LA GRANDE — Money is flowing into local elections.

While voters have until May 21 to return their ballots, residents and businesses across the state are showing their support for candidates by opening their pocketbooks and bank accounts.

The following numbers are according to the Oregon Elections System for Tracking and Reporting — commonly referred to as ORESTAR — as of Thursday, May 9, and are rounded to the nearest dollar.

Union County sheriff

In January, Shane Rollins, of Cove, filed to run against incumbent Cody Bowen, for Union County sheriff.

Rollins, an excavation contractor, served 21 years in the Marine Corps. His time in the military included 10 years with its military police force.

In February the Shane Rollins for Sheriff committee, which was formed on Jan. 30, had not reported any cash contributions or expenditures.

Since then, the committee has brought in $6,100 in cash contributions and $300 in in-kind contributions. The bulk of this amount came from a $5,000 contribution from James Hutchings, of Linda, California.

Rollins has received three $200 cash contributions from Edwin Waldrip, of Summerville. Roger and Beth Upshaw, of Union, also contributed $200. The committee reported $100 in miscellaneous cash contributions.

The challenger has also received financial support from local Union County businesses. All Air HAVC contributed $200 and Moore Signs donated $300 worth of signs and stickers through in-kind contributions.

The top expenditure for Rollins’ campaign has been to VistaPrint for business cards, for $108. The campaign reported a miscellaneous $86 cash expenditure — bringing total expenditures up to $194.

Bowen is completing his first four-year term as sheriff. Before being elected sheriff he was a deputy and has worked for the Union County Sheriff’s Office full time since 2011.

Bowen has continued to receive contributions from both local businesses and residents. Since February the Committee to Elect Cody Bowen for Union County Sheriff has brought in another $10,800 — bringing the total cash contributions up to $27,300.

In February, Bowen’s campaign had received contributions from four businesses: 516 Ranch, $10,000, the largest contribution; B&K Auto Salvage, $2,500; Grande Ronde Angus, $2,500; and CAM Credits, $500.

Since then, Rock & Sons has contributed $1,000. The Lodge at Hot Lake Springs, RD Mac and Bud Jackson’s Eatery and Taps each contributed $500 to Bowen’s campaign. S&G Machinery gave $300.

Seven Union County residents joined Sherry Haeger, of Cove, and Paul Swigert, of La Grande, in financially supporting Bowen’s Campaign. (Haeger and Swigert each had contributed $500).

Rob Lane, of La Grande, made the largest contribution from an individual, with a $5,000 donation.

Phillip Hickman, of Cove, Sharon Beck Family Trust, of Cove, Mary Jane Johnson, of Cove, and Hazel Alexis, of La Grande, each donated $500. Rosina Armon, of La Grande, gave $250, and Pete Caldwell, of La Grande, contributed $200.

Bowen’s committee has paid a total of $16,906 in expenditures. His top campaign expenses remain $8,000 to The Ad Dad for media services and $5,000 to Minarich Investments for campaign management.

Meadow Outdoor Advertising now lands in the No. 3 spending spot, with Bowen’s committee paying $2,160 for billboard advertising.

Circuit court

Oregon’s 10th Judicial Circuit Court serves both Union and Wallowa counties and has two elected judges.

Judge Thomas Powers is running for reelection for Position 1, which he has held since April 2017. No one else has filed for the race. Powers has not reported a candidate committee.

Candidates are not required to create candidate committees if they act as their own treasurer, do not already have a candidate committee and do not expect to spend or receive more than $750 on campaign-related costs during the calendar year, according to the 2024 Campaign Finance Manual published by the Secretary of State Elections Division.

In September 2023, Jared Boyd, a Union County defense attorney, filed to run against incumbent Wes Williams for Position 2 on the 10th Judicial Circuit Court. Williams was elected to Position 2 in 2018.

Since February the Citizens to Re-Elect Judge Wes Williams has received $8,115 in contributions, which includes a $5,000 contribution from Williams himself. This brings the total his campaign has received up to $15,265.

Joining the 15 Oregonians who had donated to his campaign at the time of the last reporting are:

• Beverly White, of La Grande, $200

• Robert Hulden, of Union, $500

• Carolina Porter, of La Grande, $500

• Don Mosier, of La Grande, $500

• Jeff Wallace, of The Dalles, $300

Williams has continued to receive a number of miscellaneous cash contributions ranging between $15 and $200.

Williams and his wife, Jennifer, each initially contributed $10,000 — totaling $20,000 — toward the campaign as a nonexempt loan.

The top expenditure for his campaign has been to Elkhorn Media Group for radio advertising, for $8,644. Morel Ink lands in the No. 2 spending spot, with Williams’ committee paying $6,966 for mailers, and The Observer takes the No. 3 spot, with $4,000 spent for newspaper advertising.

Overall, for both cash expenditures and personal expenditure for reimbursement, the committee has spent $32,349.

Boyd announced in November 2023 that he planned to entirely self-fund his campaign. Boyd has contributed $30,000 to his campaign fund as a nonexempt loan. The Jared Boyd for Judge committee has not received any cash contributions.

Boyd’s top campaign expense has been to Elkhorn Media Group with a grand total of $7,748 — $6,552 for radio advertising and $1,196 for social media management. In total his committee has spent $19,361.