While the Sumter County Commission incumbents are awash in more than $180,000 in campaign contributions from businesses, their opponents have pledged not to take business and corporate dollars.
“We are beholden to the people of Sumter County. Period,” said Villager Craig Estep who is running against incumbent Don Burgess of the Village of Bonnybrook.
Burgess reported that he collected $62,750 in campaign contributions between June 1 and 12, according to the Sumter County Supervisor of Elections. Most of the contributions came from businesses, many of which are located outside of Sumter County.
Estep, who is running against Burgess in the Aug. 18 GOP primary, has been dwarfed in campaign cash, having raised only $3,555.
Estep, along with fellow candidates Gary Search and Oren Miller, has pledged only to raise money from individuals.
“No businesses, corporations, or anyone that we would be beholding to,” Estep said.
Search is running against incumbent Commissioner Al Butler, who has raked in $68,887 in campaign contributions.
Miller is running against incumbent Steve Printz, who has raised $67,150.
