Starting Points
Patterns the data already shows — the rabbit holes that usually take a spreadsheet to find. Every line links into the records behind it.
Biggest self-funders
Campaigns funded mostly by the candidate — money given directly or loaned to their own campaign. That can read as skin in the game, or as a campaign without much of a donor base behind it; the data only says where the money came from.
| Candidate | Office | Own money | Of total raised |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regina Newman | County Trustee | $71,692 | 93% of $77K |
| Marcy Ingram | Gen. Sess. Civil Ct. Judge, Div. 2 | $50,215 | 89% of $56K |
| Brad Less | Sheriff | $35,832 | 82% of $43K |
| Joseph Lee, III | County Trustee | $32,600 | 54% of $60K |
| Lena Chipman | Shelby County Commissioner, Dist. 13 | $25,648 | 60% of $43K |
| Michael Whaley | Shelby County Commissioner, Dist. 13 | $25,000 | 51% of $49K |
| Eddie Jones | Probate Court Clerk | $20,349 | 86% of $24K |
| Keisha Scott | Sheriff | $18,200 | 95% of $19K |
Single-employer donor blocs
Three or more donors who share an employer, giving to the same candidate. A bloc can be ordinary workplace enthusiasm — or coordinated giving worth a closer look.
| Employer | Candidate | Donors | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shelby County Sheriff's Office | Anthony J. Buckner (Sheriff) | 115 | $103,960 |
| Boyle Investment Co. | Derek Mills (Shelby County Commissioner, Dist. 2) | 5 | $16,200 |
| Boyle Investment Co. | Anthony J. Buckner (Sheriff) | 5 | $15,700 |
| Tower Ventures | Mark Billingsley (Shelby County Commissioner, Dist. 4) | 6 | $13,900 |
| FedEx | Mickell M. Lowery (Shelby County Mayor) | 14 | $11,867 |
| Prewett Ent Inc | Derek Mills (Shelby County Commissioner, Dist. 2) | 3 | $11,400 |
| Boyle Investment Co. | JB Smiley Jr. (Shelby County Mayor) | 6 | $10,118 |
| Tower Ventures | JB Smiley Jr. (Shelby County Mayor) | 4 | $9,986 |
| The Marston Group | J.W. Gibson, II (Shelby County Mayor) | 3 | $8,600 |
| Youth Villages | Jevonte Porter (Shelby County Commissioner, Dist. 12) | 8 | $7,700 |
| Shelby County Government | Melvin Burgess (Shelby County Mayor) | 17 | $7,340 |
| Tower Ventures | Mickell M. Lowery (Shelby County Mayor) | 3 | $6,200 |
| Community Mortgage | Tony Salvaggio (Germantown Mayor) | 3 | $5,800 |
| Shelby County Government | Heidi Kuhn (Shelby County Mayor) | 9 | $5,700 |
| Shelby County Government | Harold Collins (Shelby County Mayor) | 5 | $5,600 |
Highest small-donor share
Campaigns where at least 40% of contributions came in amounts of $200 or less — often a sign of a broad grassroots base.
| Candidate | Office | Small-donor amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence Denton Jr. | Criminal Court Clerk | $23,457 | 58% |
| Carla Stotts | Criminal Court Clerk | $2,765 | 51% |
| Arriell Gipson-Martin | County Clerk | $5,726 | 48% |
How these lists are built: every row derives from Shelby County records already published on this site — self-funders are campaigns over $10,000 and majority self-funded; employer blocs need 3+ donors and $5,000 combined, with at most 2 blocs shown per candidate so one large campaign doesn't crowd out the rest; small-donor list requires at least 40% of contributions ≤$200 on at least $5,000 raised. Lists cap at 15 rows.