EVANSVILLE — For former Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winicki, the ritual required to file annual campaign fundraising reports signaled the end of an era in local politics.
Republican Winnecke's 2023 year-end report on Jan. 17 was accompanied by papers dissolving his political committee with no money in it. The former three-term mayor, who reported raising and spending more than $1.2 million for one of his re-election campaigns, did not run again last year. He actually received $18,000 in donations for the additional $200,000 he already had — but he spent it all in 2023 and shut the whole thing down.
For other former candidates who have not sought elected office in a while, the annual calculation of how much money is left in the fund represents a hope that has not yet been fulfilled. Or at least keep the door open. Most of them don't have anywhere near the amount the mayor usually collects, but they don't need much either.
more:Evansville mayoral candidates are reporting that paint very different pictures
Jason Ashworth, a Democrat who ran unsuccessfully for Vanderburgh County sheriff in 2022, said the $1,043.62 still circulating in his campaign account could be seed money for a future campaign for him or his wife, Kendell.
“She is in her 31st year of teaching at the school, and is clearly very invested in (Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp.) and the kids in the company and in the community,” Ashworth said.
When Kendyl Ashworth is eligible, her husband said, she might consider the idea of seeking a seat on the EVSC school board. or not. If neither of them runs for elected office, the remaining $1,000 will go “to charity or another candidate,” Jason Ashworth said.
Indiana State Statute 3-9-3-4 outlines the ways in which money in campaign accounts can be spent, including “activity related to service in elected office” and “continuing political activity.” The money cannot be used to pay personal expenses, but the law allows it to be spent on a variety of political actions. Giving money to other candidates is a common use of campaign funds.
District Judge Steve Lockyer still holds elected office, but he has served the maximum of two consecutive terms in office and may not seek re-election this year. Lockyer said he plans to retire, but there is still the question of the $519.06 remaining in his campaign fund.
“I think legally you can donate to another candidate or to the party, and that's probably what I would do,” Lockyer, a Democrat, said. “It's been one of those things that my wife (attorney Krista Lockyer) and I have been discussing for the last four years, about getting rid of the account — but you fill out one of these papers and you kind of forget about it until next year.” “And then you start saying, 'Oh my God, we need to file this report again. We need to close this account.'”
For some former candidates, the intrigue remains
Sometimes there's enough in a former candidate's campaign account to raise eyebrows — and questions about the future.
Former Vanderburgh County District Attorney Nick Herman, who last sought office more than a year and a half ago, reported he still has more than $39,000 in his account.
Herman faces persistent rumors in legal and political circles that he will seek a Supreme Court justice position this year, but he has not returned messages about his political plans or the funds in his campaign account. The deadline for submitting nominations is February 9.
School Board Member Amy Ward, who is fighting a felony charge accusing her of “maintaining a public nuisance” at Lamasco Bar & Grill, said she will not seek re-election in 2024.
But Ward filed an annual campaign finance report on Thursday, a day after the state's deadline to do so.
Word reported that she still had approximately $2,600 in her campaign account. She reported that she did not collect any money in 2023, and only spent 50 cents from her account, which is not itemized spending.
Phone and text messages to Word went unanswered.
The most common is the report by Steve Arey, an unsuccessful candidate for mayor in 2019. Steve Arey's election committee reported having “$0.00” in cash, mainly because he had not sought any elected office for several years.
But never say never.
“I intended to keep (the campaign account) in case I wanted to run again, and quite frankly, I don't know that I have done that yet,” Ari said.
