Smitherman campaign spending tops $12,000

The high profile challenger aiming for next year’s Republican primary in the Yadkin County Sheriff’s race has contributed $13,000 toward his own campaign, according to campaign finance reports on file with the Yadkin County Board of Elections. Nick Smitherman has spent $12,107 toward campaign signs, business cards, T-shirts and other campaign materials to date, leaving a balance as of his last campaign finance report of $893.

Smitherman, of East Bend, purchased the vast majority of his materials from Dirt Road Graphics in East Bend, according to the report. A total of $11,000 was listed on the report as a “contribution from an individual,” and the individual was listed as Smitherman. He also listed a $2,000 loan to himself, which is another method candidates are allowed to use to fund their own campaign. According to the report, Smitherman was the only person to contribute to his campaign through June 30.

The filing period for the 2022 race for Yadkin County Sheriff will not open until December.

The incumbent, Sheriff Ricky Oliver, of Yadkinville, has a campaign fund balance of $2,670 as of June 30, which appears to be carryover from the previous election cycle. He did not report any new campaign contributions or expenditures for the most recent cycle.

The reports can be viewed at www.yadkincountync.gov/88/Board-of-Elections, then click Candidate Information in the left hand column.