Currituck County's hotly contested races in Tuesday's elections are drawing both big money and charges about how some campaign expenditures are being reported.

No fewer than four candidates for commissioner and sheriff reported campaign contributions earlier this week greater than $3,000, the threshold that triggers the state's reporting requirement.

Gloria Shytles, the Republican candidate for commissioner in Moyock Township, led all candidates by raising $9,000 for her campaign.

Board of Commissioners Chairman Paul O'Neal, a Republican candidate for re-election in Poplar Branch Township, raised the second-highest amount of campaign funds, reporting contributions of $7,500.

Sheriff Susan Johnson, a Democratic incumbent seeking a second four-year term, was third, reporting contributions totalling $5,230.

Gene Gregory, a Democrat seeking the at-large seat on the Board of Commissioners, was fourth, reporting contributions of $3,198.30.

Gregory, who didn't report his campaign contributions until Wednesday, is the target of an official complaint by the county Republican Party.

Arnold Argandona, chairman of the Currituck GOP, charged in a recent letter to the county Board of Elections that Gregory had violated state campaign laws by not "identifying the sponsors of (his) large signs and billboards."

"It is clear to me that the billboards would run him great expense and exceed the allowed $3,000 limit set by his filing to not spend any more than ($3,000)," Argandona's letter states. "I am requesting an investigation into this matter."

Most of the contributions to Gregory's campaign are from his own funds. His biggest contribution was from M.G. Moore of Point Harbor, who gave his campaign $400.

Gregory said he owns the three billboards he's using for his campaign but is renting the frames they're attached to from Givens Sign Company, Gary Ambrose and Ronnie Cooper. He doesn't know yet what the frame rentals will cost, he said.

"I will get the bills after (the billboards) are taken down and will report what it cost at that time," Gregory said. "I'm not getting anything for free. I've got a good bargain on these signs in previous years, but I have no idea what they're going to charge me."

Gregory acknowledged that his signs, which he's used for previous elections, might not meet current election laws requiring sponsors to be identified. He said he would be willing to identify the sponsors if the law requires it.

Currituck Elections Director Mary Etheridge said Gregory did not have to declare the cost of the frame rentals until he had spent monies for them.

But O'Neal said candidates should let voters know before the elections how much their billboards cost their campaigns.

"Billboards aren't free ... I've declared mine, I think they should declare theirs," O'Neal said.

According to O'Neal's campaign report, he received $2,000 from Eric Avery, the president of BD&A, a realty company, and another $2,000 from Raju Uppalapati, BD&A's CEO. O'Neal, however, said he returned $1,000 to each man because it's his policy not to accept contributions of more than $1,000.

O'Neal's Democratic opponent in Poplar Branch, Barry Nelms, had not declared his contributions as of Thursday, but said he expects to soon reach the $3,000 threshold.

According to her report, Shytles' contributions are from three individuals connected to her employer, Moyock-based Blackwater USA. Shytles received $3,000 from Erik Prince, Blackwater's founder; $3,000 from Joanna Prince, who lists Blackwater's address; and $3,000 from Gary Flannelly, Blackwater's vice president of operations.

At the time of her filing, Shytles still had more than $7,000 left in her campaign fund.

Shytles' opponent, Democrat Janet Taylor, reported contributions of $2,900. Her largest contribution was $400 from Charles S. Friedman of 500 Pacific Ave, Va. Beach.

According to her report, contributions to Johnson's campaign included $995 from Charles Youts of Powells Point, $1,000 from Phyllis Webb of Moyock and $1,000 from Bonnie Curling of Aydlett.

Paul Martin, the Republican incumbent for the at-large seat, and Greg Wirth, the unaffiliated candidate for that seat, had not filed expenditure reports as of Wednesday. Neither had Art Kirwan, Johnson's Republican opponent in the sheriff's race.