Campaign Finance Updates in D.C.’s 2010 Elections

Photo by philliefan99 The Jan. 31 filing deadline to submit financial statements to the Office of Campaign Finance has passed, so let’s take a look at what kind of shape the District’s 2010 candidates are in, eight months out from the Sept. primaries. By the way, if you’d like to download any of the candidates’ financial statements for yourself, you can do so here . Adrian Fenty, mayor (D) Mayor Fenty has raised a stunning $3.58 million , with over $800,000 of that coming in the most recent reporting period. And he’s only spent a little over $500,000 so far, so that leaves over $3 million still sitting there, waiting to be unleashed should a serious challenger emerge. There’s plenty of notable names on Fenty’s donor list, including: the Motion Picture Association of America ($1,000), philanthropist Eli Broad ($2,000), Washington Ballet director Septime Webre ($100), Ben’s Chili Bowl ($500, plus another $500 from co-owner Nizam Ali), Lost creator and Star Trek director J.J. Abrams ($1,000), Office of Unified Communications Director Janice Quintana ($100), DCRA Director Linda Argo ($350), former Ward 8 Council member Sandy Allen, legendary music producer Clarence Avant ($2,000), D.C. attorney and former Council candidate A. Scott Bolden ($1,000), D.C. Shadow Senator Paul Strauss ($51), 18th Street’s Public Bar ($500), DDOT Director Gabe Klein ($100), former California Gov. Gray Davis ($500), landlord-to-many Borger Management ($2,000), Deputy Mayor Valerie Santos ($500), Dan Tangherlini ($100), and Hollywood film producer/Will Smith producing partner James Lassiter ($1,000). Sulaimon Brown, mayor (D) Brown’s only raised $13,765 , and he’s already spent most of it. Most of his support comes from small business owners and taxicab interest groups. Leo Alexander, mayor (D) No form has been posted to the OCF’s web site, but we’re told the campaign has raised about $20,000 . Mary Cheh, Ward 3 (D) Running unopposed, Cheh has pulled together $101,572 so far, and has spent very little of it. Former mayoral candidate Marie Johns gave Cheh $500, as did philanthropist Peggy Cooper Cafritz. The rest of her donor list is largely developers, other local business interests, and Cheh’s George Washington University colleagues, including president Steven Knapp ($250). David Catania, At-large (I) Catania only filed to run

for re-election late last month, but he’s already got $33,750 in the bank. He’s got a short list of generous donors so far, including construction bigshot Steven Donohoe and several parking lot owners. Harry Thomas, Jr., Ward 5 (D) He’s raised a total of $50,140 , not nearly as much as some of his colleagues, but has only spent about $8,500 of that so far. Tommy’s donor list includes a lot of smaller, individual family friends, plus some unions and plenty of local developers. Delano Hunter, Ward 5 (D) The little known Brookland community organizer filed a report that shows just under $12,000 raised, and nearly all of it spent. Jim Graham, Ward 1 (D) The potentially interesting Ward 1 race still technically only has one formal candidate in incumbent Graham, who has raised an impressive $171,391 in total, with very little of it spent. Graham’s supporters include a lot of Ward 1 residents and business interests, including the 9:30 Club ($500), the Donatelli Development group, PN Hoffman, U Street Parking, Inc., and lots of Ethiopian restaurants. Tommy Wells, Ward 6 (D) Wells has raised a total of $117,450 , but has spent $18,000 already. He doesn’t have anyone running against him, however, and his donor list is chock full of supportive Ward 6 residents, so he looks like he’s in good shape. Other Wells supporters include K Street Developers ($500), Splash Car Wash ($500), and the Coalition for Smarter Growth’s Cheryl Cort ($100). Phil Mendelson, At-large (D) This is where there’s actually something to compare. Mendo has amassed $130,969 , with almost all of it still in his pocket. Lots of familiar names on his donor list, too: former CTO (now with WMATA) Suzanne Peck ($1,000), Arent Fox LLP ($250), Geico ($500) and Comcast ($1,000). Clark Ray, At-large (D) The former DPR head reported a perfectly respectable $80,381 , but he’s already spent over $30,000 of that trying to introduce himself to the electorate. Ray’s supporters include James Abdo ($500), former Mendo challenger A. Scott Bolden ($100), lots of friends who have made multiple donations, and former Council candidate Adam Clampitt ($500).

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Campaign Finance Updates in D.C.’s 2010 Elections