Official numbers aren’t in yet, but the campaign of mayoral candidate Toni Harp announced exceeding the $100,000 fundraising mark late Friday afternoon.
The five Democratic candidates for mayor are required to file detailed campaign contribution reports by next Wednesday with the City/Town Clerk’s Office on their fundraising to date. Those filings offer candidates a chance to present their campaigns as either juggernauts with broad public support, or magnets for grassroots small donors. The filings also offer opponents a chance to hunt for the names of controversial donors.
The Harp campaign sought to jump the gun on the other candidates by releasing a tentative number Friday afternoon.
The campaign reported having received $116,967 in donations so far. The final number should probably be higher by the time reports are filed, said campaign manager Jason Bartlett.
Bartlett said the campaign didn’t begin fundraising until after June 5, when the legislative session ended.
“The senator [Harp is a state senator] was in session. We didn’t really have any fundraisers until after session. So we literally added over $100,000 in three weeks. We’re excited. It demonstrates that people in New Haven and the region want to see a new leader and help her craft her message and get it out to to the people,” Bartlett said.
He added that at least 145 of the total of about 500 donations were in small amounts from city-based contributors.
According to a release from the Harp campaign, 80 percent of donations were for $250 or less, amounting to about $45,000, or 38 percent of the total.
“We’re on pace to keep up with the Democracy Fund candidates in terms of our small donors in the city,” Bartlett said.
Harp and another candidate, Henry Fernandez, have opted not to participate in the Fund, the city’s public-financing system. Three candidates — Justin Elicker, Kermit Carolina, and Sundiata Keitazulu — have signed onto the program. That means they limit themselves to $370 from any individual contributor, rather than $1,000; and they swear off corporate and other special-interest committee money. In return, they get a $19,000 grant and matching public dollars. Those participating in the program have criticized Fernandez and Harp for allowing special interests to have more of an influence on the process.
Fernandez, Carolina, and Keitazulu could not be immediately reached for comment.
Attorney Mike Stratton, fundraiser for the Elicker campaign, said the East Rock alderman has raised more than $116,000.
“If that’s Toni’s entire” fundraising total, “that’s less than the total that Justin has raised,” Stratton said.
“We plan on releasing our numbers later,” said Elicker. “And we’ve been focusing on all along on contributions from New Haven residents because the election is going to be won by votes from New Haven residents,” and the elected mayor will have to represent New Haven residents.