By Josh Bergeron

josh.bergeron@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — At least financially, Rowan County mostly supported hometown candidates during the recent 13th Congressional District primary.

Finance reports due last week show two of Rowan County’s three candidates — Jason Walser and Harry Warren — secured 92 percent of the total itemized contributions to candidates. For both candidates, a majority of the money they raised during the race came from locals.

Granted, Rowan’s total of about $61,000 in itemized contributions isn’t much compared to Guilford. There’s a direct correlation, however, to the candidate who finished first in Rowan and received the largest amount of local contributions.

Walser edged out Warren for first place in Rowan County during the June 7 primary. In a low-turnout election, Walser secured 985 votes in Rowan. Warren received 873.

Finance reports due last week show Walser also topped Warren in the local contribution total. Walser received $37,826 in itemized contributions from people with Rowan addresses. By comparison, Warren received $18,060 in itemized contributions from locals.

Granite Quarry resident Kathy Feather didn’t raise enough money to be required to report her campaign finances.

Other GOP candidates who received money from locals include: State Sen. Andrew Brock, R-34; businessman Ted Budd and State Rep. Julia Howard, R-79. No one in the Democratic primary received money from locals.

The list of locals who contributed money to 13th District GOP likely won’t come as a surprise to political observers in Rowan. Some locals even gave money to both Walser and Warren.

Some notable contributions to Warren’s campaign include:

• A total of $2,500 from Global Contact Services CEO Greg Alcorn

• A total of $2,700 from Carolina Color President Matt Barr

• $1,500 from local attorney James Davis

• $1,500 from Rowan County Commissioners Chairman, whose contribution was intended to retire debt accrued by Warren’s campaign

• $1,200 from Elaine Hewitt, who lives in the Cleveland area

• $2,500 from Global Contact Services Chief Operating Officer Bryan Overcash

• $500 from rowan County Commissioner Craig Pierce

Compared to Warren, Walser received a greater number of contributions to his campaign. Walser also received more maximum contributions — those that equal $2,700 — than Warren.

Walser received contributions from notable families such as the Stanbacks and Robertsons. Like Warren, Walser also received campaign money from Alcorn.

Some notable contributions to Walser’s campaign include:

• $2,700 from New York investor Julian Robertson

• $2,700 from New York investor Alex Robertson

• Two contributions of $2,700 from Alcorn and his wife Melissa

• Two contributions of $2,700 from Fred Stanback and his wife Alice

• Two $2,000 contributions from Power Curbers President Dwight Messinger

• $2,000 from Leah Campion, the wife of Integro Technologies President Shawn Campion

• $2,000 from Salisbury resident Deborah Messinger

Brock was the only other candidate in the 13th Congressional District’s GOP primary to receive more than $1,000 from locals. His largest contribution from a Rowan resident came from Tom Smith, who gave Brock $2,500.

Ultimately, Budd won the 13th District’s GOP primary by nearly doubling the vote total of the second-place finisher. Perhaps Budd’s most notable contribution came from North Carolina Republican Party Chairman Robin Hayes, who gave Budd’s campaign $2,700. His wife Barbara Hayes also gave Budd $2,700.

Budd will face Democrat Bruce Davis in November for the 13th District seat.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.