Loans from candidates play heavy role in campaigns | Local News

Republican Mike Morris and Democrat Pat Goodwin each contributed more than $20,000 of their own money in their bid for district seats on the Vigo County Board of Commissioners, campaign finance reports show.

Goodwin reports $24,520 is owed to Tractor Tools Direct, a company he owns, by way of a Dec. 31 campaign loan in his race for the District 2 Commissioner seat.

Morris contributed $32,478 to his campaign, also listing it as a campaign loan in his race for the District 3 Commissioner seat.

Goodwin’s District 2 opponent, Republican Chris Switzer, also contributed heavily to his own campaign, with $7,500 between May 9 and Oct. 9. He has contributed $9,237 total to his campaign since the start of the year, all listed as loans to the campaign. During the reporting period, Switzer also lists $350 from Larry and Annette Switzer of West Terre Haute; $250 from Terre Haute Firefighters Local 758: $200 from Pachyderm PAC in Seelyville.

Morris’ District 3 opponent, Democrat Jeff Fisher also contributed to his campaign with $2,400 from May 9 to Oct. 9, contributing $4,400 since the start of the year.

Fisher reports raising $9,136 during the reporting period and spending $4,035, leaving $5,101 cash on hand at the end of the reporting period. Fisher lists a $1,000 contribution from Mike Rowe of Carmel; and $500 each from Don Hickman and Tom Wetnight.

Several contributions during the reporting period were from labor unions. Fisher lists $1,000 from Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 157 PAC: $800 from Laborers International Union of North America Local 204; $300 from Bricklayers Local 4 of Indianapolis; $250 each from Building Construction Trades Council, IBEW Local 725 PAC and Terre Haute Firefighters Local 758 PAC.

Goodwin reports starting the reporting period with $5,838 cash on hand, raising an additional $17,685. His campaign spent $15,564, leaving $7,859 cash on hand.

Goodwin reports a $1,500 contribution from Andy McDonald; $1,000 contributions each from Bill Dunbar, consultant Thomas Longest of Indianapolis, and Jim and Christy Jacobi of Indianapolis (listed as an engineer).

Some individual contributions in the reporting period include $500 each from Rick Shagley, John Collett, Kathy Brentlinger of West Terre Haute, Cash Canfield of Fishers, Gregory Henneke of Indianapolis. Also $400 in the period from Jim McKinney; $300 from Geraldine Varner; $250 each from Carrie Smith, Nancy Douglas, Sam Martland, Mark Fuson, Susan Fuson, Patrick Murphy of Bloomington, Misty Livengood of Paso Robles, Calf., Jeff Perry of Castle Rock, Colo., Jason Douglas of Beaverton, Ore.

Goodwin reports $1,000 from Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 157 Political Action Committee; $300 Political Action Fund in Indianapolis; $250 each from IBEW Local 725 Political Action Committee and Central Wabash Building & Construction Trades Council PAC. Also $500 from Wright, Shagley, Lowery law firm.

Morris reports from May 11 to Oct. 9, he started with $1,639 cash on hand, raising and spending $33,941, again leaving $1,639 cash on hand at the end of the reporting period.

Morris contributed, as a campaign loan, $32,478. Some other individual contributors include $1,462 from William Dunbar; $500 from Bradley Anderson; $200 from S.C. Rhodes; $100 each from Rick Long, Michael R. Bonnett, Gary P. Gottardi; $300 from Double Bee Fence Co.; $200 from Pachyderm PAC in Seelyville;…