Seymour Republican First Selectman candidate Kurt Miller has outpaced incumbent Democrat Paul Roy in fundraising, according to campaign finance reports filed at the Town Clerk’s office.
The reports track fundraising and spending up until Sept. 30.
Roy had raised $7,122 throughout the campaign, from individual donations and events. He spent $2,908 during that time.
Miller had raised $8,810 under those same terms and spent $2,377.
As of Sept. 30, petitioning candidate Jeanne Loda had collected less than $1,000 so the campaign did not have to itemize contributions on a long form, according to her campaign manager, husband Frank Loda. The campaign held a fundraiser on Oct. 15, during the next reporting period.
Roy said he was not concerned about the fundraising pattern.
“I think it’s what you do with the money that’s more important than how much you make. Get the biggest bang for your buck. I think that’s important,” Roy said. “I know we’re going to run this on less than $10,000 because we’re making sure the money is spent wisely.”
Miller said the numbers speak for themselves.
“Contributions to the campaign are very easy to get when people believe in the message you’re putting out there, and if they believe in what they think you’re going to do for the town,” Miller said.
Spending
Roy’s committee paid $2,908 for expenses, including $1,430 to the Villa Bianca catering facility for a silent auction and buffet, $480 for a kick-off party at Barone’s Sports Cafe, and $868 to Nu-Age Designs LLD for re-election signs.
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Miller’s committee had expenses of $2,377.17, including $768.38 to CT Digital Graphics for yard signs, and $329.69 to Hot Tops of Shelton for 500 balloons printed with the Kurt Miller graphic.
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Donations
Some of Miller’s largest donations include:
- $1,000 from John Conroy, a member of the Board of Selectmen
- $800 from Carl Miller, Kurt Miller’s father
- $500 from Vincent Daddio Jr., a local businessman
- $500 from Peter Klarides, retired owner of Klarides Village
- $266.43 Mark Thompson, former chairman of the Board of Finance
Other Miler donors included former Republican First Selectman Robert Koskelowski, $60, and Republican Town Committee Chairman William Paecht, $60.
Some of Roy’s largest donations include:
- $420 from Kristen Harmeling, a candidate for Board of Education
- $420 from James Garofolo, a member of the Board of Education
- $320 from Kevin Coyne, an attorney who lives in Fairfield
- $320 from James Galligan, the town engineer, who lives in Branford
- $315 from Cindy Bernardini, Roy’s administrative assistant
- $315 from Evelyn Roy, Roy’s wife
Other donors included Theresa Conroy, the former state representative for Seymour, $235.
Under Ticket Fundraising
The Seymour Democratic Town Committee, which raised money for the under ticket but not for Roy, raised a separate $5,416.72. Of that, $2,250 was raised between July 1 and Sept. 30.
Since July 1, the Democratic Town Committee paid $1,195.82 in expenses, including $580.03 to Nu-Age Design of Seymour for under-ticket lawn signs, and $567.04 to the Brookside Inn Restaurant of Oxford for fundraiser food.
The Seymour Republican Town Committee, which raised money for the under ticket but not for Miller, raised $4,588.26. Of that, $3,788.17 was raised between July 1 and Sept. 30.
The Republican committee paid out $1,849.31, according to the filing. Expenses included $680.64 to CT Digital Graphics for signs and $700 to Direct Mail Systems of Florida for palm cards for candidates Nicole Klarides-Ditria and Jay Hatfield.
