Although the Alabama Campaign Finance Reports, filed with the Dallas County Probate Judge’s office, show little in the way of which Ward 3 special election candidate is raising or spending the most money at this point, they do offer insight into who and how each candidate may be running their elections.

The reports, which also include the appointment of principal campaign committee forms, detail who is associated with the candidate in their campaign and who may be an “official” member of the candidate’s campaign.

Candidates David Cothran, Pam West, Karl Lewis, Sherrette Spicer, Garfield Clarke and Tom Headley each reported they have appointed themselves as the “sole member of my principal campaign committee.”

Greg Bjelke and Gwen Brown, each filed reports showing there is more than one person connected to their campaign committee.

Bjelke lists himself as the chairperson of the committee and Martha Jane Bjelke as the committee’s treasurer. The campaign did not report any donations raised or expenditures in the report filed March 22 with the probate judge’s office.

Brown, reported having the largest official committee, listing Ronald Smith as the campaign chairperson, Kelly Bronson as treasurer and Rico Holmes, Doug Sanders and Jane Goodridge as committee members.

In the report, Brown does not list a street address, rather a post office box in establishing the committee. In previous reports, she has listed a Tremont Street address as her permanent address.

Most of the candidates did not report any revenue or expenses in their campaigns since they were only required to do so if they had spent or raised more than $1,000 at the time of the filing. The candidates were required to file the paperwork within just a few days of officially qualifying for the race, which is why some candidates filed reports much earlier than others.

The next campaign finance report required is just days ahead of the election and will detail monies raised and spent during the campaign to that point.

The special election to fill the open Ward 3 position on the Selma City Council is Tuesday, May 24. With eight candidates in the field, it is unlikely that one candidate will get the needed 50 percent plus one vote needed to avoid a runoff.

If a runoff is required, it will be between the top two vote getters and will be held Tuesday, July 5.