09/02/09

Ten Vie to be the Next Mayor of Lawrence
Only five file their campaign finances

TOM DUGGAN

There are ten candidates running to replace Lawrence Mayor Mike Sullivan in the September 22nd city primary elections. The top two candidates will face a runoff election on November 3rd. Here is a snapshot of each candidate. Click the picture or name of any candidate to read the Valley Patriot's political evaluation of that candidate. We will update this information as candidates who file late turn in their finances. City Council and School Committee Canidates will be posted shortly.


David Abdoo	Nilka Alvarez Rodriguez	Patrick Blanchette	Dan Cotnoir	Marcos Devers
Website Finance Reports Raised $48,318 Spent $32,922 Balance $15,396	Website Finance Reports did not file	Website Finance Reports Raised $21,246 Spent: 14,430 Balance $6,816	Website Finance Reports Raised: $1,394 Spent $1,904 Balance -$690	Website Campaign Finance Reports did not file


Nunzio DiMarca	Willie Lantigua	Padro Payano	Israel Reyes	Julia Silverio
Website Campaign Finance Reports did not file	Website Campaign Finance Reports did not file	Website Campaign Finance Reports did not file	Website Finance Reports Raised $85,426 Spent $5,5330 Balance $30,095	Website Finance Reports Raised $17,233 Spent $32,522 Balance -$15,288

Five of ten mayoral candidates fail to file campaign finances

TOM DUGGAN

Only half of the ten candidates running for mayor in Lawrence filed their campaign finances reports with Lawrence City clerk Billy Maloney by the September 15th deadline.

By state law, candidates for all municipal offices must record and file a detailed accounting of all money raised and spent on their campaign. Candidates are also mandated to declare all “in kind” donations such as donated materials for signs, food for fund-raisers, discounts on function halls or free radio advertisements.

Candidate finance reports cover the period from January 20, 2009 to September 4, 20009.

Not filing their campaign finances as required by law were Nilka Alvarez-Rodriguez, Marcos Devers, Nunzio DiMarca, State Rep. Willie Lantigua and Padro Payano.

Of those who did file their campaign finances Israel Reyes raised the most, collecting $42,193 since January and with a previous balance of $43,232 in his account Reyes had a whopping $85,426 to spend. Reyes spent 55,330 prior to September 4th giving him $30,095 to spend in the final days of the campaign. Reyes lent his campaign $40,395.

Lawrence District E City Councilor Dave Abdoo was the highest fund raiser collecting $48,318, spending $32,922 leaving him with $15,396 to spend in the final days. Abdoo has $5,533 in outstanding liabilities.

Lawrence City Council President Patrick Blanchette raised a modest $21,246 and spent $14,430 leaving him with a balance of $6,816. Blanchette declared that he had no liabilities and accepted no “in-kind” contributions.

Both Dan Cotnoir and Julia Silverio had a negative balance in their account. Cotnoir only raised $1,394 but spent $1,904 with a negative balance of $690. Cotnoir has $2,849 in outstanding bills for his campaign.

Julia Silverio raised a modest $17,233 but spent nearly twice as much ($32,522) leaving her a negative balance of $15,288. Silverio lent her campaign $13,000 and owes nearly $5,000 in rent for her campaign headquarters.

Lawrence City Clerk Billy Maloney said that State Representative Willie Lantigua may have filed his forms in Boston but has had no word from the candidate or the Boston office as to whether or not he filed.

You can email Tom Duggan about this or any other story at: valleypatriot@aol.com