Who’s up and who’s down

Campaign finance reports reveal fundraising efforts

Don’t count your money at the table — sage advice for anyone with designs on being Connecticut’s next governor.

With year-end campaign finance filings made public last week, numerous Republicans and Democrats have boasted they have raised $250,000 from at least 2,500 contributors, qualifying them for public campaign financing under the state’s clean elections program.

But there’s a big catch. Only those on the primary ballot can get the $1.25 million. That won’t be decided until at least the party conventions in May.

The way the Citizens’ Election Program is set up, some participating candidates may never make it to the convention.

Just ask Middletown’s mayor, Dan Drew, who spent more money than his exploratory and campaign committees took in during the past year.

The Democrat abandoned his bid for governor Friday, serving as a lesson in frugality.

“I’m driving that home every day with my campaign, that we’re not going to spend a single dime more than is necessary to get my message out,” said Dita Bhargava, a former vice chairwoman of the Connecticut Democrats whose exploratory committee has raised $124,940 as of Jan. 1.

The former Wall Street trader from Greenwich, who ran unsuccessfully for the Legislature in 2016, is exploring a run for governor.

“I think people are definitely putting a positive spin on whatever numbers they have,” she said. “We’re very cognizant of the math.

To limit the influence of special interests in state races, a $100 cap is on individual donations that count toward public financing. The rules were born out of the bribery scandal that led to the resignation and imprisonment of former Gov. John Rowland.

Steve Obsitnik, a Republican businessman from Westport, said he has more than enough to qualify, but he was coy about how much. State records note a $376,444 fundraising haul.

“I’m a CEO and I kind of watch my numbers,” he said. “Sometimes with competitors, less (information) is more.”

No one wants a repeat of what happened to Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton in 2014, when he got enough votes to be on the primary ballot, but couldn’t raise the qualifying funds on his own.

He had been relying on pooling his money with his running mate, who ditched the ticket. This time, he is going it alone, and he has $272,431 in the coffers so far.

“I think delegates are going to be taking candidates who have gotten to that qualifying threshold more seriously,” said Liz Kurantowicz, a former chief of staff for the Connecticut GOP and political consultant from Fairfield.

Jonathan Harris, the former consumer protection commissioner and former executive director of the Connecticut Democrats, said he will have the dough by the convention. So far, he has $233,199.

“I do know a lot of times people will focus on flashy numbers,” Harris said. “We’re about qualifying.”

Republican Michael Handler, the city of Stamford’s chief financial officer and a New Canaan resident, expressed confidence the $209,784 he has raised leaves him wellpositioned in the fundraising race.

“We anticipate clearing the threshold well before the convention,” said Handler, who worked for a hedge fund.

“The pace of fundraising can be a measure of how well a message resonates with voters, but the (spending) rate is also indicative of one’s fiscal responsibility.”

Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim, a Democrat, has raised almost enough to qualify — $199,353 — if he was allowed. As a convicted felon, he is not eligible for public financing.

In contrast to the majority of candidates, Republicans David Stemerman and Bob Stefanowski are eschewing public funding.

Stemerman wired $1.8 million in personal funds to

“I think delegates are going to be taking candidates who have gotten to that qualifying threshold more seriously.” Liz Kurantowicz, political consultant

his campaign and Stefanowski kicked in $350,000 of his own money to go along with outside contributions.

“They don’t get a free ride either,” Kurantowicz said.

“They have to show that they can compete with the candidates who are going to be relying on the state’s money.”

With $6 million available to the winner of the Democratic and Republican primaries, which are held in August, that’s a sizable chunk of change.

“If you’re running outside the system you better have that cash on hand,” Kurantowicz said.

Bhargava

Boughton

Handler