Brinyark Tops Candidates In Fundraising Ahead Of House District 16 Primary

TUSCALOOSA, AL — A little more than two weeks ahead of the GOP Primary for the special election to fill the vacant District 16 seat in the Alabama House of Representatives, Northport attorney Bryan Brinyark topped his competitors for both fundraising and cash on hand.

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According to campaign finance records filed with the Alabama Secretary of State's Office, Brinyark raised $29,700 in August and spent $15,000 total for political consulting with Matrix, LLC.

Going into September, Brinyark also led all candidates in cash on hand, with $25,521.08.

Tuesday, Sept. 5, represented the monthly filing deadline for candidates who met the threshold required for reporting campaign finances. The special election primary is set for Sept. 26, with a primary runoff set for Oct. 24, if needed.

Businesses that donated to Brinyark in August:

• Alabama Personal Injury Lawyers, LLC — $250
• Fast & Easy Food Stores, Inc. — $500
• Pregnancy Peek, LLC — $200
• The Locker Room — $500
• Randy Smalley Floor & Tile — $200
• WAR Construction — $1,000
• Prince, Glover, Hayes, PC — $1,000
• Bama Mill Services, Inc. — $2,500
• Daniel Moore, Attorney At Law, LLC — $750
• Hays Ingram, LLC — $500
• Hunter Brown Law, LLC — $250
• Law Office of Benjamin Jay Stuck — $250
• Prichett Moore, Inc. — $250
• Taylor Electrical Contractors — $500
• Traditions Law Group, LLC — $250

Political Action Committees that donated to Brinyark in August:

• Alabama Development PAC — $2,500
• Alabama Development PAC — $2,750
• Alabama Development PAC — $500
• EDPAC — $5,000

After leading the first full month of campaign fundraising, Fayette County Commissioner Brad Cox now trails Brinyark, despite spending $22,401.24 in August — the most among special election candidates.

August was a slower fundraising month for Cox compared to July, with the Republican candidate raising $9,625 and seeing his balance for the August reporting period ending at $4,596.84.

While Cox did receive numerous small donations from individuals and a few larger donations from political action committees (PACs), he did not receive any contributions from any businesses during the reporting period.

Political Action Committees that donated to Cox in September:

• ABC Merit PAC — $2,500
• Electric Cooperatives of Alabama PAC — $2,500
• Tiger Paw PAC — $1,000
• Alabama Beef Political Action Committee — $500
• Alabama Pharmacy Association PAC — $1,000

Veterans advocate Greg Fanin followed Cox with the third-highest fundraising total in August, receiving $14,815.64 in contributions and spending $10,846.88.

Fanin's end balance going into September was reported to be $5,639.61

It's also worth noting that all of Fanin's contributions for August came from individual donors, with no cash contributions reported from PACs or businesses.

Lastly, Mike Simpson — who ran an unsuccessful campaign for the seat in 2018 — rounds out the candidates who met the reporting threshold required for filing campaign finance reports.

Simpson raised a total of $6,500 in August and reported spending $4,973. He reported his total amount of cash on hand at $1,403.03.

In contrast to Fanin's fundraising tactics, Simpson did not receive any individual donations and, instead, relied on businesses and political action committees for contributions in August.

Montgomery-based BIZ PAC was the only political action committee to donate to Simpson's campaign last month.

Businesses that donated to Simpson:

• Flowers Construction, LLC — $1,000
• Aardwolf Termite Pest Control Services — $2,500
• SFI/Grape Ape Waste Removal — $1,000
• Benchmark Mechanical LLC — $1,000

As Patch previously reported, there are now five Republicans vying for the GOP nomination for the House District 16 special election following news that Republican Greg Lowery had been removed from the primary ballot by the party.

This was due to previously running as a Democrat for Fayette County probate judge and not sitting out the full length of the time required by the Alabama Republican Party.

One Democrat — Fayette County Commissioner John Underwood — qualified to appear on the primary ballot.

The special election to fill the open House District 16 seat is set for Jan. 9, 2024, with the winner filling the seat vacated by former Republican state Rep. Kyle South, of Fayette.

South stepped down at the end of the last regular legislative session to become the next president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama.

House District 16 covers parts of Fayette, Jefferson, and Tuscaloosa counties.

Here's our Q&As with the candidates running for House District 16

• Q&A: Democrat Secures Party Nomination For House District 16 Race
• Q&A: Attorney Brinyark Vying For House District 16 GOP Nomination
• Q&A: Fayette County Commissioner Seeks GOP Nod For House District 16
• Q&A: Veterans Advocate Seeks GOP Nomination In House District 16 Race
• Q&A: Musician, Lifelong Conservative Vying For GOP Nod In District 16
• Q&A: Fayette Pastor Seeks To Stand Out In Crowded GOP Field
• Q&A: Pastor, Lawyer Rounds Out GOP Field In House District 16 Race
• House District 16 Special Election Candidates Raised $45K In July
• Crowded Field For House District 16 Race As Qualifying Closes

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