Harrington, Carlson lead city candidates in campaign fundraising
With no incumbent on the ballot, Rochester’s at-large city council race has brought in 50 percent more in fundraising than the previous cycle.
Council president candidates Brooke Carlson and Kathleen Harrington have combined to raise about $70,000 in campaign contributions. For comparison, retiring Council President Randy Staver and 2016 challenger Sean Allen raised about $48,000 total. That race, however, attracted an influx of outside spending that has not appeared this cycle.
Harrington, the current president of the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce, has led all council candidates by raising $42,189, including a contribution of $16,923 of her own money. Additionally, Harrington has taken out a $15,000 personal loan to put toward her campaign.
Carlson, for her part, has raised $32,373, including in-kind contributions. Both candidates, records show, have spent heavily on billboard advertisements — with combined spending around $27,000.
For the neighborhood-focused ward race, the primary expenditures came in the form of print mailers. The highest spending race was in Ward 2, where Council Member Michael Wojcik is facing a challenge from Mark Bransford. The two combined to raise more than $30,000.
Below are the latest fundraising totals*, as of October 22’s deadline.
Council President Race
Brooke Carlson
Pre-primary raised: $14,528
Pre-general raised: $17,845
Total raised: $32,373
Pre-primary spent: ($2,747)
Pre-general spent: ($25,027)
Total spent: ($27,774)
Cash on hand: $4,176
Kathleen Harrington
Pre-primary raised: $13,166
Pre-general raised: $29,023
Total raised: $42,189 (+$15,000 loan to the campaign)
Pre-primary spent: ($10,648)
Pre-general spent: ($43,922)
Total spent: ($54,570)
Cash on hand: $2,327
Council Ward 2
Mark Bransford
Pre-primary raised: $11,248
Pre-general raised: $8,622
Total raised: $19,870
Pre-primary spent: ($1,195)
Pre-general spent: ($15,879)
Total spent: ($17,074)
Cash on hand: $2,796
Michael Wojcik
Pre-primary raised: $1,786
Pre-general raised: $8,757
Total raised: $10,543
Pre-primary spent: ($592)
Pre-general spent: ($7,810)
Total spent: ($8,402)
Cash on hand: $3,734
Council Ward 4
Katrina Pulham
Pre-primary raised: $1,550
Pre-general raised: $5,959
Total raised: $7,509
Pre-primary spent: ($433)
Pre-general spent: ($6,005)
Total spent: ($6,438)
Cash on hand: $657
Kelly Rae Kirkpatrick
Pre-primary raised: $3,991
Pre-general raised: $5,161
Total raised: $9,152
Pre-primary spent: ($741)
Pre-general spent: ($6,323)
Total spent: ($7,064)
Cash on hand: $0
Council Ward 6
Craig Ugland
Pre-primary raised: $2,353
Pre-general raised: $3,785
Total raised: $6,138
Pre-primary spent: ($2,465)
Pre-general spent: ($1,623)
Total spent: ($4,088)
Cash on hand: $2,141
Molly Dennis
Pre-primary raised: $2,028
Pre-general raised: $2,806
Total raised: $4,834
Pre-primary spent: ($1,319)
Pre-general spent: ($1,135)
Total spent: ($2,454)
Cash on hand: $2,210
*Figures include in-kind contributions.
For complete finance reports, follow this link.
