Caddo sheriff candidate Henry L. Whitehorn filed four campaign finance reports in 2023.
The first covered the period from June 1 through Sept. 4. This is the 30 days prior-to-primary report. The second report was for the time period from Sept. 5 through Sept. 24. This is the 10-day prior-to-primary-election report. The third report covered the period from Sept. 25 through Oct. 29. This is the 10-day prior-to-general-election report.The fourth covered the interval from Oct. 30 through Dec.18. This is the 40th day after the general election report.
The primary election was held on Oct. 14. The general election was on Nov. 18. The first report (30 days prior to primary) reflected an in-kind contribution from the law office of Joshua Williams of $1,500 for campaign headquarters rent (July- September).
The subsequent financial reports do not reflect any expenditure for rent or any in-kind contribution for rent. The Whitehorn campaign has continued to maintain its campaign headquarters at the Williams building on Jewella for October to December of 2023.
Another item of interest is the funds on hand listed in the fourth report of $50,652.19 on Dec. 18. This is the same amount of funds listed on hand in the third report that ended Oct. 29. Thus, the fourth report indicates no campaign contributions between Oct. 30 and Dec. 18, which encompasses the general election on Nov. 18. In addition, the fourth report does not list any campaign expenses between Oct. 30 and Dec. 18.
On both election dates, the Whitehorn campaign had workers located near the polls with T-shirts and signs. No expenditures are listed for these workers. If these workers were paid by a third person, the expense should have been reported. And if they were not paid, then in-kind contributions should have been listed.
These reports raise several serious questions:
1. Why no rent actually paid or reflected as in-kind contribution for the months of October to December?
2. Is it correct that no campaign contributions were received after Oct. 29 for the Nov. 18 general election?
3. Is it correct that there were no campaign expenses after Oct. 29 for the Nov. 18 general election?
Campaign finance reports are required by Louisiana law, and candidates are held to a high standard for timely, accurate filings by the Louisiana Ethics Administration. The fourth campaign reports raise obvious questions that will most likely necessitate the filing of an amended campaign report(s).