Wilmington businessman Mike Purzycki looks poised to win the fundraising war as he and seven other candidates vie to become the city’s mayor.
Purzycki, the longtime executive director of the Riverfront Development Corporation, took in more than $175,000 since the beginning of the year – 10 times as much as incumbent mayor Dennis Williams.
He’s also spent more than $190,000 during that same time period, much of it on consulting, advertising and payroll. Purzycki still has nearly $40,000 to spend before next month’s primary.
Williams collected about $17,000 in donations during the same time period and has nearly $13,000 cash on hand.
Former city council president Norm Griffiths received a little more than $12,000 over the past eight months, but has nearly $27,000 cash to spend – partially from his own pocket.
The other five candidates have until midnight tonight to file their campaign finance reports.
In the Republican primary for governor, state Sen. Colin Bonini (R-Dover) holds a wide fundraising lead.
Bonini took in nearly $60,000 in donations since the beginning of the year, according to campaign finance records. He also loaned himself another $35,000 on top of a previous $25,000 loan.
That’s compared to former state trooper Lacey Lafferty who collected nearly $10,000 in contributions over the same period of time.
Lafferty has largely self-financed her campaign. She’s now loaned herself more than $65,000 through August 14.
Bonini has much more cash in his war chest – nearly $67,000 compared to Lafferty’s roughly 44-hundred dollars.
Democrat John Carney significantly outmatches both of them. The most recent data through the end of 2015 shows Carney raked in more than $500,000 in three-and-a-half months.
His fundraising totals for this year won’t be known until October.