Quarterly finance reports are out for Arlington’s state Senate races.
In the heated 31st District contest between County Board member Barbara Favola and Army National Guard JAG officer Jaime Areizaga-Soto, Favola won the fundraising battle and conserved her cash.
Favola received $130,414.68 in contributions during the second quarter of 2011, compared to Areizaga-Soto’s $73,816.00. Areizaga-Soto also took out $145,000 in net debt during the period, but only ended up with $41,137.84 cash in hand thanks to a whopping $177,678.16 in spending. Favola spent $74,764.67 and ended with $112,909.01 cash in hand.
Favola may face renewed criticism of her willingness to accept money from developers and other interests with business before the County Board. All told, Favola accepted nearly $35,000 in donations from real estate, development and hotel companies.
Among the donations were $5,000 from JBG Companies executive Walter Coker, $2,500 from Monday Properties executive Timothy Helmig, $2,500 from IDI Group CEO Giuseppe Cecchi, $1,000 from The Bozzuto Group’s Thomas Bozzuto, and $1,000 from MRP Realty executive Robert Murphy. She also accepted donations from representatives of Vornado/Charles E. Smith, the B.F. Saul Company, McCaffrey Interests, and Cushman & Wakefield.
Additionally, Favola accepted a $2,500 donation from Advanced Towing owner John O’Neill, $1,000 from Red Top Cab and $500 from Enviro-Cab partner April Hess. All three firms are subject to special county regulations. Political supporters Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple, Sen. Janet Howell, and Sen. Dick Saslaw collectively contributed $32,000 $42,000 to Favola.
Areizaga-Soto, meanwhile, raised a significant portion of his money from friends and family in his native Puerto Rico. He raised more than $21,000 from donors in the American territory. Areizaga-Soto’s fellow attorneys were also generous. He raised $18,700 from donors identified as attorneys.
Areizaga-Soto’s largest individual donor was Carlos Del Toro, the CEO of a service disabled veteran-owned engineering and consulting firm in Stafford, Va. Del Toro donated a total of $5,250 to Areizaga-Soto.
The winner of the primary race between Favola and Areizaga-Soto will face Republican Caren Merrick in the fall. Merrick raised $136,031.25 during the quarter and has $153,499.90 cash on hand.
In the three-way Democratic primary race for the 30th District state Senate seat, Arlington County School Board member Libby Garvey captured the fundraising crown.
Garvey raised $114,352.22 during the second quarter, ending with $88,815.62 cash in hand. Her largest individual donor was the Political Action Committee of Sen. Patsy Ticer, who’s vacating the 30th District seat, followed by $5,500 from Arlington-based AES Solar Energy Ltd. CEO Bob Hemphill.
Alexandria City Councilman Rob Krupicka, meanwhile, came in second with $110,197.25 raised from April through the end of June. Krupicka ended with $44,773.23 cash on hand. His biggest individual supporter was Jay N. Hoffman of the real estate firm Hoffman Co. Inc. Hoffman donated a total of $5,000 to Krupicka.
Del. Adam Ebbin raised $103,093.97 during the quarter, ending with $70,388.95 cash in hand. His biggest outside donation was $5,000 from the D.C.-based Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, adding to a prior $3,500 donation.
Update at 11:30 a.m. on 7/16/11 — The Favola campaign has released a statement about the latest fundraising numbers:
“I am grateful to the hundreds of supporters who have contributed to my campaign. I am humbled to know that so many have confidence in my ability to serve Northern Virginia in the state senate. I am proud that the senate leadership and other elected officials have invested in my campaign and trust me to fight for our progressive values.” — Barbara Favola
These reports show that Favola has a nearly three to one cash-on hand advantage that will allow her to deliver a strong Democratic message for the remainder of the campaign, and to beat a well funded Republican machine in November. The Favola campaign is reporting $112,909.01 cash on hand.
Jaime Areizaga-Soto is self-financing his campaign and loaned himself $160,000. After spending thousands on a negative smear campaign, Areizaga-Soto has drained his coffers and has only $41,137.84 left.