Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti and the city’s Democrats have roughly the same amount of cash on hand heading into this year’s municipal election campaign.
As of June 30 Lauretti’s campaign had $1,934 on hand. The Democratic Town Committee had $2,097.26.
The numbers come from campaign finance disclosure forms filed at the city clerk’s office.
Lauretti’s re-election campaign committee, “Lauretti Mayor Committee ’13,” had raised $1,960 as of June 30.
Challenger Dave Gioiello, the chairman of the Democratic Town Committee, has not formed his own campaign committee. The DTC is financing his campaign.
As of June 30 the DTC had raised a total of $2,485 in 2013.
Of that amount, $1,845 was in contributions from individuals and $640 was from a March 18 donation by the Trumbull Democratic Town Committee.
Lauretti’s largest contribution came from current Board of Alderman President John Anglace, who donated $200.
The Democrats’ largest contribution was the $640 injection from the Trumbull DTC. Among contributions from individuals, Gioiello himself has given the most money this year, a total of $240.
Fundraising activity for Republicans and Democrats has been relatively low-key thus far this year.
For example, the numbers pale in comparison to the amounts raised to finance the mayor’s race in nearby Derby — where Mayor Anthony Staffieri has raised more than $10,000 and Democratic challenger Anita Dugatto has raised $4,000 and change.
The Lauretti committee’s only expense paid up to June 30 was $26 the campaign spent March 6 on checks from Webster Bank.
Lauretti’s campaign held one event, a June 30 campaign kick-off at his David Drive home.
Lauretti said Tuesday (July 30) he started this year’s campaign off unusually early, but that fundraising activity will pick up as the election nears.
“This is the earliest I’ve had a fundraiser in about 15 years,” he said. “Typically I don’t do anything until September or October.”
He said he wanted to get an early start this year “to remind people to get engaged.”
The campaign incurred expenses of $631.69 from Lauretti’s wife for food and beverages for the event, but had not paid her as of June 30. The mayor said he believes the campaign has since cut a reimbursement check.
Lauretti said his campaign will probably concentrate its efforts on mailings direct to city residents — though he’s been in office more than two decades, “There’s always people moving in and people moving out, so there’s always a change.”
He said he wouldn’t spend time knocking on doors.
“I just think I’m pretty visible and I work my job every day,” Lauretti said.
Shelton Democrats had a fundraising dinner March 14 on Research Drive.
Their most significant expense paid this year was a $255.24 payment to Liquid Lunch for food at the dinner.
Gioiello on Tuesday (July 30) characterized the Democrats’ fundraising efforts thus far as “our normal collection of contributions” for the year.
“It’s early,” he said. “I think there’s a little bit of a flurry after the nominating conventions, then people go back to enjoying the summer.”
“We’ll be having a couple fundraisers for the whole town committee this summer,” Gioiello said, adding that U.S. Reps. Jim Himes and Rosa DeLauro would help with his campaign.
He said he also plans to reach out to Gov. Dannel Malloy and Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman to see if they can lend a hand.
A Valley-wide fundraiser for area Democrats is scheduled for Sept. 22 at Coon Hollow Park in Derby.
Gioiello said he hopes voters know him a little better than when he ran for mayor six years ago, but will still work hard to introduce himself to residents via mailings, ads, press conferences, and going door-to-door.
“The biggest way to get to know people is knocking on doors and getting to shake their hands,” he said.
According to the Registrar of Voters office, as of July 29 Shelton had 6,086 registered Republicans, 5,110 registered Democrats, and 12,448 voters registered without a party affiliation.
The following people donated to “Lauretti Mayor Committee ’13:”
John Anglace
Shelton
Retired
$200
Kevin Kelly
Stratford
Attorney (Bishop, Jackson & Kelly, LLC)
$100
Nancy Noga
Shelton
Retired
$80
Raymond O’Leary
Shelton
Financial Management Support, Growth Services Corp.
$80
Anthony Simonetti
Shelton
Administrator, Marshall Lane Manor
$80
Ramon Sous
Shelton
Attorney, Self-Employed
$80
Maureen Stachowicz
Oxford
Paralegal, Wasikowski Law Firm
$100
Jodi Welch
Shelton
Medical sales, Allergan
$80
Lois Welch
Shelton
Retired
$100
The following people donated to the Shelton Democratic Town Committee:
Arlene Liscinsky
Shelton
Retired
$100
Louis Dagostine
Shelton
Attorney (Ciula, Donofrio LLP)
$130
Faith Hack
Shelton
Payroll Administrator, Shelton Public Schools
$120
Joan Feeley
Shelton
Teacher, Shelton Public Schools
$100
Pauline Dyer
Shelton
Teacher, Fairfield University
$160
Denese Deeds
Shelton
Consultant
$100
Henriette Bragg
Shelton
Retired
$200
Jean Cayer
Shelton
Laboratory Director, St. Vincent’s Hospital
$130
David Gioiello
Shelton
Industrial Hygienist
$240
Frank Osak
Derby
Retired
$100
Natalie Skinner
Shelton
Professor, Housatonic Community College
$30
Christina Spinelli
Shelton
No Occupation Listed
$30
Jimmy Tickey
Shelton
Campaign Manager, Friends of Rosa DeLauro
$100
Arline Walton
Shelton
Graphic Designer, Self-Employed
$30
Tom Harbinson
Shelton
Farm Manager, Jones Family Farm
$30
Chris Jones
Shelton
Owner, Premier Hardwood Flooring
$30
Joseph Knapik
Shelton
Retired
$60
Robert Lally
Shelton
Retired
$30
Ralph Matto
Shelton
Developer, Self-Employed
$60
