Here's how much Fayetteville City Council candidates raised and who donated to them

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that the NC Realtors PAC contributed a total of $13,400 over two years to Deno Hondros. He received $8400 in the 2022 City Council Race and $5,000 for the 2023 race.

Campaign finance records show that in some of the city’s Nov. 7 elections, spending more didn’t always guarantee a win — especially in the District 5 race, where incumbent Johnny Dawkins outraised newcomer Lynne Bissette Greene by $20,108, only to lose by 20.19%, according to official election results.

According to the North Carolina State Board of Elections, Fayetteville City Council candidates in the fall 2023 municipal elections were required to file reports at several points: once by Sept. 5 if in the primary, with an updated report by Oct. 2; once by Oct. 3 if not in the primary; and a final report by Oct. 30.

According to an analysis of the latest campaign finance reports filed by candidates, Fayetteville City Council candidates raised an average of $28,236 each.

Mayor Mitch Colvin raised the most money of any candidate with a total of $170,619, while Councilwoman Courtney Banks-McLaughlin reported not raising any money as of Oct. 2 in her unopposed race.

In the campaign finance reports, candidates are required to list the professions of every donor who contributes more than $50 to them. The Observer's analyses separated donors by their professions, listing the five professions that gave the most to each candidate. If a candidate listed less than five types of professions for the individuals who donated, all of the donors' professions are listed. If a candidate raised less than $1,000, they are not required to file a report.

Here’s everything you need to know about how much each candidate raised during their most recent fundraising periods and who contributed to their campaigns.

District 1: Alex Rodriguez

Second-time challenger Alex Rodriguez raised $3,090 from July 1 to Oct. 23, according to a report filed with the Cumberland County Board of Elections on Oct. 23. Among the six donors to his campaign Donna Dawkins, the wife of Mayor Pro Tem Dawkins, gave $40 on July 5. House Rep. Diane Wheatley contributed $100 to Rodriguez’s campaign on July 29, the report states.

Rodriguez also loaned $1,450 to himself, comprising 46.93% of his total funds, according to the report.

Only three categories of contributors gave to Rodriguez’s campaign. They include:

• Retirees (24.27% of total funds raised)

• Self-employed people (3.05% of total funds raised)

• Homemakers (2.44% of total funds raised)

District 1: Kathy Jensen

Incumbent Kathy Jensen raised $12,477 during her campaign, according to a report filed Oct. 30. Among the 14 donors to her campaign, the North Carolina Realtors PAC gave $3,000 on Oct. 5 and Ronna Garrett, chairwoman of the Fayetteville Public Works Commission’s board, gave $500 on Oct. 13, the report states.

The top five categories of contributors to Jensen’s campaign during the latest period she filed for, Oct. 5 to Oct. 23, were:

• Political action committees (36.61% of funds raised during that period)

• Retirees (20.06%)

• Medical professionals (12.54%)

• Business owners (9.4%)

• A tie between office administrators and human resources professionals (6.27% each)

The remaining 8.85% of funds came from individual contributions, according to the report.

District 2: Malik Davis

Successful challenger Malik Davis raised $14,490 during his campaign, according to a report filed Oct. 24. Among the 12 donors to his campaign, Mayor Pro Tem Dawkins gave $100 on Oct. 12, the report states.

Only three categories of contributors were reported for Davis’ most recent filing period, which ran from Sept. 26 to Oct. 23. They included:

• Business owners (96.19% of funds raised during that period)

• Retirees (1.9%)

• Total contributions from individuals who donated $50 or less (1.9%)

District 2: Shakeyla Ingram

Incumbent Councilwoman Shakeyla Ingram did not file a finance report after Sept. 4. In her report dated Sept. 4, Ingram states she raised $1,362 for her campaign from June 30 to Aug. 29.

Ingram reported receiving contributions from four categories of contributors:

• Business owners (40.38% of funds raised)

• Arts professionals (25.7%)

• Retirees (18.36%)

• Total contributions from individuals who donated $50 or less (15.57%)

District 3: Michele Dillon

Challenger Michele Dillon did not file a campaign finance report because she did not raise more than $1,000, according to the Cumberland County Board of Elections.

District 3: Mario Benavente

Incumbent Councilman Mario Benavente reported raising $14,198 for his campaign, according to paperwork submitted Oct. 30.

For his most recent fundraising period of Sept. 27 to Oct. 23, Benavente reported donations from three types of contributors:

• Self-employed people (91.29% of funds raised during that period)

• Unemployed people (6.64%)

• Total contributions from individuals who donated $50 or less (2.07%)

District 4: Stuart Collick

Challenger Stuart Collick did not file a campaign finance report because he did not raise more than $1,000, according to the Cumberland County Board of Elections.

District 4: D.J. Haire

Councilman D.J. Haire reported raising $10,365 for his campaign, according to paperwork submitted Oct. 25. For the most recent fundraising period, from Sept. 27 to Oct. 23, he did not raise any money.

District 5: Lynne Bissette Greene

Successful newcomer Lynne Bissette Greene reported raising $33,865 during her campaign, according to paperwork submitted Oct. 30. Among the 32 donors to her campaign, former state Sen. Kirk deViere and Rep. Wheatley each gave $500 on Oct. 2, the report states.

For Greene's most recent fundraising period of Sept. 26 to Oct. 23, the top five types of contributors to Greene’s campaign were:

• Attorneys (20.64% of funds raised during that period)

• A tie between retirees and developers (18.43% each)

• Business owners (7.37%)

• Construction industry professionals (6.65%)

• Realtors (6.27%)

Of the remaining 22.21% in funds, 3.69% came from Rep. Wheatley's campaign, and 2.82% came from Greene and her family, according to the report. The remaining 15.7% came from individual contributions, the report states.

District 5: Johnny Dawkins

Mayor Pro Tem Dawkins raised $53,974 during his campaign, according to a report filed Oct. 30.

For his most recent fundraising period of Sept. 26 to Oct. 23, the top five types of contributors to Dawkins’ campaign were:

• Business owners (47.13% of funds raised during that period)

• Unemployed people (37.55%)

• A tie between medical professionals, retail workers and state employees (3.1% each)

• Attorneys (2.3%)

• A tie between law enforcement and professors (1.53% each)

The remaining 0.75% came from $49 in aggregated individual donations under $50, according to the report.

District 6: Derrick Thompson

Unopposed Councilman Derrick Thompson reported raising $7,279 for his campaign. For his most recent fundraising period of Sept. 26 to Oct. 23, he only received $25 in donations from individuals, which were listed under one category because they were under $50.

District 7: Brenda McNair

Unopposed Councilwoman Brenda McNair’s report, submitted Oct. 23, was incomplete, but McNair said Friday that she raised $475 for her campaign.

McNair provided the professions for the individuals listed on her paperwork. She reported donations from five types of contributors:

• Retirees (61.05% of funds raised)

• Consultants (18.95%)

• Medical professionals (8.42%)

• Pastors (6.32%)

• Paralegals (5.26%)

District 8: Courtney Banks-McLaughlin

Unopposed Councilwoman Courtney Banks-McLaughlin’s latest paperwork, submitted Oct. 2, reported that she had not received any donations and that Banks-McLaughlin owed herself $190 for the cost of the election filing fee.

District 9: Fredlisha Lansana

Challenger Fredlisha Lansana did not file a campaign finance report because she did not raise more than $1,000, according to the Cumberland County Board of Elections.

District 9: Deno Hondros

Successful incumbent Councilman Deno Hondros raised $21,651 for his campaign, according to a report filed Oct. 30. The 23 donors to his campaign include Ronnie Mitchell, attorney for the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, who gave $200 on Oct. 5, the report states. The report states that the North Carolina Realtors PAC donated $13,400 to Hondros' campaign, but Hondros clarified in an email Wednesday that the funds were spread over two years. Hondros said $8,400 of that amount was for his 2022 campaign, and the remaining $5,000 was for his 2023 campaign.

For his most recent fundraising period of Sept. 27 to Oct. 23, the top five types of contributors to Hondros’ campaign were:

• Business owners (36.48% of funds raised during that period)

• Political action committees (25.16%)

• Lawyers and attorneys (8.81%)

• Unemployed people (7.55%)

• Real estate professionals (6.29%)

The remaining 15.71% in funds came from individual contributions.

Mayor: Freddie de la Cruz

Second-time challenger Freddie de la Cruz raised $22,128 for his campaign, according to a report filed Oct. 2. Among the six donors to his campaign, Al Wheatley, husband of Rep. Wheatley, gave $500 on Aug. 30, and the Cumberland County Republican Party Committee donated $500 on Sept. 14.

For his most recent fundraising period of Aug. 30 to Sept. 25, the top four types of contributors to de la Cruz’s campaign were:

• Retirees (63.92% of funds raised during that period)

• A tie between the Cumberland County Republican Party Committee and legislative assistants (13.9% each)

• Consultants (6.95%)

• Anonymous donors (1.34%)

Mayor: Mitch Colvin

Mayor Colvin reported raising $170,619 for his campaign, according to a report filed Sept. 5. The seven donors to his campaign from July 1 to Aug. 29 include primary opponent former Commissioner Charles Evans, who gave $200 on Aug. 4, and The Committee to Elect Billy West, which donated $1,000 on Aug. 17, the report states.

For his most recently reported fundraising period of July 1 to Aug. 29, the top five types of contributors to Colvin’s campaign were:

• Business owners (19.34% of funds raised during that period)

• Attorneys and lawyers (9.67%)

• Political committees (3.87%)

• Teachers (1.99%)

• Contractors (1.16%)

Of the remaining 63.97% in funds, 62.35% came from loans Colvin gave to himself, 0.29% came from $75 in aggregated individual contributions of $50 or less and 1.33% came from individual contributions.

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This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: What's in Fayetteville City Council candidates' finance reports