By John R. Roby
Political action committees accounted for the bulk of contributions to Huntsville’s municipal election candidates in July, with most dollars going to the two incumbents in the contested City Council races.
Councilmen John Meredith of west Huntsville’s District 5 and Devyn Keith of north Huntsville’s District 1 claimed the lion’s share of contributions, according to a Huntsville Times analysis of the most recent disclosure reports filed with the Alabama Secretary of State’s office.
A $15,000 contribution to Meredith was the only one made since July by Five Forward PAC, which has a Jefferson Street address and whose purpose is listed as to “promote growth and good government in Huntsville.” The PAC also contributed $15,000 to Meredith in May, again its only contribution that month.
Meredith’s campaign also recorded a $5,000 contribution from the Business Political Action Committee of Madison County in July, $4,000 from Huntsville-based Persistence PAC and $5,500 in two contributions from North Alabama PAC. The latter also gave $5,500 to Keith in the most recent filings.
Two PACs associated with north Alabama real estate gave at least $20,000 to three candidates in July. Alabama Realtors Political Action Committee contributed $10,000 to Keith and $5,000 to Huntsville business woman Kim Lewis, Meredith’s opponent in District 5. A political action committee called HAAR – whose address in filings matches that of the Huntsville Area Association of Realtors – gave $5,000 to Chaundra Jones, who is running for school board in north Huntsville.
Alabama’s Fair Campaign Practices Act requires all candidates to file disclosure reports with the Secretary of State’s office when their campaign committees receive or spend $1,000 in a designated period. Candidates for Huntsville’s municipal elections who meet the threshold must file weekly reports up to the week of the Aug. 27 vote.
Here are details of the latest campaign finance disclosures for the candidates in Huntsville’s municipal elections.
City Council District 1, north Huntsville
Keith is seeking his third term on the council. In a recent interview with AL.com, he lauded economic strides in the district during his time in office. Last year, he pleaded guilty to two counts of shoplifting in a plea agreement with Madison County prosecutors.
Keith’s campaign reported $6,794.29 on hand July 1. It raised $22,000 — $9,350 of it from 15 individual donors — and spent $14,854.62 through late last week, leaving $13,939.67.
He faces two opponents for his seat.
Michelle Watkins currently represents the district on the Huntsville City board of education. Her campaign website emphasizes improving infrastructure like roads and lighting in the district, along with inclusion and empowerment and recreational opportunities for children.
Watkins had $12,384.25 on hand July 1, raised $6,254.30 from 17 individual donors plus non-itemized cash contributions and spent $6,280.38, leaving $12,358.17.
Reggie McKenzie is president of the North Huntsville Business Association who retired from the U.S. Army as a lieutenant colonel after a 28-year career. His website includes a “10-point plan” for the district, including improving roads and sidewalks, encouraging economic development through hotels and grocery stores and improving accountability for elected officials.
McKenzie opened July with no money on hand, raised $3,500 from four individual donors and spent $2,542.69, leaving $957.31 last week.
City Council District 5, west Huntsville Meredith recently told AL.com he had worked to secure $21 million for parks and recreational facilities and nearly $100 million for future road projects during his first term representing the district.
Meredith opened July with $50,692.20 on hand, raised $31,874.51 and spent $46,001.44, leaving $36,565.27. PACs contributed $29,500 of the total raised, led by Five Forward’s $15,000.
Lewis told AL.com the district needs more investment in infrastructure to keep up with growth.
Lewis started the reporting period with $14,461.12, raised $8,179.02 from Alabama Realtors PAC and six individual donors and spent $9,805.57, leaving $12,834.57.
School board District 1, north Huntsville Four candidates are vying for this seat, currently held by Watkins: Jones, a Huntsville social worker, volunteer and former president of Huntsville Council PTAs; Claudia Harris, who has taught in the Huntsville City, Madison City and Madison County schools; former city Councilman Will Culver; and engineer and volunteer Pat King.
There is no record of fund-raising or spending by Culver’s campaign.
Jones’ campaign reported $5,550 in contributions, primarily from HAAR, and $5,868.25 in spending. It had $2,002.03 in the bank in the most recent filing.
Harris took in $3,771.10 and spent $1,168.85 and is reporting $3,049.08 on hand this week. Her main contributor since July 1 was Persistence PAC, which gave $2,500.
King raised $500 in cash and in-kind donations and spent $499.10 on administrative and mailing fees, leaving a dime in the bank.
School board District 5, west Huntsville
There are no records of fund-raising or spending available from the Secretary of State’s office for this race, where incumbent Carlos Mathews, a software engineer, faces Zara Broadenax.
The school board candidates are scheduled to appear at a public forum Aug. 12 at Academy for Academics and Arts, 4800 Sparkman Dr NW, Huntsville.
