Local political candidates and political groups burned through about $200,000 in the run-up to August’s primary election, but their spending dropped dramatically for this week’s more subdued general election.

With most partisan offices featuring unopposed Republicans on the ballot, new campaign finance reports show Park County candidates and groups only spent around $27,000 between August and last week.

Most of the money went to local legislative races.

House District 24

The Republican nominee for House District 24, Quin Blair of Cody, emerged as the top local spender since August.

Blair reported spending $7,576 on digital ads, ads in the Powell Tribune and the Cody Journal, along with a small amount of consulting. Blair’s spending was offset by $1,950 worth of contributions from four donors and a committee representing Black Hills Energy. Thanks to his fundraising earlier in the year, Blair still has about $2,100 left in his campaign account.

He defeated freshman Rep. Nina Webber, R-Cody, in the GOP primary election by a nearly two-to-one margin. Webber still had $14,820.18 in her campaign coffers as of Wednesday.

House District 50

To the east, in House District 50, Republican candidate David Hill of Cody reported $6,273 worth of expenditures in his general election race with Libertarian candidate Carrie Satterwhite of Ralston. Hill spent the money on radio and newspaper ads, travel, digital advertising, supplies, a donation to Park County Search and Rescue and babysitting.

Since his August win over Republican Levi Asay, Hill reported receiving $5,700.

That included $2,800 from Wyoming political action committees representing realtors, state employees, the hospitality industry and another tied to outgoing Gov. Mark Gordon, plus $500 from the federal Common Values PAC. The federal committee, which is chaired by U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., gave $500 to every GOP contender for the state House and $1,000 to every Republican candidate for the Wyoming Senate.

Hill got another $1,400 from five individuals — including Rep. Andrew Byron of Jackson and former House Speaker Albert Sommers of Pinedale — plus $1,000 from the Park County Republican Party.

As for Satterwhite, the Ralston resident reported spending only $80. She’s since spent additional money on newspaper ads.

Senate District 19

Although he’s unopposed, former Sen. R.J. Kost has spent $3,677.88 in recent months on newspaper ads in Basin, Lovell and Powell, plus digital ads. He had some money left over from the primary while picking up a $500 contribution from a political action committee representing the Federated Fire Fighters of Wyoming and $1,000 from the Virginia-based Common Values PAC.

House District 26 and 28

The top local fundraiser in recent months has been Ralph Nieder-Westermann, the Democratic candidate for House District 26. No Democrats initially filed for the position, but Nieder-Westermann made the general election ballot by receiving 29 write-in votes (above the 25-vote threshold) in the primary.

The Greybull resident is challenging incumbent Rep. Dalton Banks, R-Cowley.

Since Sept. 4, Nieder-Westermann has reportedly raised $15,902 — more than five times what Banks collected during the same time period. The overwhelming majority of the funds — $14,695 — came from 81 out-of-state donors, with about half of them hailing from California.

The remaining $1,207 came from seven Wyoming donors, the Wyoming Right to Choose PAC and a half-dozen anonymous cash contributions.

Despite the fundraising haul, Nieder-Westermann reported only spending about $1,520 on travel, shirts, catering and a facility rental for an event, banking, postage and other supplies. He still had over $14,380 on hand as of Oct. 28.

As for Banks, he received $1,000 apiece from fellow GOP Reps. Ocean Andrew of Laramie and Tomi Strock of Douglas, plus $500 from both the Big Horn County Republican Party and the Common Values PAC.

Banks reported spending about $1,532 — just above Nieder-Westermann’s total — on ads in the Lovell Chronicle and Greybull Standard, Facebook ads, signs and travel.

In southern Park County, Republican House District 28 candidate Allen Hogg of Meeteetse reported spending just less than $2,000, while his Democratic opponent, Larry Alwin of Thermopolis, spent about $48.

House District 25

It’s been more quiet in the Powell area, where unopposed House District 25 candidate John Wetzel reported spending $965. That reportedly went toward consulting, an event at The Bull Pub in Cowley, Tribune ads and printing. The purchases were offset by $500 from the Common Values PAC and $200 from a Powell donor.

The Republican, who currently serves as Powell’s mayor, reported having about $3,500 on hand.

School boards

In the race for four available seats on the Powell school board, the six candidates reported varying amounts of spending.

Among the newcomers, David Burke reported buying $1,058 worth of signs. Jon Allen, meanwhile, spent $850 on yard signs, magnetic signs and Tribune ads, with about $664 from his wallet and $200 from a donor in Clark.

The other newcomer, Laurie Larsen, spent $300 on Powell Tribune ads after raising $350 from four donors.

Among the three incumbent trustees, Dusty Paul spent $138 on signs, while Beau Fulton and Lillian Brazelton spent nothing.

Over on the Cody school board, four candidates are vying for three seats.

Newcomer Wes Werbelow led the spending, reportedly buying $891.46 worth of yard signs; $644 came from his own pocket and the rest from three donors.

Meanwhile, incumbents Brandi Nelson and Cathy Roes spent $770 and $719.45, respectively, on campaign signs. Nelson got $500 from a Cody donor, while Roes received $100 from a family member, with the rest coming from their own pockets.

Another Cody school board hopeful, Faith Kingston, spent $200 on signs, handbills and postcard stamps, with $150 from a pair of donors and the rest from family.

None of the Meetestee school board candidates reported any spending, nor did the unopposed candidates for the Northwest College board of trustees.

County offices

Among the 10 Republicans who are running unopposed for county offices, Park County Clerk candidate Hans Odde was the only one to spend any money since the primary. He reported buying $740 worth of ads from the Cody Enterprise.

City Council

Though Powell has three contested city council races, that didn’t translate into much spending. Among the seven candidates on the general election ballot, Ward 1 council contender Steve Nickles was the only one to spend any money since the primary. He reported purchasing a Powell Tribune ad for $278.10.

Similarly, none of the unopposed Cody City Council candidates — incumbents Don Shreve and Kelly Tamblyn and newcomer Joseph Burrell — spent any money in recent months. The Meeteetse town council and mayoral candidates didn’t feel the need to open their pocketbooks, either.

Local PACs

The Cody Country PAC reported spending $2,152 on radio and newspaper ads and yard signs backing the proposed 1% special purpose tax for several local projects. Funding came from three Cody donors.

Another local PAC, For The People Park 6, spent money in the primary to promote candidates backed by the conservative Park County Patriots group, but didn’t report any spending for the general election.

The Park County Neighbors PAC also said it had not spent any money as of Oct. 27, but the group recently purchased newspaper ads promoting a slate of candidates and issues.