Delegate Mike Watson, the Republican incumbent for the 93rd district seat in the Virginia House of Delegates, is leading the pack of other local legislators vying for seats in the November general election with the most cash on hand through the end of March: $86,812.
Monday was “transparency day” in Virginia and candidates across the state filed their contributions and expenditures for the first quarter of the year.
When Jan. 1 rolled around, Watson had $89,555 on hand. Through the end of March, he took in another $32,635 from 56 cash donors and five in-kind donors, who give services and goods rather than money, and spent more than $35,000.
Watson collected $1,000 each from The Virginia Coal Association Political Action Committee, Alpha Natural Resources Services, LLC – a coal producer—and Dominion PAC.
Watson also received $150 from York County Board of Supervisors Member Sheila Noll.
At the close of the first quarter, Watson’s expenses totaled $35,377.
Democratic challenger Monty Mason will face off against Watson in the November election for the 93rd district house seat. Mason, who chairs the city’s Economic Development Authority, started the year off with $26,868 and received $14,795 in contributions.
Among Mason’s top donors are Suzann Matthews, a former member of the College of William and Mary Board of Visitors, who gave $5,000; Pamela Mason gave $1,500 and City of Williamsburg Vice Mayor Paul Freiling contributed $200.
Mason’s expenditures totaled $4,358 through March and he finished the quarter with $37,305.
Delegate Brenda Pogge, the currently unopposed Republican incumbent for the 96th district seat in the House, added $2,750 to the $12,547 she started the year with.
Contributions to Pogge included $1,000 by Alpha Natural Resources Services LLC and $500 each from the Virginia Beer Wholesalers Association PAC and Virginia Optometric Association PAC.
Pogge’s expenses totaled $6,332 for the quarter, leaving her with $8,964.
