Ward outpaces Zoppo in campaign funds

BRISTOL – Democratic mayoral hopeful Art Ward has raised far more campaign cash than party rival Ellen Zoppo.
While Ward has raked in a little less than $30,000 so far this year, Zoppo's campaign has hauled in only a bit more than $17,000.
But given that Zoppo jumped into the race months later than Ward, the fundraising gap may make little difference when the Democratic Town Committee gathers Monday at the Board of Education to pick its mayoral nominee.
It may also matter that Ward has only $17,835 on hand while Zoppo still has $14,520 to spend, numbers that are much closer than the overall fundraising tally.
Whether the party picks Zoppo or Ward – and Zoppo appears to have the inside track, according to many Democratic leaders – there's almost certain to be a Sept. 11 primary in which grass roots Democrats will have the opportunity to decide for themselves who the mayoral pick should be in the general election.
Republican mayoral contender Ken Johnson has collected $7,335 in his bid to grab the city's top job in the Nov. 6 municipal election.
Ward's largest donors were Bruce and Deborah Yarde, each of whom forked over $1,000 to his campaign.
He collected $600 from the city's police union, even though Zoppo's husband, Peter Sassu, is a police officer. The union donated $400 to Zoppo.
The Laborers Local Union 611 gave Ward $500, a figure matched by Rene Paradis of Bristol Paul and Midge Fitta of Massachusetts.
Allan Young of Northfield tossed $350 in Ward's kitty while Joe Englert and Paul Janick, both of Bristol, donated $300 apiece.
Ward collected $200 each from the following Bristol residents: Robert Tobacco, Matt Cassina, Shaun Casey, Laura Lydem, George Carpenter, David Anderson, Mike Pletscher, Kim Kasparian and Bill Greger.
He also got $100 from Frank Johnson, a downtown commissioner who flirted with running for mayor on the Republican line. Board of Education member Tom O'Brien gave Ward $100.
O'Brien proved one of Zoppo's biggest donors, forking over $500 to her campaign. He gave half to her exploratory committee earlier this year and a similar amount to her formal campaign committee.
The Northeast Regional Council/ Carpenters CT OPC was Zoppo's largest donor. It gave her $1,000.
She got $500 from Patrick Sullivan of Bristol and $250 from Julie Luczkow, a school board member.
Zoppo attracted $200 donations from Kelley Alvarez of Brookfield and Anthony Sassu of Bristol.
Johnson got $1,000 from Carl Johnson of Farmington and $250 each from former Councilor Whit Betts and Warren O. Johnson, both of Bristol.
An advertising book that Johnson put together brought in $250 ads from a number of businesses.
The state-mandated campaign filings are available in the city clerk's office for anyone to review.

In other races
Among the City Council contenders who filed campaign fundraising disclosure forms this month, Democratic hopeful Bruce Lydem led the pack with $700 raised. He got $250 checks from two unions, Carpenters Local 210 OPC and IBEW Local Union 90 PAC. Another union, the Waterbury Building Trades PAC, gave him $100.
The four Republican council candidates – incumbent Mike Rimcoski and newcomers Joseph Geladino, Robert Merrick, Ken Cockayne – all reported they had not raised any money yet.
Both Democratic council hopefuls in the 1st District, Cliff Block and Rich Kilby, raised $50.
In the 2nd District, incumbent Kevin McCauley raised $150, which included $100 donated by Tom Cosgrove, who was McCauley's choice to be one of the downtown commissioners.
In the city treasurer's race, Democrat Bill Veits did not raise any money. – Steve Collins
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Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com