Although the latest mayoral campaign reports are somewhat dated, they certainly provide important insight into the campaigns of Ollie Tyler, Adrian Perkins, Jim Taliaferro, Steven Jackson and Lee O. Savage.
The reports were due on Tuesday of this week. They reflect campaign finances from March 1 of this year through September 27. Thus campaign financial activities in the last 12 (plus) days are not available.
The next campaign reports are due October 29 for the reporting period of September 28 through October 17. The primary election is Tuesday, November 6.
The largest cash fundraiser in the reporting period was Adrian Perkins ($132,004 and no in kind contribution). Tyler had cash donations of $114,485 and in kind contributions of $5,838.
These two outclassed Taliaferro ($31,415 cash and $6,066 in kind), Jackson ($25,306 cash and $4,700 in kind) and Savage ($9,855 cash, $6,297 in kind and paraphernalia sales $2,655).
As far as cash on hand, Tyler held the upper hand at $93,557. She had retained funds of $33,386 at the start of the current reporting period. Perkins had $71,966 at the end of the reporting period.
The totals for the others fall off substantially. Jackson’s funds on hand were $23,139, followed by Taliaferro at $6956 and Savage at $3605.
Savage had loaned his campaign $21,246. Other loans include Jackson of $5500 to his effort and Taliaferron $600 to his campaign.
Tyler benefitted greatly from her status as an incumbent. Her reports shows contributions from city contractors/vendors/appointees exceeding $60 thousand dollars.
As far as heavy hitter donors, Perkins had 20 contributions of $2500 (the max) compared to Tyler’s 23. Perkins had more contributors (39) in the $1000—$2499 range than Tyler (27).
Perkins had a total of 216 contributors and Tyler had 158 contributors. Of these Perkins had 20 outside of Shreveport Bossier in Louisiana and 52 from out of state. Tyler had 23 donors outside Shreveport Bossier in the state and 9 out of state donors.
In state contributions for Perkins outside of Shreveport Bossier were $16,653 compared to Tyler’s donations of $17,620. Their out of state contributions were almost equal. Perkins raised $14,590 and Tyler had $16,000.
Money does not vote, but money does affect many votes. More importantly, the reports often influence additional contributions by many political observers who trying to pick a campaign “winner.” Additionally the campaign reports can either boost or dampen campaign momentum.
NOTE: This author has not contributed to any mayoral campaign. He not/has not been on any candidate campaign committees nor does he appears on any campaign finance reports. He has not endorsed any mayoral candidate.
(This article was published in The Shreveport Times on Sunday, October 14, 2018)