Mayor boasts top funding totals

BROCKTON – Mayoral candidate Jass Stewart amassed more than $$66,000 for his campaign from January through August, the most raised by all three candidates during that period, campaign finance records show.

But incumbent Mayor James E. Harrington – who raised the second largest amount, about $$55,000, in the same period – had a much bigger war chest than Stewart before Jan. 1. So the mayor still boasted the biggest campaign arsenal, as of late August.

The third candidate, Gayle Kelley, raised $$13,781 from January through Aug. 31, spending $$6,305. That left her with campaign coffers of $$7,475 heading into the preliminary. She reported no campaign balance before Jan. 1. Harrington, who is running for his second term as mayor, had a balance of $$89,272 in his campaign account as of the end of August. He had spent $$40,943 since January, records from the city’s Election Commission show. Stewart had a campaign arsenal of $$29,669 through late August, spending $$42,889 since January. Voters go to the polls Tuesday to select two of the three mayoral candidates who will move on to Nov. 6 election.

Stewart and Kelley both made large personal donations to their campaigns, which boosted their totals. Stewart loaned himself $$20,249, and Kelley $$6,436.

Monday was the deadline for all political candidates in the city to file paperwork on donations and expenditures related to their campaigns from Jan. 1 to Aug. 31.

Candidates are required by law to report any contributions of more than $$50. The maximum amount per calendar year for a donation to a candidate is $$500.

Stewart, who is making his second bid for mayor, won 44 percent of the vote against Harrington in 2005. Kelley is making her first bid for public office.

This year, Stewart, 36, of Clyde Street, drew campaign contributions mostly from people in the Brockton area, but also from donors in Cambridge, Brookline, Newton, Washington, D.C., and California, among other areas. Donors to Stewart’s campaign included several educators, including college officials and professors, doctors, lawyers and local business owners.

In 2007, Harrington, 59, of Thorny Lea Terrace, received campaign contributions largely from the Brockton area. The mayor’s campaign contributors included several city officials, established politicians, local unions and local business owners.

In 2007, those who supported Kelley, 58, of Boylston Street, were from in Brockton, Norwood, Norfolk, Walpole, Mansfield, Washington, D.C., New York, California and other areas.

Donors to Kelley’s campaign included lawyers, real estate brokers, a hospital president, an educational consulting firm president, an architect and an actor.

Candidates must file campaign finance reports again on Oct. 29, eight days before the general election in November.

Maria Papadopoulos can be reached at mpapadopoulos@enterprisenews.com.