By Karin Grunden
A Terre Haute attorney running on the Democratic ticket for prosecutor has received $22,000 for his campaign in the past two weeks, appearing to narrow the financial gap in a heated race for the county office.
Mike Ellis raised the funds through private and corporate donations, with a $10,000 loan he made to his campaign committee, documents filed in Vigo County Superior Court show.
The last-minute donations raise his campaign contributions to about $56,900, nearing Sarah Mullican’s April 7 contribution total of $61,450. Fellow Democratic candidate Hal Johnston has raised about $15,300, financial documents show.
The funds give Ellis an 11th-hour financial boost as the race draws to a close Tuesday.
Before the recent donations, the attorney had about $7,300 left to spend in the prosecutor’s race.
At the same point, Mullican — the county’s chief deputy prosecutor — had $10,622 available, with $23,700 in debts, reports filed April 17 showed. As of Friday afternoon, Mullican had not filed any reports of additional donations of $1,000 or greater.
All three candidates have contributed significantly through personal donations, with Ellis topping the figure at more than $32,000 in combined loan and other financial support through Ellis Law Office.
Mullican’s funds include a $20,000 personal loan, and Johnston, chief deputy prosecutor in Knox County, has contributed about $9,400 of his own funds.
As of April 7, the lone Republican, attorney Terry Modesitt, had raised $3,600 and spent just over $2,100, a report shows.
As the primary draws closer, questions have surfaced about reporting of donations made to Mullican’s camp.
Old National Bank Corp.’s Olbank Political Action Committee gave two separate contributions to her committee last year, a spokeswoman for the bank’s Evansville headquarters confirmed Friday.
While the bank reported the $200 and $300 gifts separately but in whole, Mullican’s committee broke them each into smaller donations of $100 or less. Such donations are not required to be itemized.
Mark Mullican, the candidate’s husband, said the funds — which included $300 for four players at a golf outing — were listed in campaign finance disclosures under unitemized donations. He planned to look into the matter to determine whether the donations were reported incorrectly.
Campaign officials have five days to submit an amendment after discovering any “notice of defect,” said Brad King, co-director of the Indiana Election Division.
Karin Grunden can be reached at (812) 231-4257 or karin.grunden@tribstar.com.
Contributions for May primary:
Individuals and businesses making contributions of $1,000 or more:
Michael Thomas Ellis
Michael T. Ellis, Ellis Law Office
$32,111
Maria David $5,000
George Issa $4,000
Auto-House, Inc $2,500
Steven A. Ellis $1,000
McClain Farms Inc. $1,000
Nawwar Mercho $1,000
Aruna Namburi $1,000
Johnston for Prosecutor
Committee
Harold R. Johnston $9,448
Geri Johnston $1,654
Joyce E. Oehler $1,000
Committee to Elect
Sarah Mullican
Mark and Sarah Mullican
$20,000
Ann E. Burkholder $1,000
Committee to Elect Terry
Modesitt for Prosecutor
Vigo County Republican Central Committee $2,000
Gerald Modesitt $1,000
Note: Figures include direct contributions, loans and in-kind donations.
Candidate Funds contributed Funds remaining Funds contributed
as of April 7 as of April 7 since April 7 *
Mike Ellis (D) $34,987 $7,366 $22,000
Hal Johnston (D) $10,987 $3,816 $4,340
Sarah Mullican (D) $61,450 $10,622 None disclosed
Terry Modesitt (R) $ 3,600 $1,309 None disclosed
Note: These figures were rounded to the nearest dollar
* As reported since April 17 in $1,000 or more donations.
