Files, Glidewell, Medley issue campaign money reports; tout grassroots effort

Rep. Frank Glidewell says he’s raised about enough campaign money. Jim Medley says he’ll need another $20,000 to compete effectively to the May 18 primary election.

Glidewell, Medley and Jake Files face each other in the GOP primary for the District 13 Senate seat now held by a term limited Sen. Denny Altes. (Altes is running against J.R. Dallas for the Arkansas House District 63 seat.)

The three men seeking the District 13 seat are all legislative veterans, with Glidewell now term limited in the House District 63 seat and Files and Medley being former members of the Arkansas House of Representatives.

Glidewell raised $3,500 in March, and has received $50,240 in total contributions — with just short of $24,000 coming from individuals and political action committees outside of the Fort Smith area. Glidewell has spent $17,485 on his campaign and as of March 31 had an account balance of $32,830.

“I feel like I have enough money for a runoff if I’m able to get through to the runoff. … If we have to spend more than that, we’ve had to spend way too much,” Glidewell said.

He said radio spots should begin in about a week, but his primary strategy is a grassroots effort to “get out to meet the people hand-to-hand, palm-to-palm.”

Medley, who ended March 31 with just $287 in a campaign account, said it will take another $20,000 in personal loans and contributions to push through to the primary.

According to Medley’s most recent campaign finance filing with the Arkansas Secretary of State, he has loaned his campaign $10,000, collected $15,845 in contributions and spent $30,755. Medley carried over about $5,600 from his previous legislative campaign. Of Medley’s contributions, $6,950 are from individuals and political action committees outside of the Fort Smith area.

Medley said he plans to use several media outlets to get his campaign message out to voters. He also plans an aggressive grassroots effort.

“I feel pretty good about that. I’ve got a lot of volunteers who are getting the word out,” Medley explained.

He expects a runoff in the race, and, of course, believes he will be in the runoff because voters will look favorably on his previous legislative experience.

“I’m hoping to challenge voters to get on the Internet and look up the bills that we three candidates have put forth,” Medley said. “I really like both those guys, but I want to put forth my record and show that my record … my work for Fort Smith will prove to be the strongest.”

Files would likely beg to differ with Medley’s assessment, and had $15,121 as of March 31 to make his case. He raised $2,950 in March and has during the course of his campaign raised $16,025 in total contributions and spent $10,903 as of March 31. Files also has loaned his campaign $10,000. Just $2,500 of his contributions come from out-of-area individuals, with $2,000 of that coming from relative in Texas.

Files didn’t estimate what he expected to raise or spend in the next few weeks, but did stress the importance of a get-out-the vote effort.

“Getting out the vote should be helped with the higher profile races on the Republican ticket (U.S. Senate, 3rd Congressional District), but I think it will be imperative to keep a local grassroots fire burning,” Files said. “A majority of my attention has been focused on building these relationships. At the end of the day, these relationships will help me be a better legislator and help me stay connected to what my constituents need.”

MARCH CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS

JAKE FILES
• Outside Contributions
$2,000
Kelly Mitchell, Richardson, Texas

$500
Arkansas Home Builders Political Action Committee, Little Rock

• Regional Contributions
$2,000
Bob Powell, Fort Smith
Bill Walters, Greenwood

$1,000
John Baxter, Fort Smith
Jonathan Foster, Alma
Delores Mitchell, Sallisaw
Griffin Properties of Fort Smith

$750
Joey McCutchen

$500
Marty Clark, Fort Smith
Kevin King, Fort Smith
Jammie McClure, Fort Smith

$300
Dane Fulmer, Fort Smith

$250
Hugh Maurras, Fort Smith
Roger Meek, Fort Smith
Sam Sexton III, Fort Smith
Shannon Shell, Fort Smith
Sam T. Sicard, Fort Smith

$200
Gwen and Walter Carter, Fort Smith
Jill Cutting, Fort Smith

$150
Pam, Lindsey and Lyndel Hobbs, Fort Smith
Dr. Jerry Stewart, Fort Smith

$100
Darlene Burch, Fort Smith
Aundria Carlton, Fort Smith
Pam and Mike Carroll, Fort Smith
Ken Colley, Fort Smith
Cindy Crawford, Fort Smith
Jill Cutting, Fort Smith
Mont Echols, Fort Smith
Sally Gean, Fort Smith
Phil Leraris, Fort Smith
Bob Miller, Fort Smith

JIM MEDLEY
• Outside Contributions
$2,000
Arkansas Health Care Senate Public Affairs Committee, Little Rock
Arkansas Health Care Public Affairs Committee, Little Rock

$1,000
Arkansas Health Care House Public Affairs Committee, Little Rock

$600
Construction Advancement Political Action Committee, Little Rock

$500
Caremark RX, Lincoln, R.I.

$250
Southland Racing Corp., West Memphis

$200
John Blanchard, Rison, Ark.
Daniel Kushmaul, Pine Bluff

$100
B.M. Bradshaw, Pine Bluff
Jimmy Lake Plumbing, Pine Bluff

• Regional Contributions
$2,000
Central Arkansas Nursing Centers, Fort Smith
Michael Morton

$1,000
MSM Properties, Fort Smith (same address as Central Arkansas Nursing Centers)

$500
James Busby, Alma
Scott Clark, Fort Smith
Dr. Randy Ennen, Fort Smith
Cody Hayes, Fort Smith

$250
Greg Karber, Fort Smith
Dr. Claire Price, Fort Smith

$200
B.M.T., (initials only; listed as retired businessman in Waldron)

$100
David Cordell, Fort Smith
Dorance Damron, Fort Smith
Michael Helm, Fort Smith
Janet Powell, Ozark
S.D. Wang, Fort Smith
Wilson Satellite & TV Co.

$50
Louis Bastin, Fort Smith

FRANK GLIDEWELL
• Outside Contributions
$2,000
John Warmack, Texarkana
Arkansas Health Care Senate Public Affairs Committee, Little Rock
ARSFA-PAC, Little Rock (insurance lobby)
Philip Morris USA, Richmond, Va.
Union Pacific Railroad, Omaha

$1,000
ARPAC, Little Rock (Arkansas Realtors lobby)
ARPAC II, Little Rock (Arkansas Realtors lobby)
Earl Jones, Little Rock
Ed Warmack, Texarkana
Reynolds American, Winston-Salem, N.C.
Stephens Investments Co., Little Rock
SBC Arkansas Employee Political Action Committee, Little Rock
Wilson & Associates, Little Rock

$500
Sammie Cox, Little Rock
Joe Molinaro, Little Rock
Gilbert Baker for U.S. Senate, Lowell
American Electric Power Committee for Responsible Government, Columbus, Ohio
Caremark RX, Lincoln, R.I.
Centerpoint Energy Inc., Houston
Cranford Coalition, Little Rock
BNSF Railway Co., Fort Worth
VOTE, Little Rock
Windstream Political Action Committee, Little Rock

$250
Robert Glidewell
Delray Beach, Fla.
Manufactured Housing Council Political Action Committee, Little Rock
Medco Health Solutions, Franklin Lakes, N.J.
RG Ventures LLC, Little Rock
Southland Racing Corp., West Memphis
Wholesale Beer Distributors of Arkansas, Little Rock

$200
American Insurance Association-Arkansas Political Action Committee, Little Rock

• Regional Contributions
$1,000
James Glidewell, Fort Smith
Robert Miller, Fort Smith
Michael Morton, Fort Smith
Frost Oil Co., Fort Smith
KE Investments, Fort Smith

$500
Dr. Carl Friddle, Fort Smith
Dane Fulmer, Fort Smith
Randall Goins, Fort Smith
Joe Larkin, Charleston
Christopher Looper, Huntington
Robert A. Young III, Fort Smith
Armour Heights Nursing Home, Van Buren
Jack Jones Investments Co., Fort Smith
Taylor Management, Fort Smith

$350
Greg Carman, Fort Smith

$300
Carl Davis, Fort Smith

$250
Dr. Cole Goodman, Fort Smith
John Meyers, Fort Smith
JR Young Construction, Fort Smith

$200
Arkansas Glass & Mirror, Fort Smith

$150
John Womack, Fort Smith

$100
Eldon Coffman, Fort Smith
William Dudding, Fort Smith
Curtis Goldtrap Jr., Fort Smith
Thomas Kelly, Fort Smith
Harold McDowell, Fort Smith
David McMahon, Fort Smith

$50
Jim Berry, Fort Smith
William R. Harper, Fort Smith