3 Lawrence City Commission candidates take lead in campaign contributions

photo by: Contributed and file photos

The candidates for the 2019 Lawrence City Commission election are, from top left, Brad Finkeldei, Stuart Boley and Joey Hentzler, and from bottom left, Courtney Shipley, Rob Sands and Ken Easthouse.

Three Lawrence City Commission candidates have broken away from the pack in raising money for their campaigns.

Candidates were required this week to turn in receipt and expenditure reports that list contributions to their campaigns so far. Of the six candidates in the race, three candidates have raised several thousand dollars each: newcomer Brad Finkeldei, incumbent Stuart Boley and newcomer Joey Hentzler.

The reports cover the time period from Jan. 1 through July 25. As part of the report, candidates must indicate how much money they have received in contributions and list the names and occupations for people who contributed more than $150.

The seats of Commissioners Boley, Leslie Soden and Matthew Herbert are up for reelection this year, and both Soden and Herbert have announced that they would not seek reelection. Not enough candidates filed to trigger a primary election; the general election will be Tuesday, Nov. 5.

How much each of the six candidates raised and any significant contributions are summarized below. The entirety of the candidates’ receipt and expenditure reports are available on the Douglas County website.

Brad Finkeldei: Attorney and nonprofit board member Finkeldei is making his first run for the commission and has raised $9,845 so far. Finkeldei had seven people or couples give the maximum contribution amount of $500: Kevin and Coleen O’Malley, with the report listing their occupation as distributor; Inrondequoit Tri-Angle Holding Corp., a commercial real estate company; Bob and Katherine Dinsdale, a physician and a journalist; Dr. Neal and Julie Lintecum, a physician; Robert Wilson, CEO of Bridge Haven Memory Care; Greg Moore, an appraiser with Moore Valuations; and Patrick and Debra McCandless, real estate.

Stuart Boley: The only incumbent candidate, Boley, a retired auditor, is seeking his second term on the City Commission. This period, Boley has raised $8,435 so far, including a $1,000 contribution from himself. Boley had two people give at or very near the maximum contribution amount of $500: Graham Kreicker, a retired Lawrence resident; and Ellen Reid Gold, a retired Lawrence resident.

Joey Hentzler: Social advocate and community board member Hentzler is making his first run for the commission and has raised $4,405 so far, including a $1,000 loan from himself. Hentzler had three people give the maximum contribution amount of $500: Mathew Petersen, an attorney; Amanda Petersen, a public administrator; and Jon Poquiz, a psychologist.

Courtney Shipley: Neighborhood leader and community board member Shipley is making her first run for the commission and has raised $1,965 so far, including a $500 contribution from herself and a $500 loan from herself.

Rob Sands: A Kansas Army National Guard officer and planning commissioner, Sands has raised $660. Sands ran unsuccessfully for the commission in 2015.

Ken Easthouse: Neighborhood leader and city board member Easthouse has raised $1,119.55, including $649.55 from himself. Easthouse ran unsuccessfully for the commission in 2017 and was also one of 14 people who applied to fill the seat vacated by former Mayor Jeremy Farmer in 2015 that was ultimately appointed to current Mayor Lisa Larsen.