Five city candidates top $1,000 in campaign spending

Talk about it

Five candidates for Woodbury city races have spent more than $1,000 on their campaigns, recent reports show.

Candidates are required to file campaign financial reports if they raise or spend $750.

Two of the six candidates for Woodbury mayor have far surpassed that mark; they have spent a total of more than $7,500. Three of the 16 candidates for council also easily exceeded the $750 threshold.

Mary Giuliani Stephens, a council member running for mayor, was the top campaign spender of all candidates through Oct. 20. She reported spending $4,941.

Tom Owens, another mayor candidate, had spent $2,640 on his campaign, according to his filing.

The other four mayor candidates – Rachel Homuth, Nicholas Kiecker, Eddie Marcus and Art McCloskey – have not submitted financial reports to the city. (Reports are not required if donations or spending do not reach $750.)

Christopher Burns has spent the most in the race for two council seats. Burns reported expenses totaling $3,775 through Oct. 19.

Mark Wackerfuss reported spending $2,112 on his campaign. Don Place reported spending $1,037. Another candidate, Alice Gruber, submitted a report but did not have any spending or donations.

Most of the campaign spending is for advertising, mailings and signs – an obvious expense to anyone driving in Woodbury, where campaign signs dot the roadsides.

The candidates are funding their campaigns through a mix of donations and personal contributions.

Burns reported receiving donations in excess of $100 from five people. He also put in about $1,780 of his own money as advances and loans to the campaign.

Stephens reported three $300 donations and $2,4500 in donations from a “Monday Night Football Fundraiser.”

Candidates only are required to list donors who give more than $100.

The candidates will not get rich if elected. The Woodbury mayor earns $8,520 a year. Council members make $6,540 annually.

Check back for more on the candidates' campaign finances.

Tags: daily updates, city council, election