Bell and Lopez neck and neck in Toledo mayoral race fundraising

7/31/2013
BY TOM TROY
BLADE POLITICS WRITER
  • councilmugs18-jpg

    Toledo Mayor Mike Bell, Toledo City Councilmen Joe McNamara and D. Michael Collins, and Lucas County Auditor Anita Lopez

    • Toledo Mayor Mike Bell, Toledo City Councilmen Joe McNamara and D. Michael Collins, and Lucas County Auditor Anita Lopez
    Toledo Mayor Mike Bell, Toledo City Councilmen Joe McNamara and D. Michael Collins, and Lucas County Auditor Anita Lopez

    Toledo's race for mayor is a neck and neck contest in terms of fund-raising between incumbent Mayor Mike Bell, and his two Democratic challengers, Toledo City Councilman Joe McNamara and Lucas County Auditor Anita Lopez.

    The seven candidates for mayor and candidates for Toledo City County at-large seats filed campaign finance reports for the first six months of the year by today's deadline with the Lucas County Board of Elections.

    Ms. Lopez raised the most during the six-month period, $103,393, and ended the period with the least in her account, $23,906.

    Mr. Bell, a political independent, raised $91,010, and ended the period with $106,438 in his campaign warchest, the most of the three.

    Mr. McNamara raised $90,296, and ended the six-month period with $56,301.

    The mayor's contributions show a strong level of support from business owners, many of whom live outside the city, as well as one big business, Penn National Gaming, owner of Hollywood Casino, which gave $5,000.

    Ms. Lopez's biggest contributors were labor unions, with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the Northwestern Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, and the United Food & Commercial Workers each giving at least $10,000.

    Mr. McNamara reported many contributions from Democrats and supporters around the country.

    Independent D. Michael Collins reported contributions of $10,267 and cash on hand of $6,475. Libertarian Michael Konwinski reported income of $200 and no expenditures. Independent Alan Cox reported contributions of $2,018 and loans from him and his wife, Tracy Cox, of $10,531. Opal Covey, a registered Democrat running as a Republican, reported $159 in contributions and $173 in expenditures.

    The seven, along with write-in candidate Don Gozdowski, are competing in the Sept. 10 primary. The two top vote-getters will move on to the Nov. 5 general election.

    Contact Tom Troy: tomtroy@theblade.com or 419--724-6058.