Lincoln finishes as second-highest spender in Fayette commissioner race
Former state Sen. J. William Lincoln spent $81,351 in the fall campaign for Fayette County commissioner, in which the Democratic Party icon failed to win one of three available spots despite spending the second-highest amount of money. Lincoln filed his final campaign expense report Friday in the Fayette County Election Bureau, where a source said he paid $170 worth of late fees for filing 15 days late. The filing of Lincoln’s report completes the campaign expense puzzle for all four major party candidates, who spent a combined $1.02 million in the 2003 primary and general elections.
For the year Lincoln spent $197,188, or roughly 19.3 percent of the million-dollar total. He trailed only Republican Joe Hardy in that regard, as Hardy spent $638,460 in his successful quest for elected office. Hardy’s spending for the year translates into 62.5 percent of the million-dollar total.
Lincoln spent more than his successful Democratic running mate, incumbent Commission Chairman Vincent A. Vicites, whose $174,716 spending for the year constitutes 17.1 percent of the million-dollar total.
Republican candidate Angela M. Zimmerlink spent only $11,133 in her successful run for office, which amounts to 1 percent of the million-dollar total.
The amount of money spent in the 2003 commission races would swell even higher if all the unsuccessful primary election candidates from the Democratic and Republican parties were included. Incumbent Democratic Commissioner Sean M. Cavanagh, for example, spent more than $100,000 in his re-election bid.
In the general election, Lincoln’s spending translated into $6.78 for each of the 11,995 votes he received. That amount is far behind Hardy’s $24.06 for each of his 13,908 votes but considerably more than Vicites’ $3.65 for each of his 15,165 votes.
In the general election cycle, Hardy spent $334,755, Lincoln spent $81,351 and Vicites spent $55,437.
The fall campaign efficiency champion, however, was Zimmerlink, whose general election spending of $5,066 translated into 40 cents for each of her 12,639 votes.
Vicites, Hardy and Zimmerlink will take office as the new administration on Jan. 5.