Wilkes Spent Four Times As Much As Hale In Oconee County Republican Primary And Runoff

By Lee Becker

W.E. “Bubber” Wilkes spent nearly $12,000 to regain a seat on the Oconee County Board of Commissioners, or four times the amount spent by incumbent Margaret Hale, whom Wilkes defeated by 105 votes in the July 22 runoff.

Wilkes spent almost all of his $11,988 on advertising, with $5,256 going to The Oconee Enterprise, $1,375 to The Oconee Leader, and $4,546 for printing of signs, campaign materials, and T-shirts.

Hale spent most of her $3,046 on advertising as well, with $645 going to The Oconee Enterprise, $260 to The Oconee Leader, and $1,405 for office supplies and signs.

Wilkes spent $8,261 after the May 20 primary, compared with only $1,189 by Hale.

Wilkes went from his second place finish with 37.6 percent of the vote in May to the first place finish with 51.2 percent on July 22.

Because no Democrat filed for the race, Wilkes will be listed alone on the ballot in November for the Post 3 Commission spot, giving him a commission seat again after a 10-year absence.

For more on the campaign finances of these and other candidates in the BOC elections, go to Oconee County Observations.

http://oconeecountyobservations.blogspot.com/2014/07/wilkes-spent-four-times-as-much-as-hale.html