Lee reports campaign fundraising in candidacy for sheriff

The race to be elected DeSoto County Sheriff will take fundraising to successfully accomplish the desired result and the two candidates for the post are reporting growing war chests as their campaigns ramp up even more.  

Monday, Michael Lee, the current District 5 Supervisor running to replace the retiring Sheriff Bill Rasco, reported his campaign had raised more than $213,000 since announcing his bid for sheriff. That’s a figure his campaign said is the most ever raised by a local candidate.  

“We are grateful for the support we continue to receive from local residents who are responding to our leadership as supervisor and who are excited to help fuel our mission as sheriff,” Lee said in a news release.  Lee’s campaign stated that DeSoto County is a “red” county, but it’s also inside a very expensive Memphis media market, so sound financial backing will be needed to get Lee’s message out.  

Meanwhile, in mid-January, Thomas Tuggle reported having raised over $100,000 since entering the campaign for sheriff. The former Director of the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers’ Training  Academy, Tuggle reported raising $113,352 during the 2022 calendar year. His campaign said that Tuggle did not begin collecting campaign funds till the summer.

“This is my first campaign for public office,” Tuggle said. “I’m honored that so many individuals have placed their confidence in me by donating to our campaign for sheriff. Our team is frugal resulting in a campaign balance of over $100,000.”