Updated, 11:10 p.m. with Mangiacopra information
NORWALK, Conn. – Former Norwalk Police Chief Harry Rilling has raised $22,004.99 in his mayoral campaign in the second quarter of the year, according to a press release from his campaign. In response, Norwalk’s Future Now released its own information – about $40,000 was raised from April 1 to June 30 in the effort to make District D Chairman Vinny Mangiacopra mayor.
Wednesday, July 10, is the deadline to file second-quarter fundraising reports in the town clerk’s office. Norwalk’s Future Now has not filed its paperwork yet. Rilling for Mayor filed its report Monday.
There was no word Monday night from the campaigns of their two opponents, former Town Clerk Andy Garfunkel and Councilman Matt Miklave, on their fundraising. All of the men would like to be the person to take on (and perhaps take down) Republican incumbent Mayor Richard Moccia in the November election.
Rilling’s $22,004.99 is in addition to the $30,318 the campaign raised from January to March. That is a total of $51,322.99 raised so far by the Rilling campaign.
Mangiacopra’s $40,000 comes on top of $25,533 in first-quarter fundraising, a total of about $65,500.
Rilling’s press release gives some indication of the candidate’s local support – all of Rilling’s fundraising events were held in Norwalk and 85 percent of the 168 donations came from Norwalk residents, it says.
“The Rilling campaign has raised $51,323 since February 21 based solely on volunteer requests,” the release said. “The Rilling campaign has not employed a professional finance solicitation company and therefore has not paid a percentage of every contribution to out-of‐town professional solicitors who have no connection to the Norwalk community.”
Mangiacopra campaign manager Will Sharry said no professional finance solicitation companies had been used to raise Norwalk’s Future Now’s money.
“With over 130 Norwalkers contributing to our campaign and what will likely be the most funds raised by any candidate, it’s clear our message demanding Norwalk’s Future Now is resonating,” he said in an email. “Voters are looking for a clear break from the current administration and we believe our strong fundraising is confirmation they are ready for the fresh perspective and new approach that Mr. Mangiacopra will bring City Hall.”
He didn’t say how many donors the $40,000 had come from. Mangiacopra had 232 donors in the first quarter, with 58 Norwalk residents among them.
Much of Councilman Matt Miklave’s first-quarter support came from outside Norwalk, with 21 of 59 contributors being Norwalkers. A large percentage of former Town Clerk Andy Garfunkel’s support came from his home town, with 37 of 50 contributors living in Norwalk. Garfunkel raised $5,525.15; Miklave raised $16,839.
Rilling’s campaign recently opened a headquarters at 25 Van Zant St., where volunteers phone voters and map out house-to‐house canvassing routes, the Rilling for Mayor release said.
Rilling served with the Norwalk Police department for 41 years, the last 17 years as chief. Although he said he was an active Democrat in the 1980s, he has never run for office before.
“As a first‐time candidate for elective office, I have been amazed at the generous response of so many personal friends, community activists and Democratic Party leaders in Norwalk during my fundraising efforts,” Rilling said in the release. “These results prove I will be able to raise enough funds to run a vigorous city‐wide campaign and can raise both additional funds as well as political support from the broadest cross‐section of our Norwalk community.”
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