Katz raising more bucks than Street (Philadelphia)

Philadelphia Daily News ^ | 5/10/03 | David Davies, Bob Warner, & Mark McDonald

[LdSentinal]

Republican challenger Sam Katz has made a race of the fund-raising battle for City Hall, as campaign-finance reports filed yesterday show that he and Mayor Street both have more than $3 million available to spend on the coming campaign.

While Street is about $224,000 ahead in cash on hand, Katz outraised Street in the first five months of the year, pulling in more than $4 million to Street's roughly $2.5 million.

"I think we're doing a better job of raising money," Katz said in an interview yesterday. "I'm gratified by the extensive support that's materialized both in money, in volunteers and in voters evidenced by the poll."

In March, a Daily News/FoxPhiladelphia Keystone Poll found that the Mayor and Katz were virtually in a dead-heat.

Street's people aren't worried.

Campaign spokesman Mark Nevins said their fund-raising total was "right about where we targeted," and said it isn't surprising a "well-connected Republican candidate" could raise money.

Democrats outnumber Republicans in Philadelphia by a ratio of more than three to one. In the last 50 years, the Republican candidate for mayor has never raised more money than his Democrat opponent, and the margins have been particularly lop-sided for Democratic incumbents.

Katz pulled in the largest individual contributions.

His top donor was clothing manufacturer Sidney Kimmel of Jones Apparel Co., who gave $200,000 along with his wife, Caroline. Other major Katz contributors were Campbell Soup heiress Dorrance H. "Dodo" Hamilton, who gave $150,000; attorney Richard Schiffrin of Schiffrin & Barroway, $125,000; and philanthropist John Haas, an heir to the Rohm & Haas fortune, $125,000.

Katz received $150,000 from the Republican City Committee, $100,000 from Stephen F. Kendall of Aluminum Shapes Inc. and $100,000 from Dennis Alter of Advanta Group.

Street's biggest single contributor was the Laborers Union, which gave him $75,000, followed by $60,000 from Klehr Harrison LLP, headed by Street fund-raiser Leonard Klehr. Irvin Richter of Hill International Corp., gave Street $55,000.

The incumbent mayor received $50,000 from Rendell '95, one of the governor's political action committees; $50,000 from Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell and Hippel, the law firm headed by his 1999 opponent, Martin Weinberg;, and $50,000 from money manager William Howell of Greystone.

Among the 10 Democrats competing for five City Council at-large slots in the May 20 primary, incumbent Jim Kenney proved the biggest money-raiser, pulling in almost $197,000 since January 1. He was also the biggest spender, shelling out $192,000 so far.

Kenney got $96,000 from the committee of his patron, State Sen. Vince Fumo.

Other candidates and their totals raised since Jan. 1 include: Mike Driscoll, $165,000; Angel Ortiz, $109,000; Juan Ramos, $96,000; Joe Grace, $89,000; Dan Pelicotti, $39,000; Wilson Goode, Jr., $34,000; David Cohen, $31,000, and Peter Fiorentino, $1,100.

Blondell Reynolds-Brown's report was not available.

In the Eighth Council District that runs from Nicetown to Chestnut Hill, Councilwoman Donna Miller raised $87,000, spent $25,000 and had $65,000 on hand.

Opponents Marc DeBeary and Greg Paulmier trailed badly, DeBeary raising $1,770 and Paulmier $34,000 but that included a $30,000 loan he made to his own campaign.

Miller's biggest supporters were Mayor Street, who gave her $10,000, Gov. Rendell pal Herbert Vederman, $10,000, Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell who gave her $5,000 and Council President Anna Verna who gave her $2,000.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Well, at least he's good in the $$ department, but I think the demographics still remain unfavorable to Katz even more than in '99. If he loses, there probably won't be a GOP Mayor in Philly again (it will become like Baltimore).