Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009
Donations meager in city elections
Election 2009 by Patricia M. Murret | Staff Writer
Campaign fundraising in the City of Gaithersburg remains nominal, according to the second pre-general campaign finance reports filed by five candidates running in the city's 2009 elections.
The reports, submitted Oct. 5, are posted on the city's Web site at www.gaithersburgmd.gov, a new practice following the 2007 city elections, when residents filed complaints calling for better finance practices and more transparency.
Mayor Sidney A. Katz reported $30 in cash donations and $600 in in-kind donations for the second reporting period, which ran Sept. 22 through Oct. 5. Katz reported $300 in cash donations during the first reporting period for a total of $930 in cash and in-kind donations to-date.
The $600 in in-kind donations this reporting period came from Friends of Sidney Katz for "signs bought reimbursed" and lists as the group's address 206 E. Diamond Ave. or Wolfson's Department Store, which is Katz's Olde Towne family business.
The mayor's opponent Richard Koch gave himself a $1,063.89 loan for the second reporting period, according to reports. Altogether, Koch has spent $1,958.83 on city election fees and promotional materials, including $500 he donated to his own campaign and $394.93 he loaned himself last month, according to city records.
Councilman Henry F. Marraffa Jr. reported $120 in cash donations the second reporting period. In the first reporting period, Marraffa reported no contributions and no expenses. He has reported $800 in yard signs and freight expenses. According to his reports, he plans to repay himself for money loaned when receipts and donations come in.
Councilman Michael A. Sesma, another West Riding resident, who reported the most in initial contributions totaling $1,405.84 reported $221 in cash donations and $185.02 in in-kind donations this reporting period, for a grand total of $1,812.21. His expenses to-date have cost $2,723.94, according to his second report.
Reports also show that Sesma has the backing of two colleagues.
Councilman Jud Ashman has provided in-kind donations from his business and $100 cash from his campaign fund. Councilwoman Cathy Drzyzgula has contributed $250 cash and $92.51 from her campaign fund. Her husband, Bob Drzyzgula has provided $200 in Web site development work as an in-kind donation, she said. Sesma contributed two in-kind donations of $200 head shots and $250 in booth registration fees for Celebrate Olde Towne Gaithersburg Day on Sept. 20.
Thomas S. Rowse, running for one of the two spots on the council, reported $55 in receipts and no expenses the first reporting period. This go-round, Rowse reported $292.92 in receipts, including $110 in in-kind donations and $162.92 in cash donations.
The next filing deadlines is Monday.