Taylor, Branin lead in June fundraising

Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Taylor raised the most funds during the month of June among candidates for local office in Henrico – $13,637 – according to campaign finance reports for the latest filing period. Incumbent Three Chopt supervisor Tommy Branin was second, raising just more than $10,500.

Candidates for the Nov. 5 general election, except those running for Henricopolis District Soil and Water Conservation director positions, were required to submit campaign finance reports for the latest filing period on July 15. Funds raised could include both cash and in- kind contributions.

Taylor, a Democrat seeking her third term, also ended the filing period with the largest overall ending balance (about $69,000) – nearly triple that of her opponent, Republican C. Owen Conway, who ended the period with a balance of $25,615. Taylor spent about $6,400 during June, while Conway spent about $2,600.

Branin, a Republican who is running unopposed following his June primary win against Dishant Shah, spent the most money of any local candidate in June – about $36,000 – with more than half going to Creative Direct LLC, a direct mail service used by Republicans such as U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) and former U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tennessee).

Branin's June expenditures were more than eight times those of any other Board of Supervisors candidate and more than five times more than any other local candidate.

Varina District Supervisor Tyrone Nelson, a Democrat seeking his third term, raised $2,410 in June, spent nearly $4,000 and ended the month with the largest balance of any board candidate (about $62,000) – more than double that of incumbent Tuckahoe Supervisor Pat O’Bannon.

O'Bannon, a Republican, raised nearly $7,000 during June, spent almost $4,500 and had a balance of nearly $29,000 at the end of the month.

The three Republican candidates for the Board of Supervisors – incumbents Branin, O'Bannon and Brookland District Supervisor Dan Schmitt – raised more funds cumulatively than their six Democratic and independent counterparts.

Michelle Ogburn, incumbent Three Chopt member on the Henrico School Board, held the largest ending balance of Henrico School Board candidates who submitted finance reports – just more than $12,000 – despite raising no money and spending $250 during June.

Independent candidate Tom Wadkins led the three Henrico sheriff's candidates in fundraising during June (nearly $5,000), though about $2,100 came from personal loans.

Real estate development firm Reynolds Holdings has donated to candidates across the political spectrum in the November elections, according to finance reports. In 2019, the company made donations to Branin for $8,000 in April; Nelson for $5,000 in March; Taylor for $2,500 in April; Schmitt for $2,000 in April and Tuckahoe supervisor candidate Democrat Marques Jones for $1,000 in May.

Similarly, the Richmond Association of Realtors donated $1,000 each to all five incumbent Henrico supervisors. The Home Builders Association of Richmond donated $1,500 to Nelson in March and $1,500 to Branin in May.

Commonwealth First PAC, a Republican political action committee, donated to several Republican candidates, including $5,000 to O'Bannon, $250 to Conway and $250 to Republican sheriff candidate Bob Matson.

John Shinholser, president of the Henrico-based recovery organization McShin Foundation, donated $1,000 to Taylor, $250 to Democratic sheriff candidate Alisa Gregory, $250 to Matson and $200 to Nelson.

Philanthropist Allison P. Weinstein, president and COO of Weinstein Properties, also donated $1,000 to Taylor.

The only candidate for local Henrico office who did not file a campaign finance report for June by the July 15 deadline, according to the Henrico Registrar's Office, was Varina District School Board candidate Kandise Lucas.