Floyd County Sheriff Tim Burkhalter spent just under $40,000 to net a new four-year term in office, according to his year-end financial statement.

Candidates in the 2012 elections have until 11:59 p.m. tonight to file their final campaign finance reports or face a $125 late fee.

Burkhalter, a Democrat, reported spending $39,631.64 out of the $51,618.17 in contributions he took during the previous 12 months.

He coasted to victory over his Republican challenger, Cary Cooper, 21,108 to 10,517, in the November election.

Cooper reported spending $8,566.86, including $3,219 of his own money. He closed out his campaign with a zero balance.

Reportable donations came in from the Floyd County Republican Party, $500; former GOP sheriff candidate Steve Hulsey, $150; and local residents Max Huff, $150, and Ken Smith, $350.

Burkhalter ended the year with $25,259.77 in his war chest, a balance that takes into account a nest egg from earlier campaigns. It does not include $25,115 in debt, which remains outstanding.

More than 50 donors contributed $100 or more — the point at which names must be reported individually — and 18 people chipped in between $1,000 and $2,500 each to Burkhalter’s campaign.

Among the major players: Frank Hanna and Frank Hanna Jr. of Summerville; Running Wild Farms owner Andrew Heaner and Mary Helen Heaner of Atlanta; local attorneys Robert Finnell and Terri Pierce; and Big Time Products CEO Harry Pierce of Rome.

Other candidates who have recently filed reports include Superior Court judges J. Bryant Durham and Jack Niedrach, who were unopposed for re-election.

Niedrach took no contributions in 2012. He spent $3,607.56 of his balance from a previous campaign on his election qualifying fee, and has $3,834.38 remaining.

Durham received $3,500 last year, some of it in donations totalling less than $100. Seven local law firms chipped in a total of $3,150, with more than half of it coming from Brinson Askew Berry Seigler Richardson & Davis LLP and attorney Bob Finnell.

He had a little more than $1,000 from a previous campaign and, after paying his $3,607.56 qualifying fee, has $1,081.60 remaining.

Floyd County Tax Commissioner Kevin Payne, unopposed for re-election, reported no contributions, no expenses and no cash on hand.

District Attorney Leigh Patterson took in about $3,000 for what also turned out to be an unopposed race. Major donors included Delos Yancey Jr., Delos Yancey III, Harry Pierce and Summerville attorney Bobby Lee Cook.

She listed no expenses and a bank balance of $3,231.49.

Reports are expected today from state Rep. Katie Dempsey, R-Rome, and from some of the candidates in several contested races — Floyd County Commission Posts 1, 2 and 3, state Senate District 52 and Superior Court clerk.

Republican state Rep.-elect Eddie Lumsden reported spending $57,778 to oust incumbent Democrat Barbara Massey Recce from the District 12 seat. Reece spent $53,820 on the race.