GOP, Dem gubernatorial hopefuls reach funding thresholds

Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton on Monday joined at least four other Republican gubernatorial hopefuls in reaching an important cash-raising milestone prior to next month’s party convention.

The group of candidates, which includes Dave Walker of Bridgeport, Mike Handler of New Canaan, Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti and Steve Obsitnik of Westport, have all apparently qualified for Connecticut’s public-funding program.

With the Tuesday-midnight deadline looming for filing first-quarter campaign-finance reports, more candidates in the crowded field could soon announce that they have raised the $250,000 minimum needed to obtain a $1.25-million public funding grant to wage a primary.

“We were really done in late December,” Boughton said on Monday. “It’s a huge relief. It’s a heavy lift to get there. Now we can focus on talking with delegates.”

Four years ago, Boughton had money-raising problems and aligned with Heather Somers of Groton — now a state senator — as a lieutenant governor running mate so they could pool their funds and qualify for the public funding, but Somers backed out and cast her lot with GOP gubernatorial candidate Tom Foley. Boughton then teamed up with Lauretti, but withdrew from the race after Lauretti failed to collect enough petition signatures to qualify for the primary.

Boughton filed campaign contributions of $140,244, which increased to more than $265,000 when money earmarked for an exploratory committee was counted.

According to new reports filed with the State Elections Enforcement Commission, Walker has raised $266,262, while Lauretti raised more than $277,000 months earlier and Handler reached the mark last month.

Obsitnik’s $193,482 filing total increased to $275,000 when money transferred from his exploratory committee was added.

Last week, Republican New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart, who got into the race late, said she had raised over $100,000.

As of Monday afternoon, other Republican hopefuls, including former Trumbull first selectman Tim Herbst, had not yet filed the important first-quarter reports.

On the Democratic side, Susan Bysiewicz of Middletown, the former secretary of the state, said she collected $142,000 over the quarter, for a total of $290,000.

Jacey Wyatt, the state’s first transgender hopeful, reported a meager $1,117 raised, with $73.71 on hand at the end of the reporting period, March 31 for her Democratic candidacy.

Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim last week claimed to have raised a half million dollars, but he is ineligible for the voluntary public-financing program because of his federal corruption conviction.

Another Democratic hopeful, Lee Whitnum of Greenwich, reported receiving $225 for her campaign.

Candidates in the state program, which is supported through abandoned property including unclaimed bank accounts of the deceased, can get up to $6.5 million for the general election.

The campaign totals help position candidates heading into next month’s GOP and Democratic conventions, where hopefuls will need 15 percent support from delegates to become eligible for the anticipated August primary.

Meanwhile, in the State Capitol on Monday, Oz Griebel, a former Republican running an independent campaign, said he will report raising $70,000.

“We have been talking to a number of organizations in different parts of the country that have independent candidates running for offices and I think it just illustrates the frustration that many people, many people have with the current system,” said Griebel who does not plan to participate in the public-financing program.

Staff writer Emilie Munson contributed to this report.

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