Johnson County attorney outraises challenger in primary election

IOWA CITY - Johnson County Attorney Janet Lyness raised nearly two and half times more money this year than her challenger in the June 3 Democratic primary.

Lyness reported $11,890 in cash contributions in the most recent filing period, running Jan. 1 through May 14, according to a report filed Monday with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board. She had $1,197 at the start of the period, giving her $13,087 total.

Zimmerman, meanwhile, brought in $4,707.

With no other candidates at this time, the winner between Lyness and Zimmerman in the party primary in two weeks has the inside track on being elected county attorney in November's general election.

The campaign has drawn more attention than is typical for the office.

Lyness is in her eighth year as county attorney and was an assistant Johnson County attorney for 17 years before that.

Zimmerman is a 46-year-old former pastor who graduated from law school in December and became a licensed attorney last month. He has drawn attention for saying he would not prosecute for recreational use of marijuana or public intoxication and vowing to review cases for racial bias.

Some of Zimmerman's notable contributors include Iowa City Council member Jim Throgmorton, attorney and former Iowa City Council candidate Rockne Cole, University of Iowa law professor Christopher Liebig and a few liberal community activists.

He received in-kind contributions for work done by Aleksey Gurtovoy, who led efforts against a proposed Johnson County justice center and the use of automated traffic cameras and drones in Iowa City.

Zimmerman reported $3,649 in in-kind contributions. That includes $2,180 of his own money on Facebook advertising. Three lawsuits have been filed against Zimmerman in recent months by financial institutions saying he owes them money.

Zimmerman reported that his campaign spent $3,675 for things like more advertising, yard signs and supplies.

Lyness spent $3,647 in the filing period, with her biggest expenses for advertising. She still has $4,089 in bills to pay.

Her contributors include state Sen. Bob Dvorsky, former county supervisor and state Rep. Sally Stutsman, fellow county elected officials, former county attorney J. Patrick White, some of her assistant county attorneys, UI law professors Pat Bauer and Sheldon Kurtz, Throgmorton and Johnson County supervisor candidates Mike Carberry, Lisa Green-Douglass and Janelle Rettig.

The supervisor candidates also have filed their reports.

Carberry brought in $7,382 in contributions this period. When adding his cash on hand, he had $9,171. He spent $8,057.

Diane Dunlap reported $75 in contributions and $290 in expenses.

Green-Douglass received $3,435 in contributions, a $350 loan and $105 in cash on hand for a total of $3,890 to spend. Her expenditures were $2,979.

Rettig, an incumbent, raised $8,101 this period and had $5,550 cash on hand, giving her $13,651 in cash. She reported $7,876 in expenditures.

Carberry, Dunlap, Green-Douglas and Rettig are Democrats. The only Republican candidate is incumbent John Etheredge, who reported $225 in contributions.

Two seats on the Board of Supervisors are up for election in November.