Valentine outraises Simmons and Martin
STAMFORD — Since announcing his campaign to become Stamford’s mayor in early May, former New York Mets manager and unaffiliated candidate Bobby Valentine amassed about $300,000 in contributions from individuals — eclipsing the amounts that the two Democratic candidates in the race raised over the first half of the year, according to financial disclosures.
Valentine’s campaign received contributions from almost 1,000 individuals, about half of whom were Stamford residents, according to a press release. Those residents contributed a total of about $125,000.
“As a first-time candidate for public office without a political organization or donor network, I’m grateful to friends, family and neighbors who joined our movement and showed their enthusiasm for the ideas I will bring to the mayor’s office,” Valentine said in the release.
Several high-profile Republicans made contributions to Valentine’s campaign, including former President George W. Bush; Anthony Scaramucci, who briefly served as White House communications director during Donald Trump’s presidency; and Linda McMahon, a Greenwich resident who led the U.S. Small Business Administration for part of Trump’s tenure.
Valentine has described Scaramucci as a friend. Bush was managing partner of the Texas Rangers at the time of Valentine’s firing as the team’s manager in 1992, but Valentine nevertheless supported Bush’s presidential campaigns. McMahon is a member of the Board of Trustees at Sacred Heart University, where Valentine recently served as athletic director.
Bush made a $500 contribution. McMahon and Scaramucci each gave $1,000 — the maximum allowed. Valentine’s filing indicates that Scaramucci initially tried to contribute $2,065, but the campaign refunded him the excess amount. His wife, Deidre Scaramucci, also made a $1,000 contribution.
Despite the contributions from big-name Republicans, Valentine said that overall his “initial support was split almost evenly between Democrats, Republicans, and Unaffiliated voters.”
“The people I’m speaking with across Stamford are crystal clear: they’re tired of the status quo and partisan divide,” he said.
Among the registered Democrats who contributed to Valentine’s campaign was Arthur Selkowitz, the chairman of the Mill River Park Collaborative, who gave $1,000.
Democratic Mayor David Martin, who is seeking a third term, brought in about $25,600 from individual contributors in April, May and June. He raised about $52,800 during the previous quarter.
State Rep. Caroline Simmons, D-Stamford, collected about $81,600 in contributions from individuals in the second quarter. She announced her campaign for mayor in February and went on to raise about $158,000 by the end of the first quarter.
Martin, who has said this is his last campaign for reelection, downplayed the importance of the fundraising hauls.
“When I have run for mayor of the great city of Stamford in the past, my
opponents have outraised me 2- or 3-to-1 and spent exorbitant amounts of money just to get to city hall. … 2021 is turning out to be no different,” Martin said in a release. “What my opponents may bring in big money from outside our city and other parts of the country, I make up for in real accomplishments for the residents of Stamford and a solid track record of leadership in crisis, substantial economic growth, and sound financial stewardship for the last eight years.”
All three campaigns touted the number of Stamford residents who made contributions to them during the second
quarter.
A total of 94 individuals made a contribution to Martin’s campaign, and almost 70 percent of them were city residents, according to his release.
A release by the Simmons campaign said 420 individuals gave money toward her mayoral bid, more than 60 percent of whom were Stamford residents. Simmons’ campaign noted that her percentage of local contributors doubled from the first quarter.
“As mayor, one of my priorities will be to engage residents who don’t have a relationship with Stamford’s current administration and those who feel that their voice isn’t heard and I am grateful and humbled that so many local residents have supported my campaign this quarter,” Simmons said in the release.
Simmons received contributions from a number of fellow General Assembly members, including House Speaker Matt Ritter, D-Hartford. Her campaign also reported receiving a $500 contribution from the political action committee of House Majority Leader Jason Rojas, D-East Hartford.
Stamford Democratic City Committee Chairman Josh Fedeli said the group is set to endorse a Democratic candidate on July 25.
In recent weeks, candidates for town clerk have also filed paperwork to run. Lyda Ruijter is seeking reelection as a Democrat. Marilyn AbbaziaLodato announced in June that she is running as an unaffiliated candidate, saying in a statement that she was inspired by Valentine’s decision to run unaffiliated.
Abbazia-Lodato runs a business that assists companies in obtaining liquor permits, according to her announcement. Tim Abbazia, her brother, is a former chairman of the Board of Finance.
The mayoral and town clerk campaign filings are available on the city’s website.