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Dixon’s fundraising lead is a runaway
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Related Topics: BALTIMORE
BALTIMORE (Map, News) - From a fundraising standpoint, this mayoral race isn’t even close.
Since early January, Mayor Sheila Dixon has raised $1.2 million, nearly double the $651,000 raised by key opponent Keiffer Mitchell. The amount of cash on hand is even more lopsided with Dixon at $723,000 and Mitchell, a member of the City Council, at $200,000, as the Sept. 11 Democratic primary draws closer. There are eight candidates.
“We're picking up momentum every day, and her support is widening,” said Martha McKenna, Dixon’s campaign manager..
But Mitchell campaign spokesman Jayson Williams said the mayor’s cash surplus is the result of City Hall cronyism.
“She has more money because she is shaking down every contractor in the city,” Williams said. “Seventy-seven percent of our support comes from people who have given us $250 or less. We like being the underdog.”
Williams declined to release any additional information concerning the questionable campaign spending of Mitchell's father, Dr. Keiffer Mitchell Sr., who resigned as his son’s campaign treasurer last week after allegations that he misused $40,000 of campaign funds. The disputed amounts include $14,000 for a Towson hotel room used by Mitchell Sr.'s wife as she recovered from knee surgery and $19,000 in checks made out to cash.
The campaign has yet to determine how all the disputed money was used, Williams said.
“We're not 100 percent sure, which is why we're having a CPA review everything,” he said, adding that the records would be released after the Aug. 14 deadline for filing a campaign finance report with the Maryland State Board of Elections.
“Keiffer Mitchell [Jr.] agrees that every expenditure was for the benefit of the campaign," said Billy H. Murphy, attorney for Mitchell Sr. “He has done nothing wrong.”
State Del. Jill Carter declined to give specifics on her campaign’s finances.
“I don't have enough, otherwise I'd be on TV every night” she said. “But at least we can buy hot dogs and feed people in some the city's neglected neighborhoods.”
Carter plans to be on the corner of Eastern Avenue and South Grundy Street between 10 o’clock tonight and 6 o’clock tomorrow morning, her fifth overnight stay on a dangerous city street corner in less than a month.
“You don't need millions of dollars to reach the people and get votes,” Carter said, “just honesty, trust and integrity, which can't be bought.”
Comments from Examiner Readers
5:50 PM MST on Sat., Aug. 11, 2007 re: "Dixon’s fundraising lead is a runaway"
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6:59 PM MST on Fri., Aug. 10, 2007
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Examiner Reader said:
Yeah OCO, and supposedly one of Noris's many women on the side was Sheila Dixon.. They did recently rendezvous in a hotel. LOL Anyway, the city needs to use all potential resources and experts to get a handle on this crime problem. Norris was better than what we've had since. Besides, I'd trust him as much as I'd trust no-bid contractto family and friends Dixon and $40,000 missing money Mitchell. LOL
216 agree | 200 disagree
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Jill Carter said:
I hope Jill Carter is right about integrity mattering more than money but I fear otherwise.
222 agree | 198 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
For those who didn't hear the radio debate, the candidate's statements are on the Sun website. You can click it on from the blog on mayor race 2007. See for yourself.
222 agree | 224 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Of course Dixon leads in fundraising. She's very easily bought, and that's why she has never done anything for the people of the city, only those who've paid her off.
239 agree | 220 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I have a lot of respect for Delegate Jill Carter. Unfortunately, she is incorrect. You need millions of dollars to become mayor. Every mayor elected this decade has had millions of dollars.
231 agree | 212 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Mike Huckabee came in fourth, beating McCain. That is telling as well. Thompson getting second was probably the truest "surge" vote, because Romney's volunteers were out in full force and bought lots of ballots.
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Examiner Reader said:
I don't even see how anyone could disagree with both comments posted below???
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Examiner Reader said:
My son Christopher died from Batten Disease 3 years ago at age 8. It is ALWAYS fatal, as there is no cure or treatment for it. Since it is a rare disease, large pharma's will not see a big return on their investment, so they do not fund any research for a cure. Much of the research funding comes from fundraisers by the families of affected children. Its alot to do when you are already stretched to the limits caring for a sick, and in many cases multiple sick children. I think if more people knew how devastating and fatal this disease was, there might be more buzz to create awareness. Visit BDSRA.org to learn more and to see the faces of our children.........they are special gifts indeed!
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Examiner Reader said:
Thank you for writing this article. I also have two children with juvenile Batten Disease. One thing you left out of yur article is that Batten Disease is always fatal. If the family wanted that omitted from the article I can totally understand that. However if they didn't want it excluded that is a very powerful statement. Also we want more of the general public to know about this disease that is killing children every year and that the Federal government is doing very little to help in the research to find a cure or treatment for this disease. I believe this is something that the publice should be aware of. Also that the members of the BDSRA are the main the main source of fund raising for research against this disease. An interview with the executive director of BDSRA could also add more wait to your article and also raise more awareness for the disease. Please continue to write about this disease and raise as much awareness as possible. Thank you for your help.
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