When campaign finance reports are released Wednesday for the three-month reporting period ending July 31, they will show that Baton Rouge mayoral candidate and state Sen. Mack “Bodi” White has raised, to date, an unprecedented amount of money for a mayoral race in Baton Rouge.
White tells Daily Report he has raised more than $401,000, some $380,000 of which has come in since the previous reporting period ended April 30. That’s not including the $100,000 raised so far by the independent super PAC Citizens for a Better Baton Rouge, which was created earlier this summer by local businessman and White supporter Eddie Rispone.
“It shows I have broad support,” says White of his fundraising success. “I wish it wasn’t about money but to run an effective campaign today you need to be well funded.”
White is one of 12 candidates in a crowded field that includes four Republicans, four Democrats and four other or no party candidates. At the close of the previous reporting period, Democrat and former state Sen. Sharon Weston Broome led the pack in terms of dollars raised. She declines to say by how much her campaign war chest has grown since April 30, when she reported having raised more than $114,000, but her campaign says the numbers will be released tomorrow.
Republican candidate and Metro Councilman John Delgado also declines to provide an early glimpse of his latest finance report. Back in May, his campaign had raised slightly more than $65,000
Two other major candidates who have picked up support in recent weeks say they are also picking up campaign contributions. Realtor Darryl Gissel, a no party candidate, says his campaign finance report will show $135,000 in receipts, including $53,000 in donations and $25,000 in in-kind contributions.
“I am encouraged and think the political establishment will be surprised by the fact that more than 100 donors have joined us in a short eight week time period,” Gissel says. “The other major candidates have had decades to gather support.”
State Rep. C. Denise Marcelle, a Democrat, says her campaign finance report will show she has raised a little more than $20,000 since she entered the race two months ago.
With still weeks to go in the race and at least one super PAC upping the ante, it’s anyone’s guess how expensive the 2016 mayoral contest will ultimately become. As a point of comparison, during the same reporting period four years ago, Mayor Kip Holden had raised $171,500 by July 31. Mike Walker, who was his main challenger and a Metro Councilman at the time, had raised less than $81,000.
—Stephanie Riegel
