Hamilton County incumbents raise, spend most in primary election

Incumbent mayors Jim Brainard and Scott Fadness are outraising and outspending their opponents in an effort to win their primary races, and some of their big donors include companies with projects in Carmel and Fishers.

Jim Brainard

Brainard, who is running for a seventh term against Hamilton County Councilor Fred Glynn, has raised $167,000 since Jan. 1. He spent even more—$251,000—leaving him with about $58,800 cash on hand, according to a recent campaign finance report, which covers the period between Jan. 1 and April 12.

Brainard’s biggest donor was DPBG Political Action Committee, which lists engineering firm American Structurepoint as its address. The PAC has donated $21,000 to Friends of Jim Brainard since Jan. 1, campaign finance reports show.  

Pedcor Cos. donated $10,000 to Friends of Jim Brainard, with Pedcor CEO Bruce Cordingley donating an additional $5,000. Pedcor is the lead developer of City Center, a project that’s the result of a public-private partnership between Pedcor and the city of Carmel.

Other notable donors giving at least $5,000 include Fishers-based RQAW Chief Financial Officer Troy Woodruff, United Consulting President Dave Richter and Trent Newport, president of CrossRoad Engineers.

Scott Fadness

One of Brainard’s largest expenses was a total of $79,000 paid to RightVoter LLC, a campaign consulting and resource firm that’s based in Washington, D.C., and has an office in Indianapolis.

An additional $75,000 went to BrabenderCox, a Republican political consulting firm based in Virginia. He also paid $34,000 to campaign consultant Laken Sisko Consulting.

Fadness, who is seeking a second term as Fishers mayor and is challenged by political newcomer Logan Day, has raised $87,100 since Jan. 1.

As of April 12, the end of the filing period for pre-primary campaign finance reports, Fadness had spent about $187,000, leaving him with about $356,800 on hand.

Fadness received several donations of $5,000 from well-known executives, firms and PACs.

The DPBG PAC also gave $5,000 to Fadness. Meyer Najem Construction, Faegre Baker Daniels and Hageman Group donated $5,000 to Fadness.

Paul Thrift, CEO of Thompson Thrift Development, gave $5,000. Thompson Thrift is currently developing the $110 million culinary-inspired development known as The Yard.

Fadness' largest expense, $110,000, was paid to BrabenderCox. He also paid $30,000 to Jennifer Hallowell, his campaign consultant, and $14,000 to Coverdale Consulting.

While the incumbents have brought in large sums of money, their opponents' campaigns have been more modest.   

In Carmel, Glynn has raised about $94,800, with notable donations from the Todd Rokita Election Campaign, which gave $3,000, and Seidensticker for Council, the committee of former Carmel City Councilor Eric Seidensticker, which gave Glynn $500. He also received $5,000 from Huntington-based The Fund for American Exceptionalism.

Glynn loaned his campaign about $50,000.

In Fishers, Day has raised $9,694 and has spent all but $20.

Contributions to his campaign include more than $1,800 that are listed as in-kind contributions he made.

Other contributors include former Noblesville Mayor Mary Sue Roland, who gave $500, and Nickel Plate PAC, which gave $2,715 of in-kind contributions.

And in Noblesville, where there’s a four-way race in the Republican primary for mayor, City Councilor Chris Jensen is leading the pack in fundraising.

Since Jan. 1, he’s raised $85,500 and spent $125,300 (he already had money in his fund), leaving him roughly $74,000 on hand.

His opponents are Julia Kozicki, Mike Corbett and Vince Baker, who combined haven’t raised as much as Jensen.

The primary election is May 7.