Gerrish campaign coffers drew town employee $$$

AUGUSTA, Maine - State required financial reports indicating campaign contributions to House 20 candidates Karen Gerrish and Harrison Thorp show a marked discrepancy in the war chests they brought to the campaign, with primary winner Gerrish having roughly had a three-to-one advantage over her challenger.

In filings that reflected contributions and expenditures through May 27, the Gerrish camp had brought in $3,485 in contributions compared with Thorp’s $267.

Meanwhile, in expenditures, Gerrish had used $2,009 compared to $1,244 for Thorp, which was mostly his own money and that of his campaign manager and partner Martha T. Soto-Galicia.

By the time of the filing Thorp had expended the lion’s share of his campaign money, while Gerrish ended the campaign with a 9 X 5 mailer, which would have cost at least $1,000.

Thorp also had no contributions over $50, while Gerrish had many including Lebanon Road Commissioner Laurence Torno ($100), Lebanon Transfer Station manager Ronal Patch ($200) and town mowing contractor Chris Gilpatrick of Gilpatrick Property Services ($300).

Gerrish also got $100 from budget committee director Nancy Neubert and $375 from Jane Gerrish, her mom and former town tax collector.

For contributor lists click link below, hit Browse Candidate Reports and select name.

https://secure.mainecampaignfinance.com/PublicSite/SearchPages/CampaignFinanceCandidateSearch.aspx