A top fundraiser rises from what was Charlotte’s hottest City Council race last cycle

One of Charlotte’s most competitive City Council races in 2022 has already produced a top fundraiser for its 2023 rematch.

Democrat Stephanie Hand, who in 2022 narrowly lost to Republican Councilman Tariq Bokhari, brought in more than $30,000 during the 35-day reporting period that ended in early August. It’s in her second run to represent District 6.

Her campaign now has more than $50,000 in cash on hand, according to her campaign finance report.

“Our team is grateful for the unwavering support we have received from a diverse range of individual donors. Witnessing the generosity and encouragement coming from across the political spectrum is uplifting,” she said in a statement.

Hand’s donors included multiple elected officials from Mecklenburg County. The report provided by Bokhari shows he didn’t raise any money during the 35-day period, but his campaign has more cash leftover over from prior elections than Hand.

Councilwoman Dimple Ajmera was the top fundraiser among at-large candidates, according to available reports. Her campaign brought in more than $12,700 in the 35-day period ending in early August, according to her most recent campaign finance report. That brings the campaign’s cash on hand to more than $69,800.

“We are humbled by the strong support of our reelection campaign,” she said in a statement. “It’s a great testament to our team led by passionate and committed volunteers.”

Ajmera, a Democrat who’s served on the city council since 2017, got donations from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools board member Jennifer De La Jara and former Bank of America CEO Hugh McColl, among others.

Here are the latest fundraising numbers for Charlotte City Council candidates:

Charlotte City Council - At-Large (4 seats)

Dimple Ajmera (Democrat, Incumbent)

Total raised in period: $12,748

Total spent in period: $1,212.14

Cash on hand at end of period: $69,806.03

Notable donors: Greg Asciutto ($100), Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools board member Jennifer De La Jara ($50), former Bank of America CEO Hugh McColl ($1,000)

Ben Copeland (Democrat)

Total raised in period: $150

Total spent in period: $147.62

Cash on hand at end of period: $85.83

Charlene Henderson El (Democrat)

Henderson El’s campaign will submit its report “soon,” she told the Observer.

James “Smuggie” Mitchell, Jr. (Democrat, Incumbent)

No 35-day report is listed on the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections or State Board of Elections website for Mitchell. Mitchell did not immediately respond to an email from an Observer reporter about the status of his report.

LaWana Slack-Mayfield (Democrat, Incumbent)

Total raised in the period: $2,179

Total spent in period: $847.76

Cash on hand at end of period: $22,396.74

Notable donors: Greg Asciutto ($100)

Victoria Watlington (Democrat)

Watlington’s report has not been filed due to “technical difficulties,” she said in an email Monday. Her campaign’s treasurer is completing the report, she said.

Steven J. DiFiore II (Libertarian)

Total raised in period: $1,012.82

Total spent in period: $0

Cash on hand at end of period: $1,012.82

All of DiFiore’s contributions came through a transfer from a committee he previously established to run for governor.

Charlotte City Council - District 1 (1 seat)

Dante Anderson (Democrat, Incumbent)

Total raised in the period: $539

Total spent in period: $347.68

Cash on hand at end of period: $6,547.24

Charlotte City Council - District 2 (1 seat)

Malcolm Graham (Democrat, Incumbent)

Total raised in the period: $6,500

Total spent in period: $4,600.66

Cash on hand at end of period: $4,678.60

All of Graham’s donations in this period came from himself, according to his filing.

Gary Linn Young II (Democrat)

Young’s campaign has not submitted their report but will this week, he told the Observer.

Charlotte City Council - District 3 (1 seat)

Tiawana Brown (Democrat)

Total raised in the period: $1,519

Total spent in period: $1,432.79

Cash on hand at end of period: $321.21

Notable donors: Mecklenburg County Commissioner Arthur Griffin ($250), Mecklenburg County Commissioner Mark Jerrell ($100), Friends of LaWana Mayfield PAC ($364)

Melinda Lilly (Democrat)

Total raised in the period: $462.92

Total spent in period: $462.92

Cash on hand at end of period: $0

Warren F. Turner (Democrat)

Total raised in the period: $1,818.12

Total spent this period: $770.06

Cash on hand at end of period: $1,702.96

Notable donors: Jerome Geathers ($1,000)

James Harrison Bowers (Republican)

Total raised in the period: $1,450

Total spent in period: $1,049.65

Cash on hand at end of period: $580.81

Notable donors: Michael Cornwell ($500)

Charlotte City Council - District 4 (1 seat)

Renee Johnson (Democrat, Incumbent)

Total raised in period: $100

Total spent in period: $1,210

Cash on hand at end of period: $557.32

Only donor: Impact Change President Vincent James

Wil Russell (Democrat)

No 35-day report is listed on the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections or State Board of Elections website for Russell. Russell did not immediately respond to an email from an Observer reporter about the status of his report.

Olivia Scott (Democrat)

Total raised in period: $8,599

Total spent this period: $1,052.75

Cash on hand at end of period: $7,546.25

Notable donors: Linda Scott ($2,000), Jeffrey Walker ($2,000)

Charlotte City Council - District 5 (1 seat)

Curtis M. Hayes, Jr. (Democrat)

Total raised in period: $250

Total spent this period: $0

Cash on hand at end of period: $717.59

Marjorie Molina (Democrat, Incumbent)

Total raised in period: $1,589

Total spent this period: $396

Cash on hand at end of period: $1,930.78

Vinroy Reid (Democrat)

No 35-day report is listed on the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections or State Board of Elections website for Reid. Reid did not immediately respond to an email from an Observer reporter about the status of his report.

Charlotte City Council - District 6 (1 seat)

Stephanie Hand (Democrat)

Total raised in period: $30,628

Cash on hand at end of period: $50,767.27

Notable donors: Former White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles ($1,000), Mecklenburg County Commissioner Pat Cotham ($100), Mecklenburg County Commissioner George Dunlap ($250), Friends for Vi Lyles PAC ($1,000), Mecklenburg County Commissioner Arthur Griffin ($500), former Charlotte Mayor Pro Tem Julie Eiselt ($500), Novant Health executive Frank Emory ($500), Malcolm Graham Campaign PAC ($200), former Bank of America CEO Hugh McColl ($1,000)

Tariq Bokhari (Republican, Incumbent)

Bokhari’s report was not available on the boards of election websites as of Tuesday. The below numbers come from a copy he shared with the Observer.

Total raised in period: $0

Total spent in period: $0

Cash on hand at end of period: $61,556.60

Charlotte City Council - District 7 (1 seat)

Ed Driggs (Republican, Incumbent)

Total raised in period: $6,450

Total spent in period: $1,263.25

Cash on hand at end of period: $66,986.64

Notable donors: Childress Klein founder Fred Klein ($500), Stone Cottage Advisors President Ned Curran ($500), former Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools board member Sean Strain ($200)