David Bellamy keeps money lead over Jeremy Matlow, who claims largest number of donations
Tallahassee City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow may not be winning the dollar race in his re-election campaign, but he says he's pulling way ahead in the number of individual donors supporting him.
As the latest campaign finance reports showed him trailing his opponent, David Bellamy, in money raised, Matlow took the opportunity to boast about the number of people backing him.
In a news release, he noted he has received 784 individual donations — more than all the rest of the City Commission candidates combined — and touted his average donation amount of $91, which he said was much lower than Bellamy’s.
A review of records show that Matlow's base of individual donors is significantly lower than his number of donations because many of his contributors gave multiple times. His reports show he has closer to 500 unique individual donors.
“We all saw the corrupting influence of establishment donors has had at City Hall throughout the recent FBI trials,” Matlow said in a statement. “Big-money players bragged to undercover agents about how they could influence local government with donations in excess of the $250 voter-approved maximum limit. Our community will not go backwards.”
Matlow, a restaurateur who is seeking a second term to Seat 3, raised nearly $14,500 in December, bringing his campaign total to just over $71,000. Bellamy, a surgeon and first-time candidate, raised over $20,000 in December, upping his total to more than $124,000.
Bellamy has 182 individual donations and roughly the same number of unique donors. However, several businesses, including TALCOR, have given multiple checks through related corporate entities. He said in an interview he’s turned down donations from some supporters because he didn’t want them to make the financial sacrifice.
“People have offered to give money," Bellamy said, "and I’ve told them I needed their vote more than I needed their money because I felt like they needed it more than I did.”
Matlow appealed last month on Facebook to his supporters to donate a dollar to his campaign. His December report shows he took in 92 such donations, including one from his colleague, City Commissioner Jack Porter. Bellamy’s December report, by contrast, shows he took in 14 checks of $1,000, the legal maximum.
Both Matlow and Bellamy are self-financing a portion of their campaigns. Matlow has given his campaign $12,501, which includes a $1 check, while Bellamy has chipped in $11,000 of his own money to his campaign.
Other city and county races
Mayor John Dailey raised a little over $12,000 in December, bringing his total to more than $149,000. His lone opponent, Whitfield Leland III, collected only three checks totaling $360, bringing his total to just over $500.
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City Commissioner Dianne Williams-Cox, running for a second term to Seat 5, raised $2,195 in December, bringing her total to just over $35,000. Her only opponent, Adner Marcelin, collected $4,100 in December, the first month of his fundraising since filing to run.
About the race: Adner Marcelin, former Tallahassee NAACP president, running for City Commission seat
Leon County Commissioner Rick Minor, who is running for re-election in District 3, raised $9,785 in December, bringing his total just over $50K. Damon Victor, one of his opponents, raised $4,190, bringing his total to just over 10K. Another challenger, Joey Lamar, raised $700, increasing his total to just over $2,100.
About the race: Election 2022: Two candidates challenging Rick Minor for Leon County Commission District 3
In the County Commission District 5 race, Dustin Ryan Rivest raised $10,125, bringing his total to $20,275; Jay Revell collected $13,250 in his first fundraising month since filing; Paula DeBoles Johnson raised $2,500, bringing her total to $4,776; and David Hawkins reported just one donation, from himself, of $1,000, bringing his total to $11,000.
About the race:
Jay Revell joins already crowded race for Leon County Commission District 5
David O'Keefe joins packed field for Leon County Commission District 5 race
County Commissioner Nick Maddox, who started raising money last month toward his re-election campaign, reported a single $1,000 donation. Rudy Ferguson, one of three people challenging him, raised $240 in December, bringing his total to $2,540.
About the race: County Commissioner Nick Maddox facing two newcomers in August primary
Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@tallahassee.com or follow @JeffBurlew on Twitter.
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: David Bellamy keeps money lead over Jeremy Matlow, who claims largest number of donations
