Special election set for Dec. 8 ...
Friends, business and political contacts contributing to Higdon Senate campaign

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette

Tuesday, Nov. 10, 5 p.m. -- Early donors to Republican Jimmy Higdon's race for the open 14th District state senate seat includes area residents, business leaders and two presidents: One is president of a grocery chain and another who is president of a Kentucky bourbon distillery.

The report Higdon's campaign filed with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance for the period ending Nov. 6 included fewer donors that his Democratic opponent, with a balance of about less than half Haydon's total.

The report lists six individuals who donated $1,000 to Higdon's campaign. The report lists a balance carried forward of about $15,250, unitemized donations of $2,695, cash contributions of $160 and an anonymous $150 contribution.

The list of donors to Higdon's campaign includes Bill Samuels, president of Maker's Mark Distillery ($1,000); fellow state Rep. Ron Crimm of Middletown ($100) and Rep. Kevin Bratcher ($500); Save A Lot president Larry Noe ($500); state Republican party chairman Steve Robertson ($500); and several physicians, attorneys, retirees and business owners.

SHOW ME THE MONEY. With four weeks before the election, money is necessary to maximize each candidate's exposure prior to the Dec. 8 special election. In the August special election to fill the open 18th District state senate seat, Democrat Robin Webb raised more than $400,000, spending more than $350,000 on her successful Senate bid against Republican Jack Ditty. Ditty raised $211,000, spending $209,000 on his campaign. Ditty lost by fewer than 300 votes, due in part to the entry of a Democrat-turned-Independent candidate who ran on an anti-expanded gaming platform similar to that of Ditty's.