Campaign finance reports rolling in before today's deadline

Published Oct 9, 2012 at 3:00 pm (Updated Oct 9, 2012)

It's exactly four weeks until Election Day, and the latest campaign finance reports, due at midnight, have been coming in all day. In the local mayoral race, Mayor Kip Holden leads Metro Councilman Mike Walker handily, with a total of $750,000—$161,500 of which has been raised during the most recent reporting period—and $417,000 cash on hand. To date, Walker has raised $412,000, $80,000 during the most recent reporting period. He has about $125,000 available to spend in the final weeks of the race, though donations from a fundraiser with top GOP elected officials in New Orleans next week is not included in this report. In the hotly contested race for Louisiana Supreme Court, local attorney Mary Olive Pierson leads the crowded field, with more than $289,000 raised so far, including $77,000 in contributions. She has about $75,000 cash on hand. Other reports show 1st Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Jeff Hughes with $284,000 raised and $284,000 cash on hand; 19th Judicial District Judge William Morvant, who has the endorsement of the powerful LABI, with $258,600 raised and $231,396 cash on hand; 1st Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Toni Higginbotham with $60,475 raised during the most recent reporting period and more than $198,000 cash on hand; 1st Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Jewel "Duke" Welch, whose supporters include numerous local trial lawyers, with 78,000 raised and $51,000 cash on hand; 19th Judicial District Judge Tim Kelley with $37,000 raised and $26,000 cash on hand; and 1st Circuit court of Appeals Judge John Michael Guidry with $28,000 raised and $20,800 cash on hand. Attorney Jeffry Sanford, the lone independent in the race, reports $151 in contributions and available cash. You can search all the candidate's campaign finance reports online here. —Stephanie Riegel