Drew Curtis may not have raised the most money for the 2015 gubernatorial election, but he did manage to raise funds from the most eccentric group of donors.
Wil Wheaton of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" fame, "Mythbusters" star Adam Savage, infamous author Tucker Max and science fiction writer John Scalzi are among Curtis’ campaign contributors.
Curtis, a Lexington-based tech entrepreneur and founder of Fark.com, is running for governor as an independent. Polls show a tight race, but Curtis is trailing Democrat Jack Conway and Republican Matt Bevin. In a Bluegrass Poll released late last month, Curtis drew 7 percent.
When asked about the out-of-state contributors, Curtis said in a statement that his time in the business world helped him cultivate relationships with people from all over the U.S.
"I've made great friendships all over the country in my time with Fark, and I always tell them about what an amazing place Kentucky is to live in,” Curtis said.
Savage, an industrial/special effects designer and TV personality best known for the Discovery Channel series "MythBusters," donated $1,000 in May to Curtis’ campaign, according to Curtis' filings this week with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance.
Savage said via Twitter that he would move to Kentucky if Curtis won the election.
Wheaton, who played Welsey Crusher on "Star Trek: The Next Generation" in the late '80s and early '90s, donated $1,000 in September. Following his time on the U.S.S. Enterprise, Wheaton has been an advocate for mental health and overall geek icon.
Also, Curtis got a $250 donation from Tucker Max in June. Max wrote "I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell," a controversial collection of non-fiction stories where he chronicles his drunken sexual conquests throughout his 20s. The book, which reached No. 1 on The New York Times bestseller list, eventually became a feature film. The release of that movie was met with protests.
Max has reportedly cleaned up his image. His Twitter photo is now complete with a family portrait featuring Max, his wife and a baby.
When I mentioned on Twitter that Max contributed to Curtis' campaign, he replied, “Yes I did. He's awesome. Would be the best thing to ever happen to Kentucky (after Coach Cal)."
Scalzi, who recently signed a $3.4 million, 10-year deal with the publisher Tor Books, gave the Curtis campaign $1,000 in August.
According to the New York Times, Scalzi’s notable works “include a series known as the “Old Man’s War” and the more recent “Redshirts,” a Hugo Award-winning send-up of the luckless lives of non-featured characters on shows like the original ‘Star Trek.’”
The Curtis campaign can also boast a list of interesting business founders who are also contributors. Among them: Stone Brewing Co. founder Greg Koch and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. There was also a smattering of people in the tech industry on Curtis’ financial disclosure.
"In my years as an entrepreneur, I've been fortunate to be able to work with what amounts to an all-star team of technology and business experts," Curtis said in a statement. "If we're serious about making Kentucky a tech-friendly state, I can deliver."
Curtis has $1,942 in his campaign coffers, according to his state campaign filing. He's raised $42,909.