper; $32.85 to Chevron for gasoline; $9 The Mighty Mississippi for lunch; $208 to Amazon for envelopes; $350.90 to National Pen for pens; $34.44 to Office Depot for binders/organizers; $38 to Smith printing for folds; $102.72 to Amazon for envelopes; $33.17 to Smith Printing for folds; $75 to Co-Lin Natchez for sign on golf course; $85.60 to Southern Signs.  Maher reported no available balance.
• Lee Anthony Ford, a Democratic candidate, reported no contributions, no disbursements and no available balance. Ford, however, submitted an itemized list of his personal expenses, including $192.60 to Southern Signs of Natchez; $126.50 to Transfer Express Ohio; $65.57 to Bluff City Post Printing; $80.20 to Smith Printing; $221.49 to home Hardware, Natchez; $257.39 to Jacki’s Brochures Natchez; $61.46 to Monogram Designs Vidalia; $375 to Natchez Transit Billboard; $23.09 to Smith Printing; $58.75 to Smith Printing; $64.92 to Smith Printing; $363 to Wholesale Signs of Baton Rouge; $267.52 to Southern Signs; $213.57 to Ketco Natchez; $65.60 to Smith Printing; $30.84 to Stine; $75 for Facebook setup fee; $100 candidate qualifying fee; $313.49 to Office Depot of Natchez; $213.42 S&S Activewear; $235.25 to S&S Activewear; $53.50 to Southern Signs; $100 to Circuit Clerk voters list; $1,900 to Jzondra’s tees; $1,000 for gas; Total personal expense $4,562.
• Danny Barber, independent candidate, did not file a financial report.

Tax Collector Candidates Finances

• Henry Watts, Democratic candidate, reported no contributions, no disbursements and no available balance.
• Rose Daniel Patterson, Democratic candidate, reported no contributions, no disbursements and no available balance.
• Jim Smith, independent candidate, did not file a financial report.
• Samuel Thomas, Democratic candidate, did not file a financial report.
• Patricia Lozon, Democratic candidate, did not file a financial report.