CROWN POINT | Most of Lake County's Democratic candidates are winning the battle of the bulging election war chests, campaign finance reports released Friday show.
The county election board released the reports showing three of four Republicans in local races are losing the fundraising contest by a landslide.
Lake County Commissioner Gerry Scheub, D-Crown Point, received $69,945 in contributions between April 14 and Oct. 12. His Republican challenger Jerry Tippy, a Schererville town councilman, received $36,920 in the same period.
Scheub, 76, who is seeking a fifth term as 2nd District county commissioner, also outspent his opponent. Scheub's expenditures total $83,639, while Tippy has spent $31,078.
Tippy has more cash on hand to spend in the final weeks before the Nov. 6 election with $8,642 to Scheub's $3,721.
The greatest mismatch is in the 3rd District commissioner race between Democrat Mike Repay, a county councilman from Hammond who has received $52,120 in contributions and spent $45,175 during the last six months. Republican challenger Mark Leyva has only brought in $1,749 and spent $1,686.
Mike Brown, Democratic candidate for Lake County recorder, reports he received $8,170 in contributions and has spent $8,393. Meanwhile, Republican Pamela J. Drangmeister raised $3,539 and spent $2,973.
The race for Lake County coroner is an exception to the trend.
Dr. Andy Koultourides, the Republican candidate for coroner, has raised $17,220 in donations while Coroner Merrilee Frey, the Democratic party nominee, reported only $11,427 in contributions.
However, Frey has outspent Koultourides, a dentist and Munster town councilman, $30,250 to his $12,435. She also reports campaign debts totaling $116,553.
Lake County Surveyor George Van Til's campaign didn't report any totals for his contributions and expenditures for the period.
However, a tally of individual contributors indicates a half-dozen county contractors doing drainage work for the county have contributed more than $4,000 to his campaign. Van Til's fellow Democratic officials have donated thousands more.
Republican candidate for surveyor Eric Krieg reported raising $1,835 and spending $3,389 in the last six months.
Please Wait…