Wilmington Elections Shatter Records with Unprecedented Fundraising for Mayor, City Council

Wilmington is witnessing a remarkable election cycle, characterized by unprecedented fundraising efforts from candidates vying for the mayoral and city council positions. As reported, candidates have collectively raised over $470,000, with final contributions expected before Election Day. This article outlines the financial landscape of the upcoming elections, focusing on key candidates and their campaign financing activities.

Record-Breaking Fundraising in Wilmington Elections

Wilmington’s elections have reached new heights in fundraising, with candidates capturing an impressive total. The mid-year, 35-day, and pre-election reports indicate a significant engagement from local donors.

Mayoral Race Overview

The mayoral race includes three prominent candidates: incumbent Bill Saffo, challenger Jonathan Barfield, Jr., and Republican candidate Billy Craig. Below are their fundraising achievements:

• Bill Saffo: Raised $129,775, starting with $24,500. His major contributors included Timothy and Vicki Milam, and H. David and Jason Swain, each donating $10,000. Saffo’s major expenses included $45,000 for advertising.
• Jonathan Barfield, Jr.: Garnered $16,378 from approximately 65 donors. His top contributions came from Charles Schoninger and Malcomb Coley, both donating $2,500. Barfield spent $15,918, focusing on billboards and signs.
• Billy Craig: Raised $8,270, relying on smaller contributions, with the highest at $500. Craig’s expenses mainly covered campaign signs, totaling $5,655.

City Council Candidates’ Financials

Wilmington’s city council race features several candidates, each capitalizing on fundraising opportunities:

• Luke Waddell (R): Dominated with $132,081 raised and $79,802 spent. Major contributions included $5,000 from Matthew Winslow. Advertising costs accounted for a significant portion of his expenditures.
• Richard Collier (R): Collected $85,352, starting with zero. His top donation was $13,600 from the Goldenbergs. Collier’s expenses totaled $69,136, mainly on consulting and advertising.
• Cassidy Santaguida (D): Raised $38,973 and spent $27,377. She received support from local Democratic officials and invested heavily in digital marketing.
• JC Lyle (D): Brought in $33,384, with major donor support from herself and the NC Realtors PAC. Her campaign expenditures of $27,756 primarily went towards signage and digital media.
• Chakema Clinton-Quintana (D): Generated $19,054 and spent $13,870, focusing on grassroots fundraising efforts. Major expenses included marketing and signage.
• Clifford Barnett, Sr. (D): Raised $9,399, with his top donor being Cape Fear Realtors, Inc. He spent $3,284 on signage.
• Kelly Roberts, Jr. (R): Reported no financial contributions, only in-kind donations valued at $730.
• Sean Guerrero (R): Did not actively campaign and filed no financial reports.

Conclusion

As the Wilmington elections approach, the extraordinary fundraising efforts from candidates represent a critical moment in local politics. The financial backing received by these candidates indicates strong community engagement and sets the stage for a competitive election cycle. The final weeks will likely bring further changes to these figures as candidates make their last push for contributions.