{news} "Shoestring Shapiro" goes up against big money

Thu Oct 20 10:07:20 EDT 2005

The Advocate

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/local/scn-sa-mayormoney5oct13,0,4427991.story

Mayor has cash advantage over challenger Munger

By Doug Dalena
Staff Writer

October 13, 2005

STAMFORD -- Mayor Dannel Malloy has raised more than $170,000 toward his 
re-election effort, more than four times what Republican candidate 
Christopher Munger raised, campaign finance reports show.

Malloy expressed confidence three months ago that he could quickly raise a 
large sum to fund his first contested race since 1997.

Malloy took in $166,545 in campaign contributions from July 1 to Sept. 30, 
bringing his total to $171,056, according to campaign finance reports filed 
with the town clerk Tuesday. Munger raised $38,245, which is nearly four 
times what Malloy's last mayoral opponent, Charles Klein, raised in 1997.

"He's been around 10 years," Munger said of Malloy's strong showing, "and 
I've only been doing this two and a half months. We're right on target, and 
we've got a nice tight budget."

Munger said his campaign manager, Kim Olds, is volunteering her time. 
Malloy's paid campaign manager, Michael Nemec, joined the campaign earlier 
this month.

Green Party candidate Darek Shapiro reported raising $425, bringing his 
total to $525.

Malloy spent $28,589 on his re-election effort in the past quarter; he 
reported $142,466 on hand at the end of the period. Munger spent $18,597; he 
reported $19,647 on hand.

At the same time Malloy was raising money for the mayoral race, he collected 
$403,000 for his campaign for governor in 2006.

Malloy collected $123,000 -- 74 percent of his total for the quarter -- from 
123 donors who each gave the maximum contribution of $1,000 to his mayoral 
campaign.

Munger, who joined the race in July after the Republicans' original 
candidate, William Sigler, dropped out, raised $16,000 in $1,000 
contributions. The rest came from 132 other donors giving $50 to $700.

Overall, 37 of Munger's 146 contributions -- 25 percent -- came from people 
who live outside Stamford, compared with 90 of Malloy's 316 contributions, 
or 28 percent.

Malloy, who has boasted of his success at attracting development to the 
city, received 61 donations totaling $51,400 from real estate and 
development executives or their family members, according to donor 
disclosures in the report.

They include $10,000 from people associated with Antares Real Estate, the 
Greenwich firm preparing to develop more than 80 acres in the South End, and 
$5,000 from real estate planning consultant Richard Redniss and family 
members or employees of his firm.

More than half of Munger's contributors did not list their employer or 
occupation, because their contributions did not exceed the $100 limit 
required for reporting such information. Malloy's report showed 31 donors 
who did not list their occupation or employer.

Political action committees contributed $2,500 to Malloy's campaign. Munger 
received $1,750 from political action committees.

Malloy's PAC contributions were from Connecticut Health Care District 1199, 
the statewide health-care workers' union; Waterbury-based Webster Bank PAC; 
and the Leadership in Action PAC, whose treasurer, Jacquelin Heftman, is 
also treasurer for Malloy's campaign for governor.

Munger got PAC contributions from the Showtime in Autumn PAC, whose 
treasurer is Ann Sessa; the Stamford Women's Republic, whose treasurer is 
Angie Vavala; and the John Corelli PAC, whose treasurer is former state Rep. 
Michael Fedele. John Corelli is a Republican running for re-election as a 
constable.