Boyd-Neff race continues to draw the big bucks

Albemarle County’s Rivanna District contest between incumbent Supervisor Kenneth C. Boyd and Democratic challenger Cynthia Neff continues to draw big contribution amounts, according to the most recent campaign filings.

Neff has raised a total of $64,121 to Boyd’s $41,082.

In the most recent reporting period between Aug. 11 and Aug. 31, Neff attracted $25,077, while Boyd’s supporters contributed $11,845.

In the Scottsville District, Democrat Christopher J. Dumler has raised a total of $36,612 to Republican James C. Norwood’s $17,152, through Aug. 31.

The two are competing for the seat now held by retiring Supervisor Lindsay Dorrier Jr.

Ann H. Mallek, a Democrat running unopposed for the White Hall district seat, has raised $11,334.

In the most recent filing period, Neff and Dumler have each received $10,000 from Hunter Lewis of Crozet and $5,000 from his wife, Elizabeth Sidamon-Eristoff.

In June, Neff also received $10,000 from Sonjia S. Smith, whose husband, Michael D. Bills, is chairman of the Board of Directors of Charlottesville Tomorrow, a news partner of The Daily Progress.

Smith has been a consistent and generous donor to Democratic candidates in local and state elections in recent years, according to state filings.

Since 2009, she alone has contributed a total $89,046 to Neff in the current campaign and Neff’s previous unsuccessful run for the House of Delegates in 2009.

In August, novelist John Grisham donated $5,000 to Neff’s campaign. Grisham’s wife, Renee, is a former member of the Charlottesville Tomorrow board.

All of Neff’s contributions to date have been from individuals, a statistic she attributes to her platform.

“I’d like to think that it’s because that’s who I’m running to represent, the folks who live here,” she said, adding that the smaller donations are just as important as large contributions.

“I have been frankly overwhelmed by a couple of large gifts, but the thing that I have been most pleased with is the number of small donations,” she said.

Boyd, her opponent, has garnered most of his large donations from businesses and business groups. The Monticello Business Alliance gave $5,000 to the Boyd campaign, while Seminole Trail Properties and the Zobrist Law Group both sent Boyd $2,500. Boyd, too, said he was humbled by those who donated to his campaign.

“They’re just people who believe in what I’ve done in the past and my values and my virtues and the things that I’ve done for the county,” Boyd said. “I’m increasingly honored by the number of people who have contributed to my campaign, I’ve just been grateful that so many people have stepped up and made donations.”

The Monticello Business Alliance is a political action committee that gets money mostly from real estate and development interests.

Zobrist Law Group Managing Partner Duane H. Zobrist, who also serves as chairman of the Albemarle County Planning Commission, made a $999 personal donation to the Mallek campaign.

Boyd said he’s pleased with how fundraising has gone so far, but is always looking for donors.

“You can always use more money,” he said.

The Monticello Business Alliance is the biggest donor to date for James C. Norwood’s campaign, at $5,000, followed by Phillip G. Wendell. Contributions to the Norwood campaign have come both from companies and individuals.

Dumler’s donations are made up mostly of small contributions from individuals. Besides the $10,000 and $5,000 donations from Lewis and Sidamon-Eristoff, Dumler’s largest donation is $600 from Lonnie Murray. Dumler also received $500 from the Democratic Party of Virginia’s 5th Congressional District. Dumler echoed Neff that small donations make the most difference.

“We just have a message that’s resonating,” Dumler said of his campaign Wednesday. “I think that people feel with the number of doors I’ve knocked on ... they’re being listened to. I think that resonates at the dollar level as well as at the vote level.”

Neither Mallek nor Norwood could be reached for comment Wednesday.

The general election is Nov. 8.