Clerk candidate, dam opponents lead local Democratic fundraising

Two opponents of the plan to build a new dam at Ragged Mountain Reservoir led the field of Charlottesville City Council candidates in fundraising during the most recent quarter, campaign-finance disclosures show.

Brevy Cannon, a University of Virginia media-relations writer who has said he opposes the plan for an earthen dam, received $4,106.70, which includes a $2,000 loan he made to his own campaign and an $800 in-kind contribution from Eppie’s restaurant for a campaign kickoff event. Dede Smith, a former city school board chair and a co-founder of the anti-dam group Citizens for a Sustainable Water Plan, came in a close second with $3,865.98.

The 11 candidates running for council this year were required to file reports by Friday detailing their campaign-finance activities from April 1 through June 30.

Both Smith and Cannon were relative late entrants into this year’s race, announcing their candidacies in mid-June, just a few weeks before the end of the reporting period.

Smith said the crowded field and the more open nomination process adopted by the Democratic Party has put a greater emphasis on fundraising for the primary, but she stressed the importance of giving voters a choice.

“It’s nice to have a contest,” Smith said.

Mayor Dave Norris, the council’s leading dam critic, has endorsed the two leading fundraisers, and Cannon’s candidacy paperwork lists Norris as the campaign treasurer.

Councilor Satyendra Huja, a dam supporter and the only incumbent running in a year when three seats are up for grabs, raised $3,479, bringing his total to $4,429 for the cycle.

Huja’s $3,528.31 war chest gave him the highest remaining balance of any candidate. Smith had $3,100 remaining while Cannon had $2,098.41.

Current school board member Kathy Galvin raised $3,169.85 for the quarter, and finished with an ending balance of $2,706.95. Developer and homebuilder Paul Beyer raised $2,568, but finished with just $80 remaining. Galvin and Beyer have taken similar positions on the water supply plan, saying that decisions have been made on the issue and the city should move on to more pressing matters.

Campaign-finance figures for Democrat James Halfaday were not available at the local registrar’s office or on the state board of elections website as of Monday afternoon. According to paperwork provided directly by Halfaday, he raised $850 for the quarter and finished with a balance of $761. Halfaday chalked up the delay to errors and miscommunication on the part of the registrar’s office.

According to Registrar Sheri Iachetta, Halfaday did not submit all the required paperwork to the state board of elections in order to file his report electronically. On the day of the filing deadline, part of Halfaday’s paperwork was temporarily lost at the registrar’s office. At the office, a crate is set out for public inspection of campaign documents, and part of Halfaday’s candidacy papers had slipped below the folders, Iachetta said.

“I have my reservations about the function of the registrar’s office, with them losing pertinent information for a candidacy,” said Halfaday.

Iachetta said Halfaday was upset with her office, but she claimed his anger was misplaced.

“We didn’t do anything wrong in our office,” Iachetta said. “It was unfortunate that the papers got misfiled and fell out of the folder in the public-inspection crate.”

Iachetta said the penalty for missing the filing deadline can be $25 to $100, but the state board of elections probably won’t fine the Halfaday campaign.

Independent candidates Scott Bandy, Brandon Collins and Andrew Williams raised $120, $750.84 and $300, respectively. Independent Bob Fenwick reported no financial activity for the quarter.

School board member and Democratic candidate Colette Blount was not required to file a fundraising report, because she announced her candidacy after the fundraising period was over.

The biggest fundraiser out of all the local candidates isn’t running for City Council.

Llezelle Dugger, a school board member and Democratic candidate for clerk of Charlottesville Circuit Court, raised $8,575.91, compared to $2,181.18 raised by the incumbent, Paul C. Garrett. Pam Melampy, a third candidate for the clerk’s office, raised $856.03. Garrett and Melampy are both also running as Democrats.

“We’ve had an amazing time from the time we announced to the present,” said Dugger. “Donations are still coming in.”

Dugger attributed her fundraising success to an online contribution system, mailings and meeting residents in person.

“The response has been really great,” Dugger said. “This is all new to me. I don’t know what one is supposed to raise in a partisan race before the primary.”

The Democratic Party will nominate three candidates for council and one for clerk at its “firehouse primary” from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 20 at Burley Middle School.

The seven Democratic council candidates will participate Wednesday in a forum hosted by The Daily Progress and Charlottesville Tomorrow. The event will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Burley Middle School.

The general election will be held Nov. 8.