FAIRFAX CITY, VA — Fairfax City Council candidate María José Padmore raised $17,394 in contributions through Aug. 31, including a $5,000 contribution from SEIU Virginia 512 and financial support from several Democratic elected officials representing Fairfax City and Northern Virginia.
Padmore's contributors include Del. Michelle Maldonado, Mason District Supervisor Andres Jimenez, Del. Gretchen Bulova, state Sen. Saddam Azlan Salim's campaign committee, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay's campaign committee, Supervisor Jimmy Bierman, former Del. Elizabeth Guzman and Fairfax City Mayor Catherine Read.
Friends of María José Padmore reported $10,620 in contributions from July 24 through Aug. 31, accounting for more than 60 percent of Padmore's fundraising through that date. The campaign reported $14,027.65 in cash on hand at the end of August.
Maldonado was the largest individual elected-official donor, contributing $250 in July and another $1,500 in August for a combined $1,750.
Jimenez, who represents the Mason District on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, contributed $1,000. Padmore's filing identified Jimenez by his professional position as executive director of Green 2.0.
Friends of Jeff McKay, the campaign committee associated with the chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, contributed $500.
Bierman, who represents the Dranesville District on the Board of Supervisors, contributed $250.
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Bulova, who represents Fairfax City in the Virginia House of Delegates, contributed $200.
Friends of Saddam Azlan Salim contributed $250. Salim represents Fairfax City in the Virginia Senate. The Democrat first won the seat after defeating longtime incumbent Sen. Chap Petersen in the 2023 Democratic primary.
Former Del. Elizabeth Guzman contributed $250, while Read contributed $200 total to Padmore's campaign.
The contributions are notable in Fairfax City's nonpartisan municipal elections. Candidates appear on the ballot without party labels, although political parties and elected officials may endorse or otherwise support candidates.
The campaign's largest contribution through Aug. 31 was $5,000 from SEIU Virginia 512, a labor union representing public-sector and other workers in Virginia.
Jeff Berntsen, identified in Padmore's campaign finance report as chief of staff for SEIU Virginia 512, separately contributed $120 personally through July 23.
The union contribution accounted for nearly half of the $10,620 Padmore raised during the July 24-Aug. 31 reporting period.
In addition to the union and elected-official contributions, Padmore received $1,000 from Fairfax dentist Quyen Dang.
Chantal Deflumeri, John Piescik and New Chapter PAC each contributed $250 during the latest period, while Dave Hipp contributed $200.
Graphic artist Deb Smith provided $720 in in-kind services during the period for work on business cards and a yard sign. Combined with $360 in graphic-design services reported earlier, Smith provided $1,080 in in-kind contributions through Aug. 31.
The campaign's $10,620 in contributions during the latest period consisted of $9,575 in itemized monetary contributions, $720 in itemized in-kind contributions and $325 in smaller contributions.
Padmore reported $2,945 in contributions during her first reporting period, covering May 31 through June 30.
In addition to the contributions from Jimenez and Bulova, Ileana Mendez contributed a combined $400, Natalia Parmly contributed $300, and Philethea Duckett contributed $240. Flor Jasmin Chavez Cruz contributed $200.
Padmore also loaned her campaign $650 during the period. Candidate loans are separate from contributions and are not included in the $17,394 fundraising total.
An amended report covering July 1-23 increased Padmore's contributions for that period from the originally reported $3,479 to $3,829.
That period included contributions from Salim's campaign committee, Maldonado and Read. Pablo Ibar also contributed $250, while Dilshad Charania and Uzma Rasheed each contributed $200.
The campaign spent $1,603.15 during that period, including $1,050.67 at Chilcanos Resto Bar for a fundraiser. Padmore's campaign also repaid $159 of the candidate's loans.
Across the three reporting periods, Padmore reported $17,394 in contributions through Aug. 31.
Her Aug. 31 report listed $18,044 in total election-cycle receipts, which includes the $650 in candidate loans in addition to contributions. The campaign reported $4,016.35 in cumulative disbursements and $14,027.65 in cash on hand.
The report also listed $500 in unpaid debt.
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