Former Secretary of the Commonwealth Levar Stoney raised $303,000 for his Richmond mayoral campaign between April and June, a sum that far exceeds that of his 16 opponents and outpaces candidates in past citywide elections.
Stoney announced his candidacy in April, and has rolled out a campaign that more closely resembles that belonging to a state or congressional candidate. He reported receiving 770 individual contributions, including three $10,000 donations from big donors who had previously supported Democratic candidates statewide. Gov. Terry McAuliffe, Stoney's former boss, gave $2,500 to the campaign, as did the governor's wife, Dorothy McAuliffe. The majority of Stoney's contributions exceeding $5,000 -- 15 such contributions -- came from outside the city.
The costs are already stacking up. His campaign reported about $46,000 in expenditures during the two-month stretch, including $16,000 spent on staffers.
Stoney raised nearly twice as much as his nearest opponent, Jack Berry. The former Venture Richmond executive raised $159,500 during the period, reporting 296 donations, the largest of which was a $10,000 check from James Ukrop.
Former West End Councilman Bruce Tyler raised $7,225; Richmond City Council President Michelle Mosby raised $5,601; Former VCU student Nate Peterson raised $1,972; community activist Alan Schintzius raised $1,053; Richmond Public Schools teacher Chad Ingold raised $205; community strategist Lillie Estes reported raising $0.
As of Tuesday morning, reports were not yet available for former delegate Joe Morrissey, councilman Jonathan Baliles and several other mayoral candidates.
Other takeaways from the round of finance reports:
- Longtime Southside Council representative Reva Trammell reported raising $25,500, the most among council candidates for the period.
- Ellen Robertson, the 6th district representative, reported 17 donations tallying $15,800. Donald Moss, Robertson’s only challenger thus far, reported 118 donations tallying $12,789.
- In the race to fill the open West End Council seat, Harry Warner Jr. raised $14,500 during the period. Jonathan Cruise reported raising $404.
