photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

The Douglas County elections office at 711 W. 23rd St. is pictured Monday, Oct. 31, 2022.

The Douglas County Elections Office has released the final campaign finance reports for Lawrence City Commission candidates ahead of election day on Tuesday.

As the Journal-World reported, when similar reports detailing candidates’ fundraising receipts and expenditures ahead of the August primary election were released in late July, it was former commissioner Mike Dever who led the way with nearly $30,000 in campaign contributions generated since Jan. 1.

Dever, who served on the City Commission from 2007 to 2015, once again leads the pack with the most money raised between July 25 and Oct. 30, the filing date for the most recent reports. He generated $15,740 in campaign contributions from 81 donors who contributed $50 or more. Of that group, 12 donors gave the maximum possible contribution of $500.

That means that this year Dever has raised more than $45,000 in his campaign to return to the City Commission after eight years away.

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In July, the gap between Dever and the next closest fundraiser — incumbent City Commissioner Amber Sellers — was over $20,000. But the gap’s not as wide this time, and a different candidate has raised the second-most in campaign contributions since the primary.

That candidate is incumbent City Commissioner Courtney Shipley. While Shipley only received $2,367.53 in contributions from January to July, she received more than four times that amount — $11,710 — between late July and Oct. 30.

Those contributions came from 52 donors, eight of which were the maximum possible contribution of $500.

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The other two incumbents, Sellers and City Commissioner Brad Finkeldei, generated a similar amount in campaign contributions through October. Sellers received $5,516.54 in contributions from 28 donors, to go along with the $7,598.66 she received from January to late July. Four donors gave the maximum possible contribution of $500.

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Finkeldei received $5,575 from 35 donors, similar to the number of donors and campaign contributions he had received by late July. Like Sellers, four of Finkeldei’s donors gave the maximum possible contribution of $500.

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Newcomer Justine Burton is the other candidate to have submitted a finance report, but it only includes one expenditure — $45.03 for a banner — and no contributions.

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There was no report this time around for the sixth City Commission candidate, newcomer Dustin Stumblingbear. That’s because back in July Stumblingbear filed an affidavit of exemption indicating that he planned on receiving or expending less than $1,000 during the primary and general election periods.

There are three seats up for grabs on the City Commission with Finkeldei’s, Shipley’s and Sellers’ terms all expiring. Advance voting will continue by mail or in person at the Douglas County Elections Office, 711 W. 23rd St., through noon Monday. Advance in-person voting will also be available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Elections Office.

On Election Day, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. To find your precinct, visit Douglas County’s website.