FAIRFAX CITY, VA — Kirsten Sides Lockhart raised more than twice as much money as Tom Peterson in the Fairfax City mayoral race through Sept. 30, while Steve Chang led fundraising among 11 candidates competing for six seats on the City Council, according to campaign finance disclosures.
Lockhart reported $40,545.80 in contributions received during 2026, compared with $17,950.31, according to campaign finance reports filed with the State Board of Elections. Lockhart ended September with $29,201.90 in cash, compared with Peterson's $2,262.39.
In the council contest, Chang reported $25,050 in contributions since Jan. 1, followed by Anthony Amos with $24,376.50 and María José Padmore with $24,359. Padmore raised the most among council candidates during September, collecting $6,965.
Lockhart's fundraising advantage was driven largely by a $30,000 contribution from William Fields, a retired Fairfax City resident, on Aug. 11. The contribution accounted for nearly three-quarters of the money her campaign raised during 2026.
Lockhart received $2,010 in September contributions, including $400 from outgoing Fairfax City Mayor Catherine Read, who is not seeking reelection. Read's contributions to Lockhart totaled $500.
RELATED: Chang Leads Fairfax City Council Fundraising As Candidates Raise More Than $98K
Other contributors to Lockhart's campaign included Fairfax County Supervisor Dalia Palchik (D-Providence), who donated $500 in July, according to campaign records.
Lockhart spent $6,615.11 during September, including $5,618.18 on a campaign mailer produced by Empire Political Communications. Her campaign reported $11,355.90 in cumulative expenditures and in-kind spending through Sept. 30.
Peterson, an incumbent City Council member running for mayor, reported $6,647.21 in September contributions, bringing his 2026 total to $17,950.31.
Peterson's September donors included Maryanna Fournier, a retired Fairfax City resident who contributed $1,000; John Wood, an attorney with JCW Co. Inc., who contributed $959.70; Trevor Milner, a retiree who gave $750; and Patrick Murray, a program manager with Unwin Company, who also contributed $750. All four listed Fairfax City addresses in their campaign finance disclosures.
Peterson's campaign reported $11,442.47 in expenditures and in-kind spending during September, leaving $2,262.39 at the end of the reporting period.
The mayoral figures reflect contributions to Thomas D Peterson for Mayor. Contributions to Peterson's separate council campaign committee are not included in his mayoral fundraising total.
The 11 council candidates included in Patch's review reported $124,941.92 in contributions from Jan. 1 through Sept. 30. Together, they raised $27,284.44 during September.
Chang led in cumulative contributions, followed closely by Amos and Padmore. However, Padmore held the largest cash balance among council candidates at the end of September.
| Candidate | 2026 Contributions | September Contributions | Sept. 30 Cash Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Chang | $25,050.00 | $1,870.00 | $15,373.34 |
| Anthony Amos | $24,376.50 | $3,464.00 | $17,496.58 |
| María José Padmore | $24,359.00 | $6,965.00 | $20,042.65 |
| Stacy Hall | $11,429.58 | $4,225.00 | $6,370.16 |
| Kelly O'Brien | $9,587.65 | $1,170.44 | $963.66 |
| Sandra Slappey Brown | $8,548.00 | $375.00 | $4,463.29 |
| Susan Hartley Kuiler | $8,465.00 | $4,000.00 | $6,029.90 |
| Rachel McQuillen | $7,765.45 | $3,125.00 | $3,073.85 |
| Jessica Lough | $4,920.74 | $1,650.00 | $2,346.09 |
| Russell Jones | $440.00 | $440.00 | $227.91 |
| Stephen Kim | $0.00 | $0.00 | $234.00 |
The totals include monetary and in-kind contributions. Candidate loans are excluded from contribution totals.
Campaign finance records show several current and former elected officials supporting candidates in the city's nonpartisan elections.
Padmore received $1,000 in September from state Sen. Dave Marsden (D-Burke) and $1,000 from the campaign committee associated with state Sen. Stella G. Pekarsky (D-Centreville).
She also received $500 from Fairfax County Supervisor Dalia Palchik (D-Providence), $500 from Fairfax County Supervisor Andres Jimenez (D-Mason) and $300 from the campaign committee associated with the Del. Irene Shin (D-Herndon).
Palchik also contributed $500 to Lockhart's mayoral campaign in July.
Outgoing Fairfax City Mayor Catherine Read contributed $400 to Lockhart in September, bringing her total contributions to $500.
The contributions illustrate the involvement of elected officials and their political committees in the city's mayoral and council contests, even though the municipal elections are conducted on a nonpartisan basis.
Padmore's $6,965 September total placed her ahead of Hall, who raised $4,225, and Kuiler, who collected $4,000.
Hall's September contributors included retired city resident John Cho, who gave $1,000, and former Fairfax City Mayor Steven Stombres; Trevor Milner, a retired city resident, and John Petersen, who each contributed $500. Petersen's disclosure listed Chap Petersen & Associates Law Firm as his employer.
Hall also reported $1,722.03 in candidate loans during September. Those loans are separate from her contribution total.
Kuiler's September contributions included $1,000 from Christopher Smith, a developer with Ox Hill Companies; $750 from Trevor Milner; and $500 each from Janet Neuhaus, a retired Fairfax City resident, and John Wood, a Fairfax City attorney and president of JCW Co. Inc.
Kuiler reported $1,672.34 in new loans and $1,449.34 in loan repayments during the month.
McQuillen collected $3,125 in September, including $1,000 from Cho and $500 each from Milner and Myron Maslowsky, a retired USA Today finance executive.
Lough reported $1,650 in contributions, including $550 from Oakton attorney Loren Hershey, $500 from Stombres and $250 from Milner.
Amos raised $3,464 in September, including $1,000 each from the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters and Fouad Qreitem, and $500 from William Cocose.
His campaign reported $6,104.09 in September expenditures and in-kind spending and ended the month with $17,496.58.
Chang reported $1,870 in September contributions, including $1,000 in in-kind support from Robinhood Graphics and $250 from Milner.
Chang also contributed $250 to Jones' campaign. Jones reported $440 in September contributions.
O'Brien raised $1,170.44 in September and ended the month with $963.66. Brown reported $375 in unitemized contributions and a $4,463.29 balance.
Kim reported no September contributions and ended the reporting period with $234.
The latest disclosures show different fundraising patterns across the races.
Lockhart holds a substantial advantage in the mayoral contest, largely because of one $30,000 contribution. Peterson raised more money during September but spent heavily during the same period.
Among council candidates, Chang led in total contributions, while Padmore held the largest cash balance and raised the most money in September.
The reports also show financial support from current and former elected officials, political campaign committees, organized labor and individual donors.
The figures cover contributions reported through Sept. 30, 2026. They do not include subsequent fundraising, spending by independent political action committees or contributions received after the reporting deadline.
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