Shumlin raises nearly $676K, Brock about $530K, for race
Posted: 07/16/2012 10:45:21 PM EDT
Tuesday July 17, 2012

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) -- Gov. Peter Shumlin leads Republican challenger Randy Brock in campaign fundraising, while Attorney General Bill Sorrell lags Democratic primary challenger T.J. Donovan in their bids for re-election, according to new campaign finance filings.

Filings for state office-seekers were due at 5 p.m. Monday, and they showed Shumlin, a Democrat, having raised more than $679,000, including about $25,000 left over from his 2010 campaign. He has spent nearly $77,000 so far in his re-election campaign.

Among his biggest donors: the Service Employees International Union, which is hoping to organize home-health workers in Vermont; Montpelier lobbying firm KSE Partners Inc.; and alternative energy entrepreneur David Blittersdorf.

Brock, currently a state senator from Franklin County, reported raising about $530,000 so far in the campaign, while spending about $282,000.

By far, Brock's largest contributor was himself. He reported contributing more than $300,000 to his campaign. That was similar to Shumlin's strategy two years ago, when he and his family contributed more than $300,000 to his first campaign for governor. The Shumlin family has kicked in just $1,200 to his campaign so far this year.

Big contributions

Brock got big contributions from longtime Republican activist Ralph Colin of Manchester, construction mogul James Pizzagalli, and John McClaughry, a Kirby-based writer and think tank leader.

Both campaigns lauded their success.

"We are honored and humbled by the outpouring of financial support that the campaign has received," Shumlin finance chief Erika Wolffing said in an email.

Brock issued a statement saying, "We continue to work hard to keep pace with Governor Shumlin in order to be able to take our message of economic prosperity, job creation, and restoring the fabric of Vermont directly to the people -- and that hard work is paying off."

In the closely watched race for the Democratic nomination for attorney general, Donovan, the Chittenden County state's attorney, was outpacing Sorrell, who has held the post since 1997.

Donovan reported raising nearly $130,000 and spending nearly $40,000 of it; Sorrell said he had raised more than $92,000, while spending nearly $37,000 of it.

In the race for state treasurer, Democratic incumbent Beth Pearce had raised nearly $84,000 while spending more than $33,000. Pearce was appointed to the post by Shumlin in January 2011 after Shumlin tapped then-Treasurer Jeb Spaulding to be his administration secretary.

Republican Wendy Wilton, a former state senator and currently the Rutland city treasurer, reported raising about $16,000 to date, while spending about $5,000.

Lt. Gov. Phil Scott had raised more than $31,000 in his bid for a second two-year term, while Democratic challenger Cassandra Gekas, who entered the race in June, said she had raised about $7,800.


Copyright 2012 Bennington Banner. All rights reserved.



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