Unopposed mayor spent funds on party, pamphlet

John Agenbroad also donated $5,000 to Jason Gabbard.

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By Lawrence Budd, Staff Writer 4:50 PM Thursday, January 12, 2012

SPRINGBORO — Mayor John Agenbroad began the new year and his fifth term with more than $41,000 in campaign funds.

Although unopposed, Agenbroad, 64, spent another $18,858 in the final weeks leading up to the Nov. 8 election and post-election in December, according to a report filed with the Warren County Board of Elections.

The campaign’s biggest expense was $7,174 paid to Heatherwoode, the city’s golf course, for a party in the clubhouse for more than 200 supporters.

Everyone got a mug and dined on shrimp cocktail, scallops, turkey, prime rib and a variety of other foods and libations. The liquor bill was $1,410, for more than 280 drinks, according to a receipt filed with the campaign expense report.

“They all worked for a solid year for me. I wasn’t going to give them cheeseburgers and French fries,” Agenbroad said.

The campaign also spent $4,593 on a six-page “stroll down memory lane” listing accomplishments and mailed to residents, Agenbroad said.

Although he raised only a single $150 contribution, Agenbroad was able to dip into almost $60,000 in contributions raised earlier in the year, at least 18 times as much as any other candidate, most coming from outside Ohio.

Agenbroad also continued to use his campaign funds to support other candidates.

He gave $5,000 to Jason Gabbard, in a tough five-way race for Clearcreek Twp. trustee, the only contribution to Gabbard’s campaign in the final weeks leading to the election, according to reports.

Gabbard topped four candidates including Russell Jones, wife of state Sen. Shannon Jones. The Jones campaign had $10,267 on hand, more than Gabbard. But the funds included a $5,000 personal loan, only $1,750 in new contributions, according to the post-campaign report.

Agenbroad also contributed $2,000 to Warren County Sheriff Larry Sims’ campaign, although Sims wasn’t on the ballot.

At the end of this four-year term, Agenbroad will have served 20 years on city council, 18 as mayor. He plans to run again.

“Absolutely,” he said. “If I’ve got my health and I feel I can make a difference.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2261 or lbudd@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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