By Bryce Abshier – Contact Bryce@VoiceofSouthMarion.com
In the Marion County Board of County Commissioners election held on Tuesday, both incumbent commissioners successfully defended their seats against their challengers, with voters decisively re-electing Craig Curry in District 1 and Matt McClain in District 3.
Craig Curry, the incumbent for District 1, won with 60.35% of the vote, securing 33,589 votes. His challenger, Sarah Almeida Dennis, garnered 39.65% of the vote, with 22,072 votes.
Curry’s campaign for re-election was backed by substantial financial support, with $97,526.20 in monetary contributions and an additional $4,000 in in-kind donations. He spent $90,092.60 during his campaign, which translates to roughly $2.68 spent per vote earned. On the other hand, Dennis raised about 10% of that amount, at $9,042.70 in monetary contributions and spent $7,772.79, resulting in a much more modest campaign. With 22,072 votes, her cost per vote was approximately $0.35.
In the District 3 contest, Matt McClain overwhelmingly defeated David Blackwell, receiving 75.88% of the vote with 26,778 votes, compared to Blackwell’s 24.12% and 8,512 votes.
McClain’s campaign was also well-funded, with $77,195 in monetary contributions and $550 in in-kind support. His expenditures totaled $68,530.88, giving him a cost of around $2.56 per vote.
Blackwell, meanwhile, ran a leaner campaign, raising $7,582 and spending $7,465.79. This resulted in a cost of about $0.88 per vote.
The election results demonstrate the advantage incumbents have when it comes to fundraising and the impact this can have on voter outreach. Both Curry and McClain were able to leverage their financial resources to secure decisive victories, showcasing the importance of campaign funding in local elections.
Just goes to show who can be bought in Marion County and who cannot.