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The cash race for the D.C. Council is going strong, according to the latest set of campaign finance reports filed with the District’s Office of Campaign Finance. Even with the general elections set to be largely unsuspenseful affairs, incumbents running for re-election in November aren’t having any trouble raising money.
Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, who is running to hold on to the seat he took when Kwame Brown resigned, reported $41,768.30 in cash on hand in his August 10 filing, a sum that includes a single-day haul of $30,000 on August 9. Most of the donations came from law firms, labor unions and parking-garage operators.
Jack Evans (D-Ward 2), who is unopposed, is sitting on about $51,000. Evans has said he intends to run for mayor the next time the seat is up for election, whether that’s in 2014 or sooner. Muriel Bowser (D-Ward 4), another potential mayoral candidate, reported more than $96,000 in cash on hand.
At-large councilmembers Vincent Orange and Michael A. Brown both face challengers on the November ballot, and that’s where the finance reports get a little more fascinating. David Grosso, a health care executive running as an independent, reported nearly $56,000, while Orange showed just $9,800.
Mary Brooks Beatty, a Republican, reported more than $22,000 in cash on hand. Brown, WAMU reports, did not release his latest fundraising numbers citing an ongoing investigation into reports that campaign aides pilfered donations. Brown said last month that he has taken direct control of his campaign’s finances.