By JIM BUTLER

Legislators representing parts of Rapides received a half-million dollars in contributions in 2024 with Political Action Committees accounting for a third of that.

Those totals are gleaned from required finance reports filed this month. The next legislative elections will be in 2027.

District 31 Sen. Alan Seabaugh’s $122,000 total led the way, as did his $33,100 from PACs.

The delegation’s campaign funds on hand at year’s end totaled $1.2 million, with Sen. Mike Reese the leader by far at $583,000.

Notes from the campaign committees’ reports (available at the Ethics Commission website):

Seabaugh – $122,900 on hand at year’s end, including $50,000 loan from him; $2,500 contributors include Martin Sustainable Resources, Alexandria; expenses include $1,218.73 monthly for vehicle lease; Reese – campaign income included $18,475 interest on investments, $20,749 from PACs; Pan American Engineers among $2,500 contributors;

Sen. Jay Luneau – $22,300 collected, with $8,000 from PACs; 446Sports, Alexandria, among $2,500 donors; $179,400 on hand; Sen. Heather Cloud – $68,200 raised includes $14,000 PACs; $2,500 contributors included Stevenson & Pam Ayres, Diamond B Construction, Pan American Engineers, Alexandria; $105,000 on hand year end;

Sen. Jay Morris – $36,000 received, including $20,250 PACs; Pan American Engineers among $2,500 contributors; expenses include $20,000 to LA Judicial Integrity PAC; $48,100 on hand; Sen. Glenn Womack – $56,000 collected, with $13,800 from PACs; $38,000 on hand;

Rep. Mike Johnson (House Speaker Pro Tempore) – $44,500  in contributions, $42,000 of that PACs or corporations; Pan American Engineers among $2,500 contributors; expenses include $23,600 for political consultants; $277,000 on hand; Rep. Jason DeWitt – $41,300 collected, including $11,200 from PACs; Pan American Engineers, Sam Mahfouz among $2,500 contributors, expenses include air fare $668, lodging $1,300, fees $1,150 Republican National Committee, Milwaukee; $18,800 on hand;

Rep. Ed Larvadain III – $12,000 collected with $6,000 from PACs; expenses include $2,000 each to Alexandria City Council campaigns of Malcolm Larvadain, Jules Green; $15,300 on hand; Rhonda Butler – $27,300 collected, with $13,800 from PACs; Pan American Engineers among $2,500 contributors; $76,600 on hand.