The campaign operations of mayoral candidates Bill Finch, Joe Ganim and Mary-Jane Foster are hosting fundraisers and banging phones in the final two days leading to the closure of the June 30 reporting period that will show their respective financial power with a party endorsement next month and a looming September 16 Democratic primary.
In campaign fundraising strength builds strength. Raise dough beyond expectations and it encourages others to pony up or cover their butts, or perhaps free up some political support sitting on the fence.
It is possible spending for the expected primary will hit the $1 million mark combined among the three candidates. School board member Howard Gardner and East End Democratic Town Committee member Charlie Coviello are also in the race, but have no established history raising money.
Finch has a mighty fundraising operation that has been filling the campaign account for the better part of his second four-year term. A big-ticket Finch fundraiser is scheduled for Tuesday night on the eve of the reporting period at the Greenwich home of Jonathan Sackler, a major backer of pro charter school organizations such as ConnCan.
Ganim has been raising money as a candidate committee since early April at the start of this quarterly filing period. Foster jumped into the race late but engaged in a series of fundraisers the past month.
Ganim and Foster will not outspend Finch. The big question is, will they have enough financial firepower to compete? Once the quarterly period ends on Tuesday the respective campaigns will submit their finance reports within the next week at the Town Clerk’s Office.
Each campaign camp will then comb the reports to review names of contributors and how much they ponied up. Yes, politicians keep score of what is raised and the names behind the donations.
The Democratic Town Committee will endorse a candidate for mayor July 21. The next day challengers to the endorsed candidate may begin the process to petition their way onto the ballot requiring certified signatures from five percent of party enrolled in the city. The deadline to submit the signatures is Aug. 12.
Mayor Finch has absolutely no respect for his constituents. On the eve of the four-year anniversary of the illegal takeover of the BBOE which the CT Supreme Court eventually ruled was illegal, Finch is attending a fundraiser in Greenwich hosted by the same millionaires and billionaires who were involved in the illegal takeover. The official host, Jonathon Sackler contributed $50,000 to Finch’s attempt to take away our right to vote for our BOE.
Mayor Finch has placed a “For Sale” sign on our 22,000 BPS students and our BPS. Only white Greenwich millionaires and billionaires are invited to bid.
I agree, Maria.
I’d only add the mayor has also placed a “For Sale” sign on himself.
So true, Pete.
Oh good, I though only Joe Ganim was raising money.
P.S Maria, regarding Ann-Margret, I thought you would want to be there since you are a regular at The ’50s diner. I will be there Friday at 11 but will happy to coordinate so your friend thanks you. Me, it is not important!
Steve, I have no idea what you are talking about.
Maria, was it not you talking with the owner of the 50s diner when I offered a signed Ann-Margret picture for his wall? It could have been someone else. Let me know if it rings a bell.
Steve–Did you go to New Trier or Northwestern in Ann-Margret’s day? My husband was a couple of years ahead of her at N.T. but his cousin Stephen dated her back then.