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Two Albemarle Democrats have raised more than twice the amount of the two Republican incumbents on the Board of Supervisors, the most recent records from the Virginia Public Access Project showed Friday. In Charlottesville, Republican candidates for two seats on the City Council lead over their opponents in campaign funds.
Albemarle Democrat Lizbeth Palmer has raised the most money overall, nearly three times the amount of her Samuel Miller District opponent, incumbent Republican Duane E. Snow.
Palmer received $7,060 in the May 30-June 30 reporting period, giving her a total of $29,389 collected so far this election season. Author John Grisham donated $7,500 to Palmer earlier in May. His contribution is the largest single donation to any county candidate so far.
Snow, who is seeking a second term in office, has raised $2,725 this past period. He has raised a total of $10,175.
In the Rio District race, Democrat Brad Sheffield has raised $5,527 in this past reporting period, giving him $13,197 in total contributions.
Sheffield’s opponent, incumbent Republican Rodney S. Thomas, reported no contributions during the most recent period. Thomas, who is seeking re-election to a second term, has raised $9,266 total.
Both the Zobrist Law Group and Richard M. Hewitt gave $2,500 each to Snow and Thomas earlier in the campaign season. The contributions were the largest received by each candidate this year.
Sonjia Smith, a prominent Democratic donor in the area, gave $5,000 each in April to Sheffield, Palmer, and independent Diantha H. McKeel. McKeel is running for the open Jack Jouett District seat being vacated by the retiring Dennis S. Rooker.
McKeel has raised a total of $26,377 and $6,635 in this past reporting period. Her opponent, independent Phillip Seay, has collected a total of $1,800, all of it in the past reporting period.
Two of the five seats on the Charlottesville City Council are up for election in a race pitting two Democrats against two Republicans.
Republican Michael Farruggio leads all Council candidates with $4,120 raised overall including $1,050 in the last reporting period. Fellow Republican Buddy Weber has raised $3,778 overall including $1,183 in the last reporting period.
Incumbent Councilor Kristin Szakos, a Democrat, has raised a total of $3,391 including $450 in the last reporting period. Fellow Democrat Bob Fenwick has raised a total of $1,227 including $947 in the last reporting period.
The next reporting deadline to the Virginia State Board of Elections is Sept. 16. The general election will be held Nov. 5.
