photo by: Contributed Photos

Across the top from left to right are 2020 Douglas County sheriff candidates Lt. Jay Armbrister, Deputy Dale Flory and Capt. Doug Woods. Across the bottom from left to right are Douglas County district attorney candidates Cooper Overstreet, Suzanne Valdez and incumbent Charles Branson.

Campaign finance reports reveal that the incumbent leads fundraising in the race for district attorney, and Capt. Doug Woods leads in fundraising in the race for sheriff.

Newcomers Cooper Overstreet and Suzanne Valdez are vying for the district attorney nomination against incumbent Charles Branson.

All longtime employees of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Lt. Jay Armbrister, Deputy Dale Flory and Woods are running to take the helm of that organization.

The Aug. 4 Democratic primary will likely determine the ultimate winners, as no Republicans filed in either race.

The campaign finance reports cover the period of Jan. 1 through July 23.

District attorney race

Branson: According to Branson’s report, his campaign raised $23,243 — on top of $23,553 already on hand, for $46,797 — and spent $31,372.

Some of Branson’s assistant district attorneys donated: David Melton and another resident of his address, $1,000; Alice Walker, $500; Kate Duncan Butler, $350; Debby Moody, $149; Eve Kemple, $200; and Lindsay Schermer, $25.

Among other donors contributing $500 were George Stafford, Doug Compton, Mira Mdivani, Graham Kreicker, William and Marcia Larkin, Johnnie and Georgie Taylor, Chadwick Taylor, Dr. Babak Marefat, Palmer Law Group, L. J. Leatherman, Shawnee Realty, Cavanaugh, Biggs & Lemon P.A. and Lesley Compton.

Branson got a head start in fundraising before his competitors filed. Although he didn’t file for reelection until May 1, he donated $10,000 to his campaign in December and raised $6,927 from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2019. Contributors of $500 during that period were Jan Sheldon and Jim Sherman, Hatem Chahine and Matthew Ali.

Branson spent $279 on in-kind contributions from Jan. 1 to July 23.

Overstreet: The Lawrence defense attorney came in second in fundraising with $19,681, and he spent $12,846, according to his report.

Contributors of $500 included Katie Overstreet, Thea Perry, Hannah Allison, Tim Overstreet, Emma Overstreet, Robert Barnett, Ronald Overstreet, Jean Vidzes, Wendy Ley Overstreet and Matthew Overstreet.

Defense attorney Angela Keck, who later endorsed Valdez, contributed $200 to Overstreet’s campaign in June.

Overstreet loaned his campaign $50, and he spent $814 on in-kind contributions.

Valdez: The University of Kansas law professor and special prosecutor raised $11,850 and spent $9,156, according to her report.

Among contributors of $500 were Dana and Sue Anderson, Justin Anderson, R. Michael Cassidy, Rhoda McAllister, Tom McAllister, Travis Lenkner, Steve Peru and Kathleen Moses.

Shannon Portillo, a candidate for Douglas County Commission who later formed the “Justice Ticket” with another commission candidate, Shannon Reid, and Overstreet, donated $100 to Valdez’s campaign back in April.

Keck matched her earlier donation of $200 with one to Valdez earlier this month.

Valdez loaned her campaign fund $2,500 and spent $6,818 on in-kind contributions during the reporting period. An attachment shows that on July 25, she also loaned her campaign $5,000 for digital advertising.

Sheriff race

Woods: The captain’s complete report was not filed until around 4:15 p.m. Tuesday. Curtis Barnhill, his campaign treasurer, said the report was late because they were still putting it together and had some addresses they were searching out.

Woods led the race, raising $28,316 during the period. His expenditures came to $21,267.

Among donors of $500 were Bill Self, Cindy Self, Douglas J. Compton, Compton Development LLC, Dan Simons, Kori Woods, Stacy Burkhart, Hatem Chahine, Shannon Abrahamson, Marilyn Dobski, Jeff Cohee, Scott Zaremba, John Cross, Timberidge Construction Inc., Rodger W. Henry, Ryan Kruse, Jerry Smith, Jerry Taylor, Megan Amrein, Car City Wholesale Inc. and Andy Vigna, Barnhill said.

Woods had $490 in in-kind contributions.

Armbrister: The lieutenant raised $20,248 on top of $1,641 on hand and spent $19,981, according to his report.

Among donors of $500 were John Brown, Janie Brown, Trilogy Hair Company LLC, Red Brick Investments LLC, D&J Land And Development LLC, Brown Stone 3 Development LLC, J2J Investments LLC, Chris Leiszler, Jason Grems, Dennis Leslie, Mark Neis, Tirsa Verdejo and Armbrister’s undersheriff candidate, Capt. Stacy Simmons.

Armbrister received $2,550 and spent $306 on in-kind contributions to his campaign.

Flory: The deputy raised $7,101 for the period and spent $6,870, according to his report.

His donors of $500 included Chris Kohart, Trent Flory, Patrick Gideon, Michele Hammann, George Grieb and Flory’s undersheriff candidate, Lt. Clark Rials.

Flory spent $3,508 on in-kind contributions to his campaign and reimbursed $3,463 of that, according to the report.

More 2020 election coverage: Douglas County district attorney race

• July 23, 2020: Douglas County district attorney candidates answer colleagues’ questions, address experience in bar forum

• July 19, 2020: 2020 Primary Voters Guide: Meet the candidates for Douglas County district attorney

• July 11, 2020: In NAACP forum, candidates for Douglas County district attorney share laws they want to see changed

• July 9, 2020: Candidates for Douglas County district attorney address racial disparities, anti-Blackness

• July 8, 2020: Douglas County sheriff, district attorney candidate forums to focus on issues specific to people of color, LGBTQ+ communities

• June 23, 2020: Candidates for Douglas County district attorney trade barbs in Democratic party forum

• June 22, 2020: Douglas County district attorney candidates share views on law enforcement misconduct, needed changes

• May 1, 2020: Incumbent Douglas County district attorney: Experience, leadership are needed to create change

• April 28, 2020: District Attorney Charles Branson files for reelection in 2020

• April 21, 2020: KU law professor, prosecutor Valdez: Douglas County district attorney’s office lacks leadership, clear policies

• April 20, 2020: Lawrence defense attorney Overstreet: Fairness, transparency missing from Douglas County criminal justice system

• April 16, 2020: Two Democrats file to run for Douglas County district attorney