By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

State senator-elect Slade Blackwell and Alabama House of Representatives candidate Jimmy Martin are the top local fundraisers for their respective legislative branches, according to campaign finance reports filed with the Alabama secretary of state’s office.

Blackwell, who defeated Steve French during the June Republican primary election to represent Senate District 15, has raised $167,875 in contributions.

Blackwell’s top contributors were the Anniston-based Marsh for Senate group, the Daphne-based Friends of Tripp Pittman group, the Green Political Action Committee and the Alabama Power Employees State PAC.

Clanton resident Jimmy Martin, the Democratic candidate for the District 42 state House of Representatives seat, has raised $48,000 in contributions. Martin’s top contributors were the Alabama Education Association’s AVOTE PAC and the Secure PAC.

Martin’s Republican opponent, Kurt Wallace, reported $13,600 in donations. His top contributors were the Chilton County Republican Party, the Shelby County Republican Party and Maplesville resident Wade Burt.

Republican District 41 House of Representatives candidate Mike Hill, a Columbiana resident, raised $17,550. His top donors were the Community Bankers Association of Alabama PAC and the Ala-TON Committee.

In the House District 43 race, Republican Pelham resident Mary Sue McClurkin raised $19,330. Her top contributors were the Farm PAC and the United PAC.

McClurkin’s Democratic opponent, Virginia Sweet, raised $25,080. Sweet’s top donors were Birmingham residents Jane Comer and William Smith.

District 48 house candidate Greg Canfield, a Republican who ran unopposed, reported contributions totaling $7,950. Canfield’s highest contributions came from the Retailers of Alabama PAC and the AGC Contractors of America PAC.

Alabaster resident April Weaver, the Republican District 49 representative-elect from Alabaster, reported $23,500 in contributions. Her top donors were the Farm PAC and the Group PAC.

GOP District 50 house representative-elect Jim McClendon also ran unopposed, and reported $7,203 in contributions. His top donors were the TRUK PAC and the Associated General Contractors.

In addition to Blackwell, two other local senators-elect also detailed their most recent campaign contributions.

Ward, a Republican senator-elect from Alabaster, faced no opposition for the Senate District 14 seat, and was elected to represent the district in the June Republican primary election.

Ward has raised $84,000, and his top donors were the Retail PAC, Associated General Contractors, the Trial PAC and the ED PAC.

District 16 senator-elect Jabo Waggoner raised $55,450, and his top contributors were the Alabama Republican Party and the Retailers of Alabama PAC.