In recent weeks Barton County Sheriff candidate Brian Bellendir has outspent Sheriff Gregory Armstrong, who is running as a write-in candidate, but Armstrong has collected more campaign contributions.
Monday afternoon was the deadline for candidates running for state and county offices to file their pre-general election campaign reports. On Thursday they must file a report of last-minute contributions of $300 or more. The reports filed by county candidates can be viewed at the Barton County Clerk’s Office in the courthouse, while state candidate reports can be viewed on the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission website, www.kansas.gov/ethics.
Bellendir, a lieutenant at the BCSO, won the Republican primary in August. With no Democrats running, his will be the only name on the general election ballot. Armstrong came in second in the three-way primary race and recently announced he would run a write-in campaign.
The reports submitted Monday are for the period from July 27 through Oct. 25. They show Armstrong started with $2,747 in cash, received $2,505 in contributions, and spent $3,154. Bellendir started with $4,464, received $1,328 and spent $4,830.
Armstrong’s largest donations were for $500 each, from Hammeke Electric Inc., Great Bend; GA Consultants Inc., Hoisington; and Great Bend businessman Leslie O. Hopkins.
Bellendir received $500 from Great Bend business owner Loretta Miller and $400 from Randy's Machine Shop Inc., Great Bend.
For state candidates, Republican John Edmonds and Democrat Steve Muehleisen are candidates for the 112th District of the House. Edmonds’ report appears on the state website. As of 6 p.m. Monday, the site did not have Muehleisen’s report.