Campaign Finance Reports Show Final Pre-Election Push

The final push of fundraising and expenditures—or the lack thereof—was detailed for various campaigns in one of the last campaign finance reports due at the ’s office.

The reports, which detail the finances of political committees soliciting and spending funds in the months leading up to the election, detailed the period between Oct. 10 and Oct. 31.

Committees are required to make period financial reports, and now must file a final report detailing their dissolution and distribution of any remaining funds.

Mayor

Mayoral candidates received more than $91,000 in donations and spent more than $89,000 on campaigns throughout the election season. Some campaigns continued to record significant donations and expenditures, while others showed a slowdown in activity in the last weeks before voters chose a candidate. City Clerk Michael Tranchida said he had not received a report from Martin Olsen, an independent candidate who received 196 votes in the election, but that Olsen may file an amended report at a later date.

Daryl Finizio, the Democrat who with 2,185 votes, reported:

• $4,490 in donations during the period and $24,896 in total donations during the campaign
• $3,841.71 in expenses during the period for items including mailers and car magnets, with $24,868.15 in total expenses during the campaign
• A $5,500 loan from Finizio to the campaign
• A starting balance of $3,281.91 and ending balance of $5.680.20

Michael Buscetto III, the write-in candidate who had the second highest vote count with 1,153, reported:

• $2,299 in donations during the period and $40,429.12 in total donations during the campaign
• $3,599.61 in expenses during the period for items including advertisements, office supplies, and flyers, with $46,171.98 in total expenses during the campaign
• A starting balance of $1,357.75 and ending balance of $557.14

Rob Pero, the Republican candidate who had 1,057 votes in the election, reported:

• $4,845 in donations during the period and $24,165.25 in total donations during the campaign
• $3,600.45 in expenses during the period for items including consulting, rent, and catering, with $16,583.63 in total expenses during the campaign
• $6,759.92 in expenses incurred but not yet paid, including $4,540.13 during the latest period
• A starting balance of $8,989.02 and ending balance of $10,233.57

Lori Hopkins-Cavanagh, an independent candidate who had 96 votes in the election, reported:

• No donations during the period and $2,145 in total donations during the campaign
• $880 in expenses for radio advertising, with $1,420.36 in total expenses during the campaign
• A starting balance of $1,629.64 and ending balance of $748.64

Andrew Lockwood, an independent candidate who had 44 votes in the election, reported no donations during the campaign. He said $717.90 paid by the candidate during the period went toward lawn signs and advertising.

City Council and Board of Education

Michael Passero, a Democratic candidate for City Council who at 2,657, reported $1,860 in donations and $1,654 for the period and in total. Most of the expenses were a repayment of $1,130.43 paid by Passero on the campaign. His balance started at $150 and ended at $730.55.

Adam Sprecace, a Republican candidate for City Council who earned 2,164 votes, had $700 in donations during the period and $800 total. He paid $560.68 in expenses and had a balance of $100 to start the period and $139.32 to end it.

Marie Friess-McSparran, a Democratic candidate who earned 1,716 votes for the final seat on the City Council, started the period with a balance of $1,435 and ended with $1,664.47. She reported $925 in donations during the period and $1,210 in total, with expenses of $1,119.54 during the period and $1,520 in total. Friess-McSparran also reported a $1,000 loan, and said she had a $1,435 balance at the beginning of the period and $1,665.47 at its close.

Mike Doyle, a Republican who finished eighth in the City Council race with 1,274 votes, reported only expenditures. He said he spent $11,029.56 during the period on radio and newspaper ads as well as signs.

Independent candidates Loreen Lockwood and Eric Parnes, running for the Board of Education, each filed paperwork for committees reporting starting and ending balances of zero. Lockwood had $50 in donations, Parnes $140. Lockwood reported $212.70 in expenses and Parnes $277.70, each paid by the candidate.

Lockwood and Parnes finished last of 17 candidates in the with 440 and 569 votes, respectively.

Other committees

The New London Republican Town Committee reported a starting balance of $3,572.90 and closing balance of $4,496.36. It also reported $1,935 in donations during the period and $5,775 in total, with $1,011.54 in expenses during the period and $2,887.20 in total. The money was spent on campaign materials for City Council candidates Lorraine Allen and Daniel Docker, who finished ninth and last with 1,117 votes and 691 votes. The committee also made a $200 donation to Pero’s mayoral campaign.

The New London Green Party received $1,195.75 in donations during the period and $2,195.75 in total, and recorded a $1,000 expense during the period to fund a full-time campaign manager’s stipend. The Greens had $2,144 in expenses in total. The party recorded a starting balance of $918.47 and ending balance of $1,114.22.