The first campaign finance reports are in for candidates running for local elections. This is our first glimpse to see how Asheville City Council candidates are doing in the race for campaign cash.
No matter how much we like to talk issues and policy, the fact is that you can’t win if you don’t have the money. You can spend the most and still lose, but that’s rare. There’s a pretty direct correlation between spending and winning.
So here’s a quick look at City Council candidates. The reporting period started April 27 and ended July 7. I haven’t taken the time to digest it all yet. But at first blush, it appears that the field is already separating.
We’ve got Mayor Terry Bellamy amassing a crushing campaign war chest against negligible competition. For council, we’ve got Kelly “Money bags” Miller and Esther “Money bags” Manheimer putting up big numbers, with newcomer Gordon Smith right behind. Although there’s no updated report from Cecil Bothwell, I have to believe that he’s doing some solid fund-raising, as well.
Here you go –
Asheville Mayor candidates:
– Terry Bellamy: The city’s mayor has raised $20,807 and spent $16,000.
Donor’s include: Gallery owner John Cram, $1,000; Scott Dedman of Mountain Housing Opportunities, where Bellamy used to work, $350; Cindy Weeks, developer, $350; Ann Hardman, a Georgia minister, $500; Jan Davis, vice mayor on Asheville City Council, $200; funeral home owner Jesse Ray Jr., $100; Maria Roloff, a Mission Hospitals official, $100; developer Tony Fraga, $4,000; developer Winston Pulliam Sr., $500.
See a page of her report here.
No detailed reports filed from other mayoral candidates Shad Marsh, Denise Pendleton and Robert Edwards.
Asheville City Council candidates
– Kelly Miller: Has raised $18,155 and spent $10,547. Miller loaned himself $9,000.
Donors include: architect Peter Alberice, $300; consultant Becky Anderson, $100; Jane Anderson, vice president of the Chamber of Commerce, where Miller also works, $100; Lou Bissette, former Asheville mayor, $250; attorney Guy Clerici, who sits on the Pack Square Conservancy board with Miller, $500; Joe Brummit, co-owner of Arby’s franchise, $250; gallery owner John Cram, $250; Ann Davis of Jan Davis Tire (he’s on City Council), $250.
See a page of Miller’s report here.
– Esther Manheimer: Has raised $13,669 and spent $11,166.
Donors include: Attorney Fred Barbour, $200; attorney Leah Broker, $100; attorney Jones Byrd, $250; retired businessman Cecil Cantrell, $200; attorney Carolyn Coward, $500; City Councilman Jan Davis, $100; attorney Roy Davis, $500; Scott Dedman of Mountain Housing Opportunities, $100; attorney Bob Deutsch, $250; attorney Stephen Grabenstein, $250.
See a page of Manheimer’s report here.
– Gordon Smith: Looks like he’s raised $7,690 and spent about $8,290. There’s no summary page, so I’m not sure.
Donors include: Lots of small donors. Attorney Henry Bostwick, $145; David Flander, president of DFPro Inc., $125; activist Barry Summers, $100.
See a page of Smith’s report here.
No updated reports on file from candidates Cecil Bothwell, Ryan Croft, Carl Mumpower, Cesar Romero, J. Neal Jackson, Jenny Bowen and Larry Chastain.
Go to the Buncombe County Board of Elections site to read all source documents.
6 Comments
Ash,
The BOE reposted my report correctly.
Raised – $9823
Spent – $8293
From about 115 donors.
Your readers can help me close the money gap by donating here:
http://gordonforasheville.com/donate/
I’ve raised about $130 so far, which is $130 more than I thought I would.
Thank you for the update, Cecil.
Gordon, I wondered what was up with that. Thanks for the info.
Newspaper Junkie, yes. I’m going to take a little more time to sort through the information – some of it is still coming in – and try to draw some conclusions.
Our campaign treasurer will file the report by the end of the month (as required by election law). But we keep a running rough total posted on the campaign Web site because we believe in complete transparency. We are up to about $12,500 from well over 220 donors.
As usual, you’re out ahead of the media (even your own newspaper) in publishing this. Are you going to do an analysis (in your view) of the contributors? Wilma Sherrill supporting Kelly Miller, Patsy Keever supporting Gordon Smith, sitting members of council and their relatives supporting candidates. . . .what does it all mean?
Ash,
My campaign raised 9,800 and change. The BOE doesn’t link to the first 10 pages of my report. I’m sure they’ll fix it shortly.