The January campaign finance shed light on campaign financial details beyond the mayor’s race. Incumbent Jim Graham managed to outraise sole opponent Brianne Nadeau in Ward 1, but still lagged behind her in cash on hand.
In Ward 6, meanwhile, ex-Harry Reid staffer Darrel Thompson took in the most money while, like Graham, he lagged behind rival Charles Allen in reserves.
Ward 1
Jim Graham
Raised: $58,565.00 Spent: $2,200.00. Cash on hand: $58,585.00.
Graham took in some big money, including $2,000 from companies with addresses associated with developers Cohen Siegel, $2,000 from companies associated with gas impresario Joe Mamo, and $3,000 from the employees of the Sydell Group, the New York-based company behind the Adams Morgan Hotel. Also Graham fans: the owner of Adams Morgan bar Jack Rose, which gave him $500.
Brianne Nadeau
Raised: $20,081.68. Spent: $5,504.24. Cash on hand: $80,990.65.
Nadeau took in donations from ex-Ward 6 Councilmember Sharon Ambrose ($250) and attorney to the (political) stars A. Scott Bolden ($500), and mayoral hopeful Andy Shallal ($250). Also making a contribution to Graham’s opponent: businessman Warren Williams ($500), who was involved in the Graham lotto brouhaha.
Bryan Weaver
Raised: $975. Spent: $254.78. Cash on hand: $38,444.90.
And with only $975 raised this period, Weaver leaves the Democratic primary with plans to run as an independent in the general.
Ward 3
Mary Cheh
Raised: $3,000. Spent: $2,814.33. Cash on hand: $28,492.35.
Ward 5
Kenyan McDuffie
Raised: $20,180.00 Spent: $28,671.34. Cash on hand: $21,371.83.
How does a councilmember who’s all but unopposed spend his campaign treasury? On a campaign kick-off ($1,600), yard and lamp-post signs ($13,501.10), and a headquarters ($5,000). At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds gave $250 to her colleague’s campaign.
Kathy Henderson
Raised: $3,022.93 Spent: $1,545.00. Cash on hand: $1,477.93.
Despite being outfunded by McDuffie, Henderson pulled $500 from big-time donor Douglas Development.
Ward 6
Darrel Thompson
Raised: $53,924.00 Spent: $43,027.97. Cash on hand: $77,371.12.
Thompson raised big from labor, receiving $4,000 from different union-affiliated PAC’s. Former Councilmember Harold Brazil, who used to have Thompson campaign manager Aimee Occhetti on his Council staff, kicked in $500.
Charles Allen
Raised: $30,088.00 Spent: $6,215.00. Cash on hand: $93,927.14.
Allen fell behind Thompson in fundraising, but managed to spend less than a fifth of his opponent, maintaining the advantage in cash on hand. Among Allen’s donors: former Pigskins player Darryl Pounds ($500) and developer W.C. Smith CEO Christopher Smith ($500). Allen gave $616 to his own campaign.
Shelonda Tillman
Raised: $0. Spent: $0. Cash on hand: $152.50.
At-Large
Anita Bonds
Raised: $24,375.00 Spent: $2,035.40. Cash on hand: $42,524.60.
Pedro Rubio
Raised: $1,521.00 Spent: $2,153.22. Cash on hand: $1,343.48.
Rubio provided the bulk of his campaign contributions himself, kicking in $1,321.
Nate Bennett-Fleming
Raised: $15,054.11. Spent: $6,678.93. Cash on hand: $19,409.18.
Bennett-Fleming’s donors include Shallal ($250) and fellow District politics young gun and former at-large candidate Josh Lopez ($50).
John Settles
Raised: $18,271. Spent: $13,368.60. Cash on hand: $9,004.09.
Robert White – Independent
Raised: $9,140. Spent: $1,693.40. Cash on hand: $26,091.47.
Eugene Puryear – Statehood Green
Raised: $1,600. Spent: $13.17. Cash on hand: $1,986.83.
Chairman
Phil Mendelson
Raised: $25,840. Spent: $12,151.88. Cash on hand: $37,608.92.
Everybody loves Mendo. Labor loves him (AFL-CIO, $1,000). Landlords love him (Metropolitan Washington PAC, $1,500). City contractors love him (Fort Myer Construction, bundled $4,500).
Calvin Gurley
Raised: $230.26 Spent: $230.26. Cash on hand: $9.00.
Perennial candidate Gurley’s rock-bottom bank account makes LL concerned that he won’t be able to afford more banners.
Shadow Senator
Pete Ross
Raised: $42,000. Spent: $40,474.61. Cash on hand: $9,536.42.
Furniture baron Ross continues to self-fund, giving another $42,000 to his campaign in his quest for the unpaid lobbyist position. Ross’ campaign continued to employ the private investigator firm run by ex-LL Ken Cummins, spending $540 on him this period.
Alas, all of Ross’ money can’t keep his bank account straight. His campaign spent $222 on overdraft fees.
Paul Strauss
Raised: $22,675. Spent: $6,346.33. Cash on hand: $16,328.67.
Incumbent Shadow Sen. Strauss pulled in a surprisingly hefty amount for his position, including $100 from fellow Shadow Sen. Michael Brown.
Attorney General
Paul Zukerberg
Raised: $3,767. Spent: $11,000.70. Cash on hand: $4,577.49.
With the future of his would-be office tied up in the court system, Zukerberg continues to raise and spend money, with most of his expenses going to canvassers.
Photo by Darrow Montgomery