Slutzky takes lead in local campaign fundraising; Thomas receives second contribution from Realtors

Reader comments (0) By Brian Wheeler
Charlottesville Tomorrow
Saturday, October 17, 2009

Supervisor David L. Slutzky, a Democrat running for re-election to the Rio seat on the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors, now leads all board candidates in total fundraising for the Nov. 3 general election. The latest campaign finance data was published Friday by the Virginia Public Access Project and includes all monies raised through September.

Albemarle Supervisor Candidate	Amount raised through Sept 30th
Jack Jouett District
Dennis Rooker (I) – Incumbent	$70,405
Rio District
David Slutzky (D) – Incumbent	$71,115
Rodney Thomas (R) – Challenger	$52,085
Samuel Miller District
Madison Cummings (D)	$19,180
John Lowry (I)	$17,384
Duane Snow (R)	$18,903
Source: Virginia Public Access Project

Slutzky also raised the greatest individual total in September, bringing in $25,845 in new contributions and his overall total is now $71,115. According to the VPAP database, Slutzky's largest contribution was $10,000, from real estate developer Mark Fried of Crozet.

Fried responded to an interview request by providing a statement about his contribution to Slutzky's campaign.

"He is the brightest, best informed and most knowledgeable person running for a board seat," Fried said.

David Poole, VPAP executive director, said in an interview that there is no ceiling on the amount of money that can be contributed in a state or local campaign.

"Virginia is one of a handful of states that has no limits on contributions," Poole said. "Anyone can give - individuals, companies, limited partnerships, PACs - and a donor's ability to give is limited only by the amount of money in their checking account."

In the most recent filing period, the six supervisor candidates raised a combined total of $72,451, with almost 70 percent of that amount going into the Rio District race.

Rodney S. Thomas, a Republican challenging Slutzky for the Rio seat, raised slightly less than his opponent, with a total of $23,905 in new contributions. Thomas has raised a total of $52,085 in the campaign.

The Virginia Association of Realtors made two contributions to Thomas last month totaling $15,000, including $10,000 Thomas received with an initial endorsement by the Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors.

According to CAAR's president, Michael Guthrie, local Realtors decided to make a second contribution to Thomas in late September.

"CAAR has determined that Rodney Thomas will be a great defender of the property rights that so many local farmers and landowners are concerned about," Guthrie said in an e-mail. "We feel so strongly that [Thomas] is the right candidate to protect our property rights and minimize the tax burden on residents, that we asked the state association of Realtors to help with $5,000 in additional funding."

In the three-way race for the open Samuel Miller District seat, Republican Duane Snow has virtually caught up with Democrat Madison Cummings in overall fundraising. Snow has now raised a total of $18,903 to Cummings' $19,180. John Lowry, an independent candidate, has raised $17,384 during the campaign.

Snow brought in $10,793 in September, including two $2,500 donations - one from real estate developer Ivy Road Properties and one from the Virginia Association of Realtors.

In September, Cummings added $9,095 to his campaign coffers. The largest donor was the local Democratic Party, which contributed $3,700.

Lowry raised the least amount in September, with $2,813 in new fundraising. The next candidate fundraising reports are due Oct. 26 and will include all donations received in the first three weeks of October.