Candidates' campaign finance statements listed

Wednesday, October 12, 2005
By DAVID REID
(click here for the link to this article on MassLive.com)

HOLYOKE - Now that the preliminary election is out of the way, the focus of election-watchers is on the Nov. 8 general election.

One gauge to the relative strength of the candidates is the number of lawn signs scattered in neighborhoods throughout the city. Another is the number of advertisements taken out by the candidates and the flyers they mail to residents in the ward or city-wide.

Such spending is, naturally, a function of the money raised and spent during the campaign, whether it comes from the candidates themselves or from supporters.

Campaign-watchers got their first look at the relative financial strength of all the candidates on Oct. 3, the first state-mandated deadline to file campaign finance statements. (The next financial filing deadline is Oct. 31.)

Some candidates, including mayoral candidate Joseph F. McCormick, missed the deadline by at least several days. By last Thursday morning - when this report was written - McCormick still had not filed his paperwork.

In the race for mayor, incumbent Michael J. Sullivan raised almost twice as much money as challenger Ward 6 Councilor Mark A. Lubold, who didn't announce his candidacy until July. The reporting period for all candidates was Jan. 1 through Sept. 23 this year.

During that period, Sullivan raised $32,375 and spent $25,613; Lubold, who held his first fund-raiser in August, raised $16,520 and spent $14,305.

Campaign fund raising and spending, of course, has continued since Sept. 23. Lubold, for instance, held a major fund-raiser last week.

In the at-large City Council race, where 14 candidates are seeking eight seats, the following is a list of the candidates and their financial activity.

The at-large incumbents:

Raymond H. Feyre raised $10,580 and spent $4,917.

Kevin A. Jourdain raised $5,469 and spent $2,413.

James M. Leahy raised $4,828 and spent $2,299.

Elaine A. Pluta raised $3,915 and spent $944.

John E. Whelihan raised $3,275 and spent $212.

Joseph M. McGiverin raised $3,060 and spent $953.

Peter R. Tallman, raised $2,745 and spent $1,410.

James A. McDermott raised and spent $194, all his own money.

The at-large challengers:

Patricia C. Devine raised $7,965 and spent $6,191.

Patricia A. Duffy raised $3,371 and spent $2,690.

Michael Franco raised $1,461 and spent $1,004.

Bruce G. Gibson raised and spent $715 of his own money.

John C. Pietrzykowski raised $330 and spent $528.

Patrick J. Shaughnessy raised $2,390 and spent $2,060.

In all seven ward City Council races, there are at least two candidates for every post. Their financial reports follow:

Ward 1. Incumbent Lillian Santiago raised $825 and spent $785. Challenger Jose R. Candelario raised and spent no money.

Ward 2. Incumbent Diosdado Lopez raised and spent $32 of his own money. Challenger Denise Salgado raised and spent $513.

Ward 3. Incumbent Helen F. Norris raised $4,330 and spent $1,360. Challenger Anthony M. Keane raised $1,297 and spent $746.

Ward 4. Incumbent John P. Lecca raised $1,230 and spent $935. Challenger Thomas W. Hart raised $1,480 and spent $1,268. Challenger Mildred G. Santana raised $315 and spent $494.

Ward 5. Incumbent John P. Brunelle raised and spent $518. Challenger Linda L. Vacon raised $2,880 and spent $1,965.

Ward 6. Todd McGee raised $2,780 and spent $1,960. Harry Ortiz-Rodriguez raised and spent no money.

Ward 7. John J. O'Neill raised $8,010 and spent $4,952. Stephen F. Donoghue raised and spent $2,867 of his own money. Rebecca Lisi raised $1,440 and spent $793.

While some candidates simply shell out money for their campaigns, others loan themselves money for possible repayment at a later date. Those moneys are recorded as "outstanding liabilities."

The candidates carrying the largest unpaid loans to themselves or family members are:

Ward 6 City Councilor Mark Lubold, $12,650 dating back to 1999.

At-large Councilor James McDermott, $11,011.

At-large Councilor Kevin Jourdain, $3,900.

At-large Councilor Raymond Feyre, $2,700.

Ward 5 Councilor John Brunelle, $2,220.

At-large Councilor Elaine Pluta, $2,000.

Ward 6 Council candidate Todd McGee, $1,960.