Incumbent Democrats lead council money race
Incumbent Democrats on the Columbus City Council have raised more than $250,000 leading up to the May primary, much of it in large contributions from developers and others who do business with the city.
Meanwhile, two progressive Democrats challenging the incumbents raised less than $15,000, and Republicans barely registered in campaign finance reports that were due Thursday afternoon for money raised and spent during the period from Jan. 1 through April 12.
The nonpartisan May 2 primary election will narrow a field of nine candidates to six that will then compete for three seats on the seven-member City Council in November.
Councilwoman Priscilla Tyson collected $119,559 in campaign cash, including $25,000 from developer Don Casto; $10,000 from OAPSE
AFSCME, a union that represents school employees; and $5,000 from the Crabbe Brown & James law firm. Tyson passed $56,485 of her money to the campaign of Councilman Shannon G. Hardin, who counted that money among the $180,934 he reported raising. Hardin disclosed his donations on two separate reports, using new city campaigndisclosure rules approved last year.
In addition to the money from Tyson, Hardin’s major donations included a total of $10,000 from four principals in developer Wagenbrenner Weinland Park Homes LLC; $10,000 from a United Food and Commercial Workers union PAC; and $6,000 from attorney and City Hall lobbyist Sean Mentel.
Councilman Mitchell J. Brown reported contributions of $6,285, including $2,500 from Huntington Bank; $1,000 from the Vorys Sater Seymour & Pease law firm; and $750 from construction contractor George Igel.
Two council candidates from the progressive Yes-We-Can wing of local Democrats raised less than $15,000. Will Petrik, the leader of the group, reported $9,398 in contributions, including $1,000 of his own money. Jasmine T. Ayers reported raising $4,551, including $200 of her own money.
Of the four Republicans on the ballot, Kieran L. Cartharn raised the most: $650. Support from Franklin County Auditor Clarence Mingo’s campaign fund accounted for $300 of that. Whitney Smith raised $200. Two employees of the local Republican Party who are on the ballot as placeholder candidates reported no donations.
In the Columbus Board of Education primary, the three incumbents — all Democrats — have a big cash lead on the three Yes-We-Can Democratic challengers. The two Republican candidates, meanwhile, had a combined total of just 16 cents on hand.
Board incumbent Ramona Reyes had $14,612 after raising $6,560 during the reporting period, including $5,000 from the union representing the district’s non-teaching employees.
Incumbent Dominic Paretti had $6,220 after raising $9,211 during the reporting period. He contributed $2,500 of that to the Franklin County Democratic Party.
Incumbent Michael Cole raised $5,000 — all of it from the non-teaching employees union. He had $3,565 left on hand.
The Yes-We-Can Democrats, Erin Upchurch, Amy Harkins and Abby Vaile, filed as a slate and raised $5,250. Most of the donations were for $50 or $100. They had $3,329 left on hand.
The Republicans in the school board race had next to nothing: Seth Golding raised nothing, putting his balance at the 16 cents left over in his campaign fund; GOP newcomer Zach Amos raised no cash and had zero on hand.