DERBY – Public records show Mayor Joseph DiMartino’s re-election campaign has raised more than three times the amount of money of challenger Scott Derby.
The mayor’s campaign, “DiMartino 25: A Leader You Can Trust,” raised $19,530.60 as of Sept. 30. His challenger’s campaign, “Derby for Derby 2025,” raised $5,345 as of Sept. 30.
The mayor’s campaign spent $7,598.95 and had $11,931.65 on hand as of Sept. 30. Scott Derby’s campaign spent $3,553.55 and had $1,792.45 as of Sept. 30.
DiMartino is a Democrat seeking his second term as mayor. Derby is a Republican making his first run at political office.
Scott Derby was formally nominated by the Derby Republican Town Committee to challenge DiMartino in July. The candidate had publicly signaled his intent to run in June.
The latest round of campaign finance disclosures had to be filed by Oct. 10 with the Derby City/Town Clerk’s Office. It covers July 1 through Sept. 30.
The filings are required by law.
Incumbents often have more campaign money than opponents, which is the case in Derby.
The disclosures show “Derby for Derby 2025” started fundraising after July 1. Meanwhile, “DiMartino 25: A Leader You Can Trust,” started the reporting period with $8,963.01 in the bank.
DiMartino’s campaign raised $9,290.60 from July 1 through Sept. 30. Scott Derby’s campaign raised $5,345 during the same period.
Jim Gildea, DiMartino’s campaign manager, said the fundraising shows DiMartino is a strong candidate with popular support.
“We are incredibly proud of the funds we raised from such a wide cross section of our community through the Sept. 30 deadline,” Gildea said in an email. “These funds, along with the additional $4,000 we’ve raised since then, clearly demonstrate the strong backing that Joe has throughout the city. He has done a strong job fixing the mess that he inherited, and this shows that people believe in the job that he did.”
The disclosures show that $2,000 of Scott Derby’s total came from his personal funds. He also received $3,025 from donors with the same last name.
Matt Schwartz, Scott Derby’s campaign manager, said in an email that the candidate is focused on the issues that matter to residents.
“Our campaign hasn’t held a single fundraiser, and that’s by design,” Schwartz said. “Scott isn’t in this to enrich himself; he’s in it to help people. He’s proud to be running a self-sufficient campaign that doesn’t burden taxpayers, and that approach reflects exactly how he’ll lead as mayor of Derby.”
Gildea said the use of personal funds indicates the campaign that is not gathering steam.
“We believe that our opponent’s inability to secure funding beyond his own contributions and those from his family reflects the fact that he is simply not a credible candidate,” Gildea said. “Trying to spin it any other way is simply a smokescreen designed to hide the fact that he has no real support.”
Schwartz said the Derby for Derby campaign is reaching out and connecting to people, “not shaking them down for spare change.”
“Scott is focused on solutions, not smears. We are proud to be running a lean, self-funded campaign that reflects the fiscal responsibility Derby deserves. We won’t ask overtaxed residents for another dime, our priority is making life more affordable for our families,” Schwartz said.
Some of DiMartino’s largest donations from the Oct. 10 filing include $500 from Maria Buturla, wife of corporation counsel Richard Buturla. Alderman George Kurtyka also donated $500. DiMartino’s campaign received $1,500 from IUOE Local 478 PAC, an operating engineers’ union.
Scott Derby’s campaign biggest expenditures included $1,648.60 for lawn signs, $811 for mailers, and $810 for 2,000 palm cards.
DiMartino’s campaign spent $1,075 on a fundraiser held at Twisted Vine, a restaurant on Main Street. The records show $2,441.45 was paid to Valley Publishing on Francis Street for an election ‘newspaper.’ Another $1,000 was spent on mailers.
The Derby Town Republican Committee raised $4,959 so far, and spent $2,489.
The Derby Town Democratic Committee raised $6,455.18 and spent $4,271.20.