Fairfax City Campaign Finance: Who Raised And Spent The Most Before Election Day?

FAIRFAX CITY, VA — Mayoral candidate Kirsten Sides Lockhart maintained her fundraising lead over challenger Thomas D. "Tom" Peterson ahead of Fairfax City's Nov. 3 election, although Peterson reported a sharp increase in contributions during the first three weeks of October.

Lockhart reported $43,352.80 in cumulative election-cycle receipts through Oct. 22, compared with $32,993.90 for Peterson, according to their latest campaign finance disclosures. Peterson received $15,043.59 during the Oct. 1-22 reporting period, including in-kind support, compared with $2,795 reported by Lockhart.

In the City Council race, María José Padmore led the candidates reviewed with $34,082 in cumulative receipts, followed by Anthony Amos with $32,200.92 and Steve Chang with $28,613.60. The reports also show substantial differences in campaign spending and cash available heading into the final days before Election Day.

Lockhart Holds Financial Advantage In Mayor's Race

Lockhart reported $18,995.86 in cumulative disbursements and $24,356.94 remaining as of Oct. 22.

Peterson reported $24,329.27 in cumulative disbursements and $8,664.63 remaining.

Although Peterson raised considerably more during the latest reporting period, Lockhart retained an overall fundraising advantage of $10,358.90 and held approximately $15,692 more in cash.

Peterson's largest October monetary contributions included $3,000 each from Richard Dickson and William Fournier, $2,000 from Livingston Johnson, and $1,000 each from JCW Co. Inc., John Lewett and Gail Wade.

His campaign reported spending $5,631 with Eagle Mailing Service for printing and mailing materials, along with $300 for an advertisement with Independent News Press.

The campaign also reported $375 in in-kind support from former Fairfax City Mayor Steve Stombres for use of the Sherwood Center for a mayoral candidate forum.

Padmore, Amos And Chang Lead Council Fundraising

Padmore reported $34,082 in cumulative receipts, $18,245.35 in disbursements and $15,836.65 remaining as of Oct. 22.

Her campaign received $9,073 during the latest reporting period, including $7,408 in in-kind contributions. The campaign reported $13,279 in payments during the period, including a $500 loan repayment.

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Amos reported $32,200.92 in cumulative receipts and $19,444.41 in disbursements, leaving $13,027.71.

Chang reported $28,613.60 in receipts and $19,533.97 in disbursements, with $9,079.63 remaining.

Chang's campaign also reported reimbursements from the campaigns of Rachel McQuillen and Stacy Hall, both of whom are campaigning alongside him as part of Fairfax Common Ground.

Among the remaining candidates, Hall reported $17,558.91 in receipts, followed by Sandi Slappey Brown with $15,208, Kelly O'Brien with $13,407.64, Susan Hartley Kuiler with $11,037.34, McQuillen with $9,915.45, Jessica Lough with $9,042.80 and Russell Jones with $1,310.

Stephen Kim is also a council candidate, but comparable Oct. 22 cumulative figures were not established in the filings reviewed for this article.

Fairfax City Campaign Finance Totals Through Oct. 22

The following figures represent cumulative election-cycle receipts and disbursements reported by the campaigns, along with their ending cash balances.

Campaign receipts can include monetary contributions, in-kind support, loans and other reportable receipts. The figures are not exclusively cash donations. Spending totals reflect reported disbursements, which can include the value of in-kind support and loan repayments.

Political Alliances Also Shape Campaign Spending

The financial reports come as candidates are campaigning through competing political alliances.

Fairfax Common Ground is promoting Peterson and council candidates Hall, McQuillen, Kuiler, Chang and Lough.

The City of Fairfax Democratic Committee has recommended Lockhart and council candidates Amos, Brown, O'Brien and Padmore.

Jones and Kim are outside those two groups.

The city elections are nonpartisan, meaning candidates do not appear on the ballot with party labels. However, political organizations may recommend candidates, and candidates may campaign together.

The latest filings document shared expenditures among some Fairfax Common Ground candidates, as well as advertising purchases involving Independent News Press, whose CEO and majority owner is Chang.

Separate political action committees have also financed communications addressing the election, including Keep Fairfax City Independent PAC, which received $15,000 from Fairfax Commonsense PAC, an organization associated with former state Sen. J. Chapman "Chap" Petersen.

Voters will elect a mayor and six City Council members Nov. 3.