Anna Maria candidates for an elected office in the Nov. 4 election have been stockpiling funds in their respective treasuries, while little campaign spending has taken place.
That began to change after Oct. 5, when candidates were allowed to post campaign signs in the city. City code prohibits campaign signs from being posted until 30 days before an election.
Spending and donations were relatively light as of the Oct. 3 date to report contributions and spending to the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office.
Incumbent Mayor SueLynn reported $900 donated to her campaign treasury on Oct. 3, with $400 coming from her own pocket. Other contributions were $50 from George and Fran Barford, $25 from Leslie Vandenberg, $100 from Mady Iseman, $25 from Nancy Phelps, $100 from Sissy and Tom Quinn, $50 from Janice Blackburn, $50 from Kimberley McGrady and $100 from Jean Peelen.
SueLynn reported $674.21 in expenses, including the $96 filing fee for the mayor’s seat, $539.96 for signs, and $39.57 for postage.
Dan Murphy, a challenger for the mayor’s post, reported $975 in his campaign treasury on Oct. 3, all from his own funds.
He had reported expenses of $752.71, which included the filing fee of $96, $355.43 for banners, cards, T-shirts, signs and postage, and an in-kind donation from Barbara Murphy of $261.71 for additional signs.
The three candidates in the running for two city commission seats were frugal in their spending.
As of the Oct. 3 reporting date, incumbent Commissioner Chuck Webb reported spending of the $48 filing fee to run for his seat, while collecting $110 in campaign contributions. Sixty dollars came from his own funds, while George and Fran Barford donated $50.
Incumbent Commissioner Nancy Yetter also paid the $48 filing fee during the reporting period, and had $320.59 in expenses for supplies, signs and postcards as of Oct. 3.
She had $575 in contributions, of which $200 was her own money. Other donations were from George and Fran Barford for $50, Christine Tollette for $25, Norm Mansour for $200 and WELD Inc. for $100.
Commission candidate David Bouchard spent the $48 filing fee. His campaign treasury account showed a deposit of $100 from his own funds, as of the Oct. 3 reporting date.