Who's Contributing to the Snellville Mayoral Race?

A chief executive of Eastside Hospital and well-known auto dealership have made contributions to the Snellville mayoral campaigns of Barbara Bender and Kelly Kautz, according to state records. 

Dustin Greene, chief operating officer of in Snellville, made a $250 contribution on July 2 to Bender's campaign. And, made a $500 contribution in September to Kautz's campaign. Both Greene and Harrison are past members of the Evermore CID, with Harrison being the longest serving of the two.

All candidates for public office in Georgia are required to disclose financial details and campaign contributions. Kautz filed hers by mail, while Bender filed hers electronically. Snellville Patch looked at the September 30th contribution reports filed in October for both candidates.

Kautz, first elected to the city council in 2006, declared she would run Bender, who had been a Snellville council member since 2005, publicly declared to run for mayor . Both candidates had to step down from their positions on the council to run for mayor.  

Also among Bender's latest (financial) contributors are hefty sums from Webb Tanner Powell Mertz ($1,000), which had one employee make an additional donations $500).

The top recent (on the September 30th report) contributors are:

• Webb Tanner Powell Mertz, $1,000 (Anthony Powell contributed an additional $500, for a total of $1,500 affiliated with Webb Tanner Powell Mertz.)
• Jimmy Johnson, a retired resident of Snellville, $600
• , $500
• Carothers & Mitchell, LLC, $500
• , $250 (Additional $250 made by two employees: Pat Esarey and Mary Jackson, for total of $500 affiliated with Sandy Jackson Associates.)

Also among Kautz's latest (financial) contributors are councilman Mike Sabbagh ($400) and Betty Goble, a retired teacher and arts patron ($300).

The top recent (on the September 30th report) contributors are:

• , $500
• Felicia Bolden, of Good Hope, Ga., $500
• Dwight Harrison Volkswagen, $500
• William Garner, owner of Garner Building Supply in Stone Mountain, $500
• , a Snellville attorney, $500
• Law Offices of Dawn Taylor, $500

Kautz, who is an attorney, lists a net balance of little more than $665. Bender, a certified public accountant, lists a net balance of nearly $12,260, according to recent records.

As for expenditures, Kautz lists total payments of $5,569.77, with most of that going to Speedy Signs USA in the amount of $1,026.50. Bender lists total payments of $7,277.53, with most of that going to The Stoneridge Group, LLC, in the amount of 3,121.80 (September reporting). She also paid $106.84 to Hamilton Financial, where she is vice president, according to the recent report.