Norfolk's Fraim beats his own fundraising record

NORFOLK

Mayor Paul Fraim is in a class of his own when it comes to political fundraising in Norfolk.

Fraim had raised $404,000 in his effort to be re-elected mayor as of Monday, the deadline for the last campaign finance reports to be filed before Tuesday's election. That eclipses the city fundraising record he set four years ago when he raised nearly $300,000 in the city's first mayoral election in nearly a century.

Virginia Beach Mayor Will Sessoms raised more than $620,000 two years ago when he knocked off incumbent Meyera Oberndorf, considered a record in South Hampton Roads for local election fundraising.

Incumbents enter Tuesday's council elections with a clear financial advantage over challengers. In Ward 5, W. Randy Wright had raised $117,116. That was before a fundraiser Gov. Bob McDonnell hosted for him last Saturday in East Beach.

Those contributions far exceed those of Wright's two challengers: Granby High School Assistant Principal Tommy Smigiel, who has collected $19,501, including some loans; and Matt Hales, who loaned himself most of the $7,206 he spent so far.

Vice Mayor Anthony L. Burfoot raised $101,630 for his re-election bid in Ward 3. Among his challengers, Billy Mann raised $24,505 and Mamie Johnson $9,150, including a $5,000 donation from a group called the Bowling Park Reunion Committee in Chesapeake. Donna Smith has largely self-financed her campaign with a loan of $2,532.

In Ward 4, incumbent Paul R. Riddick has raised $49,539 to challenger Billy Cook's $3,799.

In Ward 1, where there is no incumbent, attorney Andy Protogyrou has endorsements from most of the city's political establishment and a larger campaign war chest than his opponents.

He had $36,710, including donations from Councilman Don Williams, who is retiring; Fraim; and Councilman Barclay C. Winn.

Chuck Brewer loaned himself $10,000 and had spent $18,241 in the Ward 1 contest. Barbara Saunders raised no funds during April but had $3,738 left to spend. Ocean View artist Paul Trice is not raising money.

Theresa Whibley, who is unopposed in Ward 2, and Wright both filed their campaign finance reports after Monday's deadline and paid $100 fines.

Fraim said nearly 700 supporters have written checks to his campaign.

"I am gratified," he said. "I had no goal. I just wanted to raise enough money to wage a good campaign."

That cash gives him an advantage over his three opponents. His finance reports indicate he's spent more than $100,000 on television advertisements in April and more than $23,000 for print advertisements.

Councilwoman Daun S. Hester raised almost $29,000 in her bid to unseat Fraim. Her biggest contribution was a $10,000 check from the Mid-Atlantic Laborers Political Education Fund.

Hester spent $5,000 with Cox Communications for television time.

Fraim had $60,807 left to spend as of Monday. Hester had $7,115.

Old Dominion University student Ryan Cooper and civic leader Dan Montague, who are also running for mayor, are not raising funds.

Fraim's campaign has been bankrolled by the city's business community, including $18,000 in eight donations from owners and management officials from LTD Management. The hotel development company owns five hotels in the city and is moving its headquarters to downtown from Chesapeake later this year.

James T. Ramsey, a downtown restaurant owner, gave Fraim $10,000. Richmond businessman G. Gilmer Minor III has given Fraim $20,000 so far.

Ronald Zoby, a Virginia Beach resident and partner in several downtown restaurants, gave Fraim $5,000. Sessoms, the Virginia Beach mayor, gave Fraim $1,000.

Hester said she was spending what money she had wisely.

"I am running to insure there is fairness and competition in contracting and opportunity," she wrote in an e-mail. "I believe the voters are intelligent enough to draw their own conclusions about the influence of money and policy making."

Harry Minium, (757) 446-2371, harry.minium@pilotonline.com