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Yardley leads in contributions for House seat election
Financial reports filed in special election to fill Mills' vacant post
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Former Flowery Branch City Councilman Kris Yardley has raised more than twice the campaign cash of his next highest fundraising opponent in the race to fill James Mills' vacant seat in the state House of Representatives.

But attorney Sonny Sykes has the most financial supporters listed on a report filed with a state agency charged with overseeing campaign finance.

Yardley has raised $12,657 from seven contributors other than himself, compared with Sykes' $4,350 in campaign contributions from at least 14 contributors, according to reports filed with the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission.

The election to complete Mills' term as South Hall's representative is Tuesday. A last-minute peak at each candidate's finances was due at midnight.

The reports show that Mills' brother-in-law, Emory West Dunahoo Jr., has raised $5,000 in his bid for the seat.

Dunahoo received an $800 donation from Mills' campaign coffers, as well as the financial blessing of influential Hall County business leaders Jim Walters, who gave $500, and Philip Wilheit, who gave $250.

Sykes also has a $500 contribution from Walters.

According to the report filed Monday, Yardley's money comes primarily from law firms in Atlanta and Sandy Springs that specialize in personal injury cases. He received $125 donations from two former City Council colleagues, Amanda Swafford and Joseph Anglin.

Of the more than $12,000 he raised, Yardley reported he had $6,700 on hand last week.

Dominic Ottaviano, owner of two home health care businesses, reported a $500 contribution from an Ohio physician. The rest of $2,537 in Ottaviano's reported contributions came from a loan to the campaign. Ottaviano reported no cash on hand in Monday's filing.

Under Georgia law, candidates for office are required to submit a report of all money raised and spent on their campaign 15 days before their election. They have a one-week grace period to file the reports with the campaign finance commission before facing fines.

Bobby Banks, Paul Wayne Godfrey and Todd Reed have not yet submitted reports, according to the commission's website.

With the number of candidates seeking the office, Tuesday's election is likely to end in a runoff. If necessary, it will be held Dec. 6.