Record-Journal
11-01-2007, 11:43 PM
MERIDEN -- When it comes to campaign financing, Democrat Brian P. Daniels is tops.
Daniels has raised $18,245 in his effort to win the City Council Area 3 race. John J. Thorp, a Democrat looking to secure an at-large seat, has raised the next-biggest amount: $13,422.
Daniels said he hates to ask people for favors, but has done so because he believes his cause is important. He said he was successful in raising money for his campaign because of support from family, friends and the Democratic Town Committee.
“The response was overwhelming,” Daniels said. “You won’t see that in a financial report.”
Daniels’ latest campaign finance forms show his campaign has accepted contributions from city councilors Anthony D. Tomassetti and Michael S. Rhode.
He also received contributions from the political action committees for the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1148 and the American Federation of Teachers. Meriden Auto Body bought a page in one of his fundraiser ad books.
Daniels said a fundraiser this month at Quality Time Food & Spirits also helped his cause.
More than 150 people showed up for the event to mingle with the likes of Mayor Mark D. Benigni, who is running for re-election, state Comptroller Nancy Wyman and Attorney General Richard Blumenthal.
A newcomer to politics, Daniels said his campaign has positive energy and that running for office has been an exciting and educational experience for him and his supporters.
He is running against Republican Daniel R. Brunet and We the People’s Diane E. Morenz. Brunet has raised $2,520 for his campaign, receiving donations from local businessman Kevin Danby and Republican Town Chairman David White.
Morenz does not have a campaign account in her name, but said she benefits from an account that serves several We the People candidates.
“It’s a shoestring budget that we’re on,” Morenz said, adding that funds aren’t important as long as We the People candidates are out talking to people in the community.
At-large candidate Walter A. Shamock Jr., who also benefits from a general account for We the People, agreed. Shamock, who has served on the council as a Republican, is counting on name recognition to win him a seat, and hasn’t spent a lot of money campaigning.
“If I need something, I pay for it myself,” he said.
In the council’s at-large race, Thorp is leading the way. He sent out a mailer to members of the city groups to which he belongs asking for donations. He said he targeted 300 people.
“For a first-time candidate, I felt very uncomfortable soliciting my friends for cash,” Thorp said. “But I learned that that is just the way it is.”
Thorp is running against incumbent Patricia D. Lynes, a Democrat, Republicans James F. Belote and Christopher De Angeli and Shamock. Two of the five will win seats.
While Thorp has raised more than $13,000, Lynes has raised about $6,000. Belote has a campaign account of less than $50 and De Angeli and Shamock did not set up campaign accounts in their names.
George E. McGoldrick, a Democratic incumbent, has raised $1,140 in his quest to keep his Area 1 seat.
McGoldrick is running against Republican Richard Pleines and We the People’s Joseph Luca. City Clerk Irene G. Masse said she was told Pleines’ latest campaign financing paperwork is in the mail, while Luca has raised less than $500. Any forms sent by mail had to be postmarked by Oct. 30.
Democratic incumbent Matthew C. Dominello Sr. is the only candidate raising money in Area 2.
He has raised about $3,500. Neither Republican Richard W. Bennett nor We the People’s Michael T. McParland has a campaign account.
Bennett said he is helped by the Republican Town Committee’s account, which he said covers several Republican candidates.
Bennett said it is not worth raising his own money. A few years ago, Bennett served as a campaign treasurer for a candidate. With the new rules for campaign financing, he said it is a job he would not make anyone do.
In the Area 4 race, incumbent Keith Gordon has raised more than $5,500. Republican John J. Ghidini III has not set up his own campaign account, while We the People’s Bob Ray Williams Jr. has raised less than $1,000.
In the race for mayor, Benigni has raised more than $21,000. Walter P. Micowski of We the People has raised $25. Petitioning candidate Arthur J. Petrucelli has not opened a campaign account.
Democrat Thomas E. Bruenn has raised the most of the nine Board of Education candidates, nearly $7,000. Democrat Mark A. Hughes and Republican Robert E. Kosienski Jr., both incumbents, also have accounts.
Hughes’ has raised about $2,500 and Masse said she was told she would soon receive Kosienski’s forms by mail. We the People’s Tom Greene has raised about $500.
Daniels has raised $18,245 in his effort to win the City Council Area 3 race. John J. Thorp, a Democrat looking to secure an at-large seat, has raised the next-biggest amount: $13,422.
Daniels said he hates to ask people for favors, but has done so because he believes his cause is important. He said he was successful in raising money for his campaign because of support from family, friends and the Democratic Town Committee.
“The response was overwhelming,” Daniels said. “You won’t see that in a financial report.”
Daniels’ latest campaign finance forms show his campaign has accepted contributions from city councilors Anthony D. Tomassetti and Michael S. Rhode.
He also received contributions from the political action committees for the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1148 and the American Federation of Teachers. Meriden Auto Body bought a page in one of his fundraiser ad books.
Daniels said a fundraiser this month at Quality Time Food & Spirits also helped his cause.
More than 150 people showed up for the event to mingle with the likes of Mayor Mark D. Benigni, who is running for re-election, state Comptroller Nancy Wyman and Attorney General Richard Blumenthal.
A newcomer to politics, Daniels said his campaign has positive energy and that running for office has been an exciting and educational experience for him and his supporters.
He is running against Republican Daniel R. Brunet and We the People’s Diane E. Morenz. Brunet has raised $2,520 for his campaign, receiving donations from local businessman Kevin Danby and Republican Town Chairman David White.
Morenz does not have a campaign account in her name, but said she benefits from an account that serves several We the People candidates.
“It’s a shoestring budget that we’re on,” Morenz said, adding that funds aren’t important as long as We the People candidates are out talking to people in the community.
At-large candidate Walter A. Shamock Jr., who also benefits from a general account for We the People, agreed. Shamock, who has served on the council as a Republican, is counting on name recognition to win him a seat, and hasn’t spent a lot of money campaigning.
“If I need something, I pay for it myself,” he said.
In the council’s at-large race, Thorp is leading the way. He sent out a mailer to members of the city groups to which he belongs asking for donations. He said he targeted 300 people.
“For a first-time candidate, I felt very uncomfortable soliciting my friends for cash,” Thorp said. “But I learned that that is just the way it is.”
Thorp is running against incumbent Patricia D. Lynes, a Democrat, Republicans James F. Belote and Christopher De Angeli and Shamock. Two of the five will win seats.
While Thorp has raised more than $13,000, Lynes has raised about $6,000. Belote has a campaign account of less than $50 and De Angeli and Shamock did not set up campaign accounts in their names.
George E. McGoldrick, a Democratic incumbent, has raised $1,140 in his quest to keep his Area 1 seat.
McGoldrick is running against Republican Richard Pleines and We the People’s Joseph Luca. City Clerk Irene G. Masse said she was told Pleines’ latest campaign financing paperwork is in the mail, while Luca has raised less than $500. Any forms sent by mail had to be postmarked by Oct. 30.
Democratic incumbent Matthew C. Dominello Sr. is the only candidate raising money in Area 2.
He has raised about $3,500. Neither Republican Richard W. Bennett nor We the People’s Michael T. McParland has a campaign account.
Bennett said he is helped by the Republican Town Committee’s account, which he said covers several Republican candidates.
Bennett said it is not worth raising his own money. A few years ago, Bennett served as a campaign treasurer for a candidate. With the new rules for campaign financing, he said it is a job he would not make anyone do.
In the Area 4 race, incumbent Keith Gordon has raised more than $5,500. Republican John J. Ghidini III has not set up his own campaign account, while We the People’s Bob Ray Williams Jr. has raised less than $1,000.
In the race for mayor, Benigni has raised more than $21,000. Walter P. Micowski of We the People has raised $25. Petitioning candidate Arthur J. Petrucelli has not opened a campaign account.
Democrat Thomas E. Bruenn has raised the most of the nine Board of Education candidates, nearly $7,000. Democrat Mark A. Hughes and Republican Robert E. Kosienski Jr., both incumbents, also have accounts.
Hughes’ has raised about $2,500 and Masse said she was told she would soon receive Kosienski’s forms by mail. We the People’s Tom Greene has raised about $500.