About half of the campaign contributions received by Columbus City Council candidates for this city election have gone to candidates in one race.
Three candidates for the Columbus City Council at-large race, Democrat Grace Kestler, Republican Josh Burnett and Democrat incumbent Tom Dell reported receiving $45,766 in contributions and other receipts from Jan. 1 to Oct. 11, according to recently-released campaign finance reports.
Collectively, the 14 city council candidates reported receiving $86,681 in contributions since Jan. 1, or approximately $2.92 per registered voter, the reports state.
The two at-large seats are currently held by Republican incumbent Laurie Booher, owner of Popportunity, and Democratic incumbent Dell, co-owner of Dell Brothers. Both are finishing their first terms.
The two are being challenged by political newcomers, Burnett, communications coordinator for Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp., and Kestler, founder of Grace Kestler Consulting and a community outreach coordinator for Advocates for Children — CASA.
Kestler has received the most contributions of any city council candidate, with $20,497 in contributions from Jan. 23 to Oct. 11, according to campaign finance records.
Burnett received $14,328 in contributions from Jan. 1 to Oct. 11 in addition to the $834 in cash on hand he reported at the beginning of the year. Dell reported receiving $10,940 in contributions over the same period.
Booher, however, has not received any contributions or spent any money on her campaign, according to campaign finance records.
Besides Kestler, Burnett and Dell, the only other city council candidates who reported receiving more than $3,900 in campaign contributions were Elaine Wagner, the Democratic incumbent in District 2, who received $17,127 in contributions, and Michael Schoumacher, who has received $9,684 in contributions.
Schoumacher is a Democrat who is challenging Republican incumbent Frank Miller for the District 4 seat.
Overall, Democratic candidates have received more financial contributions and spent more money than their Republican rivals.
The Democratic candidates have received a combined $69,613, while the Republican candidates received $17,043.
The Democratic candidates also have outspent the Republican candidates. $44,526 to $16,988.
Collectively, the candidates have spent $62,657 on their campaigns as of mid-October.
