On the eve of the election, the four candidates vying for General Sessions Judge have combined to spend over $50,000.
While Jean Brock continues to lead all candidates in spending, sinking a total of $17,047 into her campaign as of last week, Susan Marttala is coming up quick as she outspent all candidates during the final two weeks leading up to the election. Marttala reported spending $4,601 in the latest report to bring her overall total to $13,224, making her second in spending.
Marttala, a former district attorney and city judge, also became first in campaign contributions as she had four new members join the golden club, meaning they donated over $1,000 to her campaign. The new contributors are Kenneth Whipple with $1,000 and Kay Williams, Trevor Galligan and Meredith Galligan, all giving her $1,250.
Marttala is a longtime member of the law firm of Galligan & Newman. In all, Marttala reported taking in $6,150 in the latest report which dates back to the second week of July.
Meanwhile, Mary Little Pirtle, who led all candidates in contributions during the previous report, has taken the last spot in overall spending with $10,540 reported thus far.
Interim General Sessions Judge Bill Locke, who was appointed to the bench by the Warren County Commission upon the early retirement of Judge Larry Ross in January, was a close second in spending to Marttala down the stretch as he spent $4,197 in the past two weeks, and $12,234 overall.
The winner of the election will serve the remaining two years of Ross’ term and then will be up for election again in 2014. The winner there will get a full eight-year term.