The four candidates vying to replace outgoing Tucson City Councilwoman Karin Uhlich have already spent nearly $27,000 ahead of next monthβs primary election.
Democrats Felicia Chew, Tom Tronsdal, Paul Durham and independent Gary Watson have three times that amount in their combined campaign war chests, campaign records show.
Durham, a lawyer, leads the pack in terms of fundraising, reporting $16,504 in contributions from individuals and an additional $22,830 from the cityβs public matching funds between April 1 and June 30.
Combined with $15,587 left over from the previous reporting period, the former Pima County Democratic Party treasurer ended June with more than $41,000 in the bank.
Durham spent nearly $14,000 on campaign-related activities including printing campaign signs, mailers and campaign staff salaries. Additionally, the campaign spent $1,500 on polling in late June.
Tronsdal, the owner of Canyon Fence Co., reported $5,490 in individual donations and another $16,793 from the cityβs public matching funds.
With $8,049 still in the bank from the previous reporting period, Tronsdal still has $22,769 on hand.
Tronsdal spent nearly $7,562 on campaign-related activities between April and the end of June, primarily on consulting fees.
Chew, a teacher, took in $4,235 in donations from individuals and another $500 from Arizona List, a political action committee focused on electing Democratic women who support abortion rights.
She had $2,955 on hand from the previous reporting period and spent $4,170 on printing campaign documents and paid staff. At the end of June, Chew had $3,020 in her campaign account.
However, Chew said she received $8,989 from city matching funds shortly after the cutoff date for the most recent campaign finance report.
Watson, a firefighter, took in $1,000 in donations from individuals as well as $1,250 in donations from political action committees.
The campaign spent $1,247 on various expenses, including a paid signature-gathering firm.
Watson had $1,1,03 cash on hand at the end of the reporting period.
In Ward 6, Councilman Steve Kozachik reported a single donation β $100 from his own wallet β between April and the end of June. At the end of June, Kozachik had $61.50 left in the bank. He is unopposed in the primary.
Architect Mariano Rodriguez, a Republican who is running against Kozachik in the general election, took in $7,739 in donations from individuals. He spent $6,009 during the 90-day cycle on a campaign manager, printing supplies and campaign yard signs.
Rodriguez had $2,230 on hand at the end of June.
Green Party candidate Michael Oatman raised $113 during the same three-month period for his Ward 6 run and spent $109. The other Green Party candidate in Ward 6, Mike Cease, reported no campaign finance activity between April and June.
Ballots for the vote-by-mail primary will be sent out in the first week of August, with voters choosing the Democratic nominee in Ward 3 on Aug. 29. The general election is Nov. 7.
Ward 5 Councilman Richard Fimbres is running unopposed.
