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Perez Easily On Top In Funds

Mathews Second, But Far Behind

By DANIEL E. GOREN, Courant Staff Writer

November 01, 2007

Mayor Eddie A. Perez continues to raise more money than his opponents, having brought in $593,000 since he first started fundraising in January for his re-election bid.

And although Perez has raised a staggering and perhaps unprecedented amount of money for a Hartford mayoral campaign, he has also spent most of it. About $54,500 remains in his campaign war chest, according to campaign finance reports filed with the city clerk.

Perez's closest fundraising competitor and his leading challenger, I. Charles Mathews, has raised $131,000 in the same period, though much of it is from his own pocket. Mathews now has $21,000 available to spend. Another challenger, State Rep. Minnie Gonzalez has raised $56,000 and has $22,000 remaining.

Of the three other mayoral candidates, independent Democrat Raul De Jesus has raised $8,000; former Mayor Thirman Milner appears to have raised about $7,000; and Republican J. Stan McCauley has brought in just under $3,000.

The final finance reports before the Nov. 6 election were due at the clerk's office Tuesday.

Perez has spent most of his money on consultants, mailers and more than $150,000 on television spots. The latest TV advertisements he has purchased are on two Spanish-speaking stations - Telemundo and Univision.

Mathews continues to bankroll much of his own campaign, about $88,000 to date. Gonzalez has picked up the pace in fundraising recently, having brought in $22,000 since the beginning of October.

Gonzalez recently attacked Perez for raising much of his money from "outsiders," saying she was funding her race through money raised from "everyday people." But she too has reached beyond Hartford's borders for the largest of her donations.

Several $1,000 donations came from supporters in Bloomfield, Wethersfield and Cheshire. She also got a substantial donation from the tribal vice chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and donations from almost 20 executives at Foxwoods Resort Casino.