Mayor Harkins Out-Fundraises Challenger By $50K

Mayor John A. Harkins’ campaign for re-election out-fundraised the campaign of his Democratic challenger Joe Paul by more than $50,000 during third-quarter fundraising.

From July 1 to Sept. 30, the incumbent’s campaign reported raising a total of $56,000 in contributions from individuals, receipts from other committees and advertising purchases.

Paul’s campaign reported raising $4,100 in the third-quarter, all of which came from individuals.

According to the Oct. 10 election filings, the Harkins’ campaign had raised a total of $80,000, while his opponent’s contributions to date totaled only $9,300. Overall, the incumbent’s campaign had outspent Paul’s $25,000 to $4,700.

Harkins’ top contributors in the third-quarter included: Patricia Morrissey ($1,000), a guidance counselor in Stratford; Thomas Whitaker ($1,000), owner of a New Canaan business; Anthony Salce ($1,000), retired; Jon Damon ($1,000), owner of a Fairfield business; and Bruce Jackson ($1,000), an attorney at Bishop, Jackson & Kelly LLC, the same firm where Stratford Town Attorney Tim Bishop practices.

Harkins’ top expenses during that time included: JC Promotions LLC in Prospect, Ky. ($4,600), whose website advertises it’s “The right choice for Republican campaign collateral”; Conquest Communications in Richmond, Va. ($2,700), for consulting; and Minuteman Press in Fairfield ($2,600), for “print.”

Paul’s top donors in the third-quarter were: Rahat Chaudhry ($300), a store owner in Stratford; Kenneth Bishop ($250), a self-employed mechanical engineer; and Thomas Yemm ($200), adjunct professor at NYU and chairman of the Stratford Historic District Commission.

The Democrat’s top expenses during that time were: “2nd payment of $6,000 loan” ($1,000); “event catering” at Vazzy’s ($950); “Food & Beverages” at Stanziales Restaurant ($690); and rent for campaign headquarters, Oct. 15-Nov. 15 ($400).