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WARREN -- Big money was spent in the race for Lordstown mayor, but contributions and expenditures were only reported by one candidate, according to post-general election campaign finance reports.
According to filings provided by the Trumbull County Board of Elections, Danielle Watson reported $10,500 in total funds available. She reported that she brought $9,000 from her last report and received $1,500 in total monetary contributions.
Watson received a $1,000 check from Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Guy Coviello; a $250 contribution from SPR Energy LLC of Upton, Massachusetts; and a $250 check from Jeanne Mosure of Canfield.
Watson reported spending $10,103 on her campaign.
The largest expenditure of Watson's campaign was $8,636.72 to Majority Strategies LLC, of Dallas, Texas, for advertising, mailers and consulting.
Watson also reported a return contribution of $1,000 to Clean Energy Future Lordstown LLC and a payment of $462 to Targeted Campaign Solutions LLC, of Arlington, Virginia, for website development.
Watson reported having a balance on hand of approximately $400 in her post-general election report.
Mark McGrail, who served on the Lordstown Board of Education for 12 years, eight as its president, reported that he did not receive any contributions or spend any funds. He also reported having $0 on hand.
Jackie Woodward, who has served on the Lordstown Board of Education since 2018, also listed no contributions or expenditures on her post-general election finance report.
Despite being the only candidate to report financial activity in her campaign, Watson finished third in the campaign with 21% of the vote.
Watson finished behind both Woodward, who received 32% of the vote and was the first woman to be voted in as mayor of Lordstown, and Robert Bond who received 30% of the vote.
McGrail received 16% of the vote.
LIBERTY TRUSTEE
Candidates in the hotly contested race for one seat on the Liberty Board of Trustees also saw some significant financial action.
According to the post-general reports, Devon Stanley, who retained his seat after claiming 36% of the vote, brought $7,806 forward from his last report, received $100 in contributions and spent $5,661 on his campaign.
Stanley's single contribution was from Perni & Perni Equities LLC of Hubbard.
One of Stanley's more significant expenditures was $2,555 to SCP Group of Sharon, Pa., for election postcards and postage.
The campaign of Jason Rubin, who placed second in the trustee race with 27% of the vote, reported no contributions of monetary expenditures, but did report $5,664 worth of in-kind contributions.
The entire contribution was from Rubin himself for yard signs and postcards.
Libby Benson, who finished third in the race with 15% of the vote, reported carrying over $3,590 from her last report, $971 in total monetary contributions, $3,672 in expenditures and a final balance on hand of $890.
Larger contributions to Benson included a $500 check from Carl James of Cleveland, $250 from William Poole of Youngstown and $100 from Caroline Morse of Shaker Heights.
Benson's campaign reported spending $1,452 on marketing materials from City Printing of Youngstown, $908 on further marketing materials from 898 Marketing of Youngstown and $700 on a website from Mailchimp based in Atlanta, Georgia, among other expenditures.
Christopher Colon, who finished fourth in the race with 11% of the vote, reported bringing $299 from his last report, receiving $720 in total monetary contributions, $30 worth of in-kind contributions and reported $1,039 in expenditures.
According to the post-general report, Colon's campaign spent $397 to satisfy a debt that Colon himself gave to the campaign. Colon's campaign also spent $518 to repay funds loaned to the campaign from its treasurer, Jessica Lev of Hubbard.
Colon also spent $120 as a donation for an advertisement and tickets to the Liberty Football Gridiron Association.
Of his monetary contributions, Colon reported receiving $490 from social or fundraising events, including a $100 check from Kristen Olmi of Youngstown and $250 from individuals who donated $25 or less.
LaBRAE LEVY
The LaBrae School Levy, with treasurer Karen J. Ancell, reported bringing forward $1,144 from its last report, as well as receiving $170 in monetary contributions.
Of its total $1,314 on hand, the committee spent $212.
For its expenditures, the committee reported paying Superintendent Anthony J. Calderone $115 for steel rebar and PVC piping, as well as paying $97 to Leavittsburg for postage and copy fees.
The district's permanent improvement 3-mill, five-year replacement levy, was approved with 1,055 votes for and 1,048 against, a seven-vote difference, official results show.