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LISBON -- Megan Bickerton and C. Ashley Pike spent a combined $61,432 in the 2018 primary race for Columbiana County Common Pleas Court judge, making it likely the most expensive primary for county office ever.
A year later that record has been shattered, with the two candidates seeking the Republican nomination for county Municipal Court judge spending a combined $176,178, and there is still 10 days to go until the May 7 primary election.
Katelyn Dickey reported spending $143,046 so far in her effort to secure the Republican nomination in the primary election, according to her pre-election campaign finance report filed Thursday at the county elections board. Her GOP opponent and party endorsed candidate -- Vito Abruzzino -- has spent $33,132.
In Dickey's case, most of her campaign money -- $138,000 -- came in the form of loans from herself and her husband. The majority of Abruzzino's campaign money was in the form of a $15,000 loan from himself.
Dickey reported a campaign balance of $5,565 going into the final two weeks leading up to the election, compared to $3,425 for Abruzzino.
In the 2018 primary, Bickerton outspent Pike, $52,351 to $9,081 in winning the Republican nomination, and she was unopposed in the November general election. Dickey or Abruzzino will face K. Bret Apple, the lone Democratic candidate, in November.
This is the only contested race in the May 7 election.
In the other race for county Municipal Court judge, incumbent Republican Tim McNicol reported spending $3,849 with a campaign balance of $6,955. He is unopposed in the primary but will face Heaven Guest -- the lone Democratic candidate -- in the November general election.
Following are the other pre-election campaign finance reports filed by groups promoting passage of money issues on the May ballot:
-- Vision 2020 Crestview Levy Committee: The committee spent $8,545 with a balance of $4,817. The committee received $12,050 in contributions, of which $10,000 was from the Garwood Cattle Co.
-- Beaver Local Levy BEST Committee: The committee reported spending $3,938 with a balance of $679.
-- County Democratic Party: The party reported spending $3,501 with a balance of $788.
-- County Republican Party: The GOP reported spending $12,868 with a balance of $7,059.