In 6th Congressional District, Rose takes big money lead over Matheny with $250K loan and Haslam help

Former state Agriculture Commissioner Charles Rose has loaned his campaign for the 6^th Congressional District Republican nomination $250,000, giving him a strong financial advantage over state Rep. Judd Matheny in the race to succeed U.S. Rep. Diane Black, according to disclosures filed with the Federal Election Commission this week.

The reports show Rose, who owns a farm and runs a small business in DeKalb County, raised $292,450 in contributions and, with the $250,000 loan, his campaign had $542,450 in receipts. He reported $74,421 in expenditures, leaving a cash-on-hand balance of $468,038 on Oct. 1.

Matheny reported $166,544 in donations to his campaign and $62,458 in expenditures, leaving a cash balance of $104,086. He reported no loans.

Perhaps the most notable donors to the Rose campaign were the father, brother and sister of Gov. Bill Haslam and their spouses. The governor’s father, James A. “Jim” Haslam, and his wife, Natalie, gave $5,000 each. Those were matched by $5,000 each from James A. “Jimmy” Haslam III and his wife, Susan (nickname “Dee”) and like amounts from the governor’s sister, Ann Haslam Bailey, and her husband, Steve.

Rhedona Rose, the candidate’s sister and executive vice president of the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation, chipped in $2,700.

Notable donors to Matheny’s campaign include Lee Beaman, multimillionaire car dealer active in conservative causes, who gave $5,400 and state Sen. Mark Green, who donated $1,000 while running for the 7^th Congressional District GOP nomination.

The only other candidate filing with the FEC, Republican Christopher Brian, reported zero contributions and zero expenditures.

Black’s disclosure, meanwhile, indicates she is winding down her congressional campaign account while running for governor. She reported $29,920 in receipts; $62,152 in spending and a cash balance of $12,409.