photo by: Contributed photos

From left, Patrick Kelly, Leslie Soden and John Magnuson are candidates for the Douglas County 1st District Commission seat.

Patrick Kelly has a large financial advantage in the Democratic Party primary race for the Douglas County 1st District Commission seat, having raised and spent significantly more than his two opponents.

The three Democrats vying for the party’s nomination for the 1st District seat are Kelly, director of the Lawrence College and Career Center; Lawrence insurance agent John Magnuson; and Lawrence City Commissioner Leslie Soden. Democrat Mike Gaughan, the current 1st District commissioner, announced in May that he would not seek re-election to another four-year term.

With no Republican filing for the position, the candidate who wins the Aug. 7 primary is likely to succeed Gaughan in the County Commission seat that represents Lawrence neighborhoods north of 19th Street and west of Massachusetts Street. Independent candidates have until noon Aug. 6 to file for the general election.

In a filing submitted Tuesday to the Douglas County Clerk’s Office, Kelly reports that he has raised $10,356 and has spent $4,431 on his campaign. Magnuson reports raising $3,379 and spending $1,616, while Soden has raised $2,595 and has spent $2,458.

Kelly has received contributions from 104 donors, including one from Kathleen Sebelius. Sebelius, a former Kansas governor and U.S. secretary of Health and Human Services, was one of 12 donors contributing $250 each to the campaign. Three donors — Matt All, a Lawrence resident and president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas; and Rod Holcolm, of Overland Park; and Katherine Dinsdale, a Lawrence writer — each contributed $500.

Kelly reports $1,459 of in-kind contributions, including the $719 he spent on his filing fee, a campaign post box and office supplies. Janella Williams, of Lawrence, provided $440 in in-kind graphic design.

Kelly reports spending $1,150 on yard signs, $1,627 on a postcard mailer and $597 on door-to-door informational cards.

Magnuson has supported his campaign with $1,204 in cash donations. Six of the other 13 donors to his campaign who have the last name of Magnuson have contributed a total of $950. Magnuson reports he made a $927 in-kind contribution for yard signs. His campaign received $500 donations from Will Tumulty, of Davidsonville, Md., and the Bureau of Lectures & Concert Artists Inc., of Lawrence.

Magnuson has spent $700 on advertising and $833 to boost Facebook posts.

The top contributor to Soden’s campaign with $500 was Elaine St. James, of Lawrence. No other donor gave more than $250, although Soden did receive an in-kind contribution from Ray Soden Printing, of Apache Junction, Ariz., of $352 for door signs.

Soden reports spending $1,919 on various forms of advertising.

The 1st District is the only County Commission seat contested this election cycle. Commissioners Michelle Derusseau and Nancy Thellman were sworn in to their current four-year terms in January 2017.