| Fincher among lawmakers with big campaign war chests | | Posted: Tuesday, April 17, 2012 9:22 pm
| By BARTHOLOMEW SULLIVAN
Washington correspondent
U.S. Rep. Stephen Fincher of Frog Jump, the freshman Republican whose 8th District next year will contain much of the Poplar Avenue corridor in Shelby County, has $1.2 million in the bank.
Tomeka R. Hart, the Urban League president challenging incumbent Steve Cohen for the Democratic primary in the 9th Congressional District, raised $13,526 in the first quarter this year and has $20,015 in cash on hand.
Another Cohen challenger, Republican George S. Flinn Jr., loaned his campaign $750,000 during the first three months of this year, raised $11,599 and has $699,092 in the bank.
Cohen himself, seeking a fourth term, raised $147,294 in the January-March period and has $1,046,271 on hand.
The first quarter filings were released Monday by the Federal Election Commission. Another Republican in the 9th District race, Charlotte Bergmann, has not filed a first quarter report, records show. Her spokesman, Brenda Fowler, referred questions to campaign manager Randy Lawson, who did not immediately respond to a voicemail message Monday.
U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., whose 7th District will not include parts of Shelby County next year, raised $143,353 through March and has $1.2 million on hand.
Fincher raised $270,693 in the first quarter, including contributions from the International Paper PAC, John Deere PAC, FedEx PAC, Indoor Tanning Association PAC and Koch PAC. His predecessor, 10-term Democrat John S. Tanner, retired with $906,506 in his FEC account.
Cohen received contributions from former Memphis Congressman Harold Ford Sr.; Indira Umarov of Germantown, whose husband had been an Uzbek political prisoner; and the D.C.-based Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers, among others. Published in The Messenger 4.17.12 | | | | |
