In the political world, fundraising is among the most critical elements in a successful campaign.
That’s good news for Rep. Sam Mims V, R-McComb, who holds a sizable lead over other local lawmakers for fundraising in 2010.
The two-term representative received $52,275 in contributions in 2010 — largely from the medical field — and reported a total of $75,033 in the campaign fund.
Twenty-one physicians contributed a total of $9,500 to Mims’ campaign. Another $9,050 came from pharmacists, healthcare facilities and dentists.
Natchez-based Paradise Foods owner David Paradise contributed $2,000 to Mims’ campaign — the largest contribution of the period. Dunaway Foods donated $2,000 total, with Carl R. Dunaway and Carl W. and Charlene Dunaway each contributing $1,000.
Other contributions derived from various avenues, including corporations, attorneys, realtors, private citizens, lumber companies and a payday lender.
Though Mims had the most successful year, Rep. Bobby Moak, D-Bogue Chitto, leads local officials with campaign cache of $111,500.
Moak received $24,025 in contributions in 2010, with Flowood-based Health Management Associates, Biloxi-based Island View Casino and Toyota contributing $5,000 apiece. He also received a $2,500 contribution from Las Vegas-based Harrah’s Entertainment CEO Gary Loveman and Kathleen Welsh.
Moak, who is approaching the end of his seventh term in the House, is an attorney in Bogue Chitto and is chairman of the House Gaming Committee.
Sen. Kelvin Butler, D-Magnolia, added $14,747 to his war chest in 2010. However, with $14,335 in expenditures, the fund finished 2010 with $3,100.
Three cash advance businesses — South Miss. Title Co., Hazlehurst-based Auto Title Loans Too and Spartanburg, S.C.-based Advance America — led the way with $1,700 in contributions.
The Legislature is debating measures that would affect the payday lending industry in Mississippi.
Butler, who is retired from Delphi Packard Electric Systems, also picked up contributions from companies in the wireless communication, utility and construction fields.
He is chairman of the Senate Local and Private Committee, and a member of the Business and Financial Institutions, Finance, Highways and Transportation, Judiciary A, Municipalities, State Library and Tourism committees.
The campaign fund of Sen. Sidney Albritton, R-Picayune, grew to $30,835 with $24,850 in contributions last year. Albritton contributed $9,500 to his campaign, with another $10,000 from Leslie Albritton II.
Albritton is an accountant in Picayune. He is chairman of the Drug Policy Committee, Vice-Chair of the Corrections Committee and sits on the Congressional Redistricting, Finance, Highways and Transportation, Housing, Judiciary, Division A, Judiciary, Division B, Legislative Reapportionment, Oil, Gas and Other Minerals, PEER and Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks committees.
Other area legislators raised less than $10,000 last year.
Rep. Bill Pigott, R-Tylertown added $8,250 to his campaign fund, which grew to $33,591.
Contributions included $1,000 from Pigott Oil Co., in addition to $1,000 contributions from Western Resources and Market Max — both of Tylertown.
Pigott is serving his first term in office. He is the Vice-Chair of the Forestry Committee and sits on the Agriculture, Conservation and Water Resources and Juvenile Justice committees.
Rep. David Myers, D-McComb, spent $7,695 of the $7,800 he raised in 2010, leaving his campaign fund with $105.
Political action groups comprised the majority of the contributions, with seven PACs contributing $3,150.
Myers is an independent contractor and serving his fourth term in office. He is chairman of the Municipalities Committee and serves on the Education, Insurance, Military Affairs, Public Utilities and Ways and Means committees.
The war chest for Sen. Bob Dearing, D-Natchez, is empty as the $5,800 received in 2010 was spent by year’s end.
Oil companies Chevron and Denbury Resources, and The Mississippi Dental PAC each contributed $1,000. ExxonMobil gave him $500.
Dearing is and insurance agent in Natchez and is serving his eighth consecutive term in the Senate. He chairs the Oil, Gas and Other Minerals Committee and sits on the Economic Development, Finance, Highways and Transportation, Insurance, Public Health and Welfare and Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks committees.
Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Brookhaven, received $6,205 in contributions in 2010. After spending $3,919, her campaign fund contains $6,665.
Washington, D.C.-based Koch led the pack with a $1,000 contribution.
She is a consultant and cattle farmer in Brookhaven, and serving her third term in office. She chairman of the Agriculture Committee, vice chairman of the Appropriations Committee and sits on the Congressional Redistricting, Constitution, Corrections, Elections, Legislative Reapportionment, PEER, Public Health and Welfare, Veterans and Military Affairs and Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks committees.
Hyde-Smith announced last month that she will run for state secretary of agriculture and commerce.
Rep. Angela Cockerham, D-Magnolia, picked up $2,150 in contributions last year. The influx brings her campaign fund to $3,250.
She donated $400 to her campaign, and also picked up a $150 donation from W.I.N.G.S.
Cockerham is an attorney, and finishing her second term in office. She is vice chairman of the Judiciary A Committee, and sits on the Compilation, Revision and Publication, Conservation and Water Resources, Judiciary En Banc, Public Utilities, Select Committee on Utility Cost Recovery, Ways and Means and Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Committees.
