Joseph Sullivan beat the rest of the mayoral field in fundraising

By RICK COLLINS
The Patriot Ledger

BRAINTREE - Joseph Sullivan has beaten the rest of Braintree’s mayoral field in fundraising, taking in almost $53,000 in donations this year, according to pre-election campaign finance reports filed with the town.

The former state representative, who started the year with $112,620 in his campaign war chest, has spent $30,750 on his quest to become Braintree’s first mayor. He has more than $134,000 left; that’s several times more than the other four candidates combined.

Joseph Powers has raised $19,710 in his bid, and he has spent much of it. His campaign-treasury balance stands at $5,162.

Paul Walsh has raised slightly less than $5,000. That figure includes $3,814 in personal loans to his campaign.

As of Wednesday night, Brian Muello had not yet filed his required campaign finance report, which was due Monday. He said in a telephone interview that he had spent $2,500 to $3,000 of his own money and would be filing his paperwork Thursday morning.

Peter Morin, Sullivan’s chief organizer, said the campaign did not set any money goals for the race.

“Our goal was to conduct a campaign worthy of the office he is seeking and the community he is seeking to represent,” he said.

Morin said Sullivan has received donations from 500 Braintree residents, that about 76 percent of the money raised has come from in-town supporters, and that most of the money was raised during his June kick-off event.

According to fundraising records, Sullivan has received slightly more than $4,000 from trade unions and union officials and $2,400 from town employees.

Morin said Sullivan’s donors represent a “cross section of the community.”

About 20 percent of the money, including most of his out-of-town donations, was taken in on Aug. 31 and Sept. 5.

The donors who gave him $500, the most allowed by a single contributor under state law, include Michael and Susan Brady of Milton, Ronald Campanelli of Braintree, Joseph and Maureen Driscoll of Braintree, Daniel J. Flynn of Quincy, Gerald and Mary Graham of Braintree, Robert Hogan of Belmont, Carl and Margaret Johnson of Braintree, Richard and Marguerite Kee of Braintree, Bridget Lacey of Braintree, Carl Lacey of Braintree, Joan Mitrou of Stow, Daniel O’Malley of Milton, Michael Sheehan of Norwell, Amy Soisson of West Roxbury, James Slattery of Abington, Margaret Weydt of Weymouth and James Weydt of Weymouth.

About 18 percent of Power’s donations came from out of town, including less than $1,000 from unions and town employees.

The top donors to Powers’ campaign include Chris Gabrieli of Boston, Hilary Gabrieli of Boston, Leo Hart of Braintree, Donald Hunter of Braintree, Paul O’Reilly of Braintree, Robert Samoluk of Charlestown and Bernard Sharp of Braintree.

Walsh’s top donor was George Morse, of Braintree, who gave $250. Four of Walsh’s 10 donors are neighbors on Howard Street.

Neither Walsh or Powers could be reached for comment.

Sullivan has spent slightly less than $20,000 on consultants, advertising and campaign-material printing, and mailing expenses.

Powers spent slightly less than $12,000 on the same. For Walsh, the total was about $2,461.

Rick Collins may be reached at rcollins@ledger.com.