Johnson auditor race sees more donor support for challenger

IOWA CITY – Johnson County Auditor Tom Slockett did not receive as much money from contributors as his opponent in next month's primary election, but thanks to a loan to himself, he has more cash.

Slockett, a Democrat, reported $2,085 in cash contributions between Jan. 1 and May 14, compared with $4,961 for fellow Democrat and challenger Travis Weipert, according to campaign finance reports due Monday with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board.

Slockett loaned his campaign $10,000 and also had $725 left over from the previous reporting period. After expenses, he had $12,792 cash on hand heading into the final days of the race, versus $4,194 for Weipert.

Slockett had $6,607 in unpaid bills. Weipert owed $4,283.

Slockett and Weipert are running in the June 5 Democratic primary election for Johnson County auditor, which will decide who is the party's candidate in the Nov. 6 general election. There is no Republican candidate for the office.

Slockett, 65, of Iowa City, has been Johnson County's auditor and elections commissioner since 1977. Weipert, 31, of Tiffin, is an accountant and a City Council member.

Notable contributors to Slockett's campaign include Iowa City Council member Jim Throgmorton; former Johnson County Attorney J. Patrick White; David Johnson, a West Branch Democrat running for state representative; and former Iowa City Council member Carol deProsse.

Weipert is the rare challenger to garner significant support from the party establishment against an incumbent in the same party.

Among his contributors were: state Rep. Mary Mascher; Terry Dahms, chairman of the Johnson County Democrats; Johnson County supervisors Rod Sullivan and Janelle Rettig; county Treasurer Tom Kriz, county Recorder Kim Painter; North Liberty City Council member Gerry Kuhl; and former Iowa City Mayor John Balmer.

Slockett is being investigated by the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board for circulating his re-election paperwork at work in March and other accusations of using public resources for political purposes in violation of state law.

The state board is expected to rule on the matter before the primary.

With Democrats dominating Johnson County politics, the Democratic primary in recent years has effectively decided who will be elected to county office.

Candidates not from the two main political parties can still get on the general election ballot by filing in August. Republicans also could nominate someone by convention to fill a ballot vacancy.

There are no other Johnson County contested races in the primary.