Leyens’ money nearly 8 times that of others|[6/01/05]

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, June 1, 2005

Mayor Laurence Leyens has raised nearly eight times as much money as any of his opponents in his second bid for office.

With a week to go until the general election, municipal candidates seeking office were required to turn in another round of financial statements Tuesday to the City Clerk’s office.

Of the nine who will appear on the June 7 ballots, all but one, Tommie Rawlings, independent candidate for the North Ward alderman, turned in reports before the 5 p.m. deadline. Rawlings turned in his report at 8:12 this morning.

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The disclosure statements are required to show individual campaign contributions and expenses of more than $200 and total fund-raising and spending for the election. They indicate that the four candidates for mayor have raised a combined total of $111,331 while seeking the office.

Leyens, 41, has raised the most with $88,716 bankrolling his campaign. He has spent $47,909.

Democratic nominee Charles Selmon, 44, who fought through a primary and runoff to get to the general election, has the second-largest account, having raised $11,900 and spent $11,627. Former Mayor Joe Loviza, 65, raised $6,360 and spent $5,972 and Republican Shirley Smollen, 69, raised $4,355 and spent the same.

The four candidates will face off next week in a winner-take-all race for the $73,500 post.

While Leyens leads all the candidates in overall spending, Michael Mayfield, 47, the Democratic nominee in the North Ward, and incumbent Sid Beauman, 57, Republican in the South Ward, are the big spenders in their races, both topping their opponents by at least 800 percent.

According to financial reports, Mayfield has raised $8,700 and spent $7,875. He will face Rawlings, 42, who showed zero in contributions and $1,735 in expenses, and Vickie Bailey, 37, who has raised nothing and spent $1,517.

Beauman has raised $10,397 and spent $5,558 and faces Democratic nominee Pam Johnson, 39, who has raised $2,710 and spent $2,550.

The alderman’s post pays $58,000.

State law sets a penalty of $50 per day after the 10th day for failing to submit financial statements. Failing to file that paperwork does not keep candidates out of the race, but until they turn it in they cannot be certified as winners or take office.