Tucson City Councilman Steve Kozachik says he doesn’t regret his decision to refuse donations in his re-election bid in Ward 6.
But his Republican rival, architect Mariano Rodriguez, raised more than $21,800 in September and a total of $33,563 since starting his campaign, according to reports filed with the City Clerk’s Office.
Rodriguez spent a fraction of that amount last month — $1,451 — mostly on consulting and campaign signs.
That leaves him with more than $20,385 for his campaign in the final weeks before the November general election.
More than half of the amount he raised last month — $12,500 — came from public matching funds from the city.
His campaign also reported $7,295 in individual donations.
Rod- riguez, the only Republican running for a seat on the City Council, said he had a pretty good month regarding fundraising.
Democrat Kozachik also filed a campaign finance report, telling city officials he had spent $140 out of the $200 he put into his campaign account at the beginning of his campaign for a third term. When he began his campaign, he said he wanted to run on his record and asked supporters to give any money they would have given to his campaign to local nonprofits.
On Monday, Kozachik said he continues to tell his supporters to donate to local charities.
Fundraising was lighter in the Ward 3 race, meanwhile, with the three campaigns reporting they took in a total of about $19,000 last month.
Paul Durham, who won the Democratic Ward 3 City Council primary race and spent more than $86,000 in his bid to replace outgoing Councilwoman Karin Uhlich, reported $9,525 in individual donations between Sept. 5 and Sept 30 and that another $2,125 came from public matching funds.
The campaign spent $3,235 during the same period, with $11,832 in campaign coffers in the final weeks before the general election.
Durham’s campaign manager said the cash on hand is closer to $20,000, as the city gave the campaign a check for roughly $9,500 shortly after the reporting period ended.
Gary Watson, a firefighter with Northwest Fire District who is running as an independent, received $2,665 in donations from individuals and another $4,000 in donations from political action committees.
Four separate $1,000 checks came in from firefighter-backed PACs out of Phoenix, according to reports filed with the City Clerk’s Office.
Watson’s campaign spent $3,510 between Aug. 13 and Sept. 30 and had $12,592 in its campaign chest.
Green Party candidate Mike Cease reported receiving $785 in donations last month, with $500 coming in the form of a check from the local Green Party chapter.
The Cease campaign spent $308 last month, with half going to campaign buttons.
