Cole

House of Delegates candidates report on campaign funds

Date published: 6/8/2007

BY EMILY BATTLE

Republican Del. Mark Cole raised slightly more money than Democratic challenger Carlos Del Toro over the past two months, but Del Toro still has more money as the candidates vie for the 88th District House of Delegates seat.

Finance reports filed Monday show that Cole raised $48,758 in the last reporting period, compared to Del Toro's $36,234.

Del Toro maintains a lead in overall funds on-hand, though, despite having spent about $8,000 more than Cole so far in the race.

Del Toro started June with nearly $98,000 in the bank, compared to Cole's $84,000.

Del Toro's largest source of money so far has been ActBlue.com, a Web-based clearinghouse for gifts to Democratic candidates.

Del Toro has received $23,127 over the entire election cycle from Act Blue. $5,714 of that came in April and May.

Cole's two biggest donors have been House Speaker Bill Howell and Del. Morgan Griffith.

The two Republicans have each given Cole $5,000, Howell from his campaign fund and Griffith from his political action committee.

As for Howell, he enters June with $220,700 in the bank. Independent challenger Craig Ennis has a reported $688 on hand, with no reported gifts of $100 or more.

Howell reported raising $46,700 over the past two months.

His largest gift of $25,000 came from the Realtors' PAC of Virginia. His next largest gift was $10,000 from Leo Wardrup a Republican who recently retired from the 83rd District House of Delegates seat.

Howell spent $61,000 over the past two months. Much of that was campaign contributions made to other Republican candidates running for the House of Delegates this fall, when all General Assembly seats are up for election.

Emily Battle: 540/374-5413
Email: ebattle@freelancestar.com

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Date published: 6/8/2007