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Candidates file spending reports

Rob Gebhart

Republican Moffat County commissioner candidates have slowed their campaign spending, and their opponents are upping the ante with less than three weeks to go before Election Day.

Stan Hathhorn and Terry Carwile lead in fund raising during the last finance report period, which ended Tuesday. The two shared major campaign contributors, and Hathhorn has donated $400 to Carwile’s campaign.

This report period marked the first time Hathhorn has reported money in his campaign account. He raised $5,800 during the past month and spent $4,753, mostly on advertising.



His wife, Lolly Hathhorn, donated $2,500 to his campaign. Other major contributors included George Lewis, who gave $1,000, Charlie Watkins, who gave $500, and Linda Booker, who gave $250.

Former Craig mayor and Republican Saed Tayyara is running against Hathhorn, an independent candidate and owner of Magnum Metals. They are competing for the District 2 seat being vacated by Commissioner Marianna Raftopoulos, who is leaving office because of term limits.



Tayyara raised $600 during the last report period, $400 of which came from the Moffat County Republican Central Committee. Friends of Scott McInnis (a Republican Congressman from Grand Junction) and Larry Poole of Craig donated $100 to Tayyara’s campaign.

Tayyara’s largest recent campaign expense came during the previous reporting period. Partnered with Moffat County Coroner Owen Grant, Tayyara bought a steer at the Moffat County 4-H Livestock auction.

Tayyara and fellow Republican Tom Gray said they expected to spend less than their opponents, because they bought campaign signs during their primary races. Both plan to begin strong advertising campaigns in the days leading up to the election.

Gray, Carwile, and Tayyara said they have each been campaigning by knocking on doors and meeting residents to discuss issues in the race.

Hathhorn refuses to talk to Daily Press reporters.

Gray, owner of a small cow-calf operation north of Craig, is running against Democrat Carwile, a coal miner at Trapper Mine, for the District 1 commissioner seat being vacated by Commissioner Les Hampton. Gray defeated Hampton in the August Republican primary.

Gray raised $868 from five contributors during the last reporting period, including $400 from the Republican Central Committee. He spent $278 of his own money. His major expense was $150 to sponsor the Moffat County High School Rodeo.

Carwile has raised $3,105, and he’s spent $1,939, mostly on advertising and postage. His major contributors include the Democratic Committee of Moffat County, which gave $1,150, Charlie Watkins, who donated $300, and George Lewis, who gave $200.

Carwile could not be reached for comment.


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