Fundraising Report Deadline Passes In Fifth District Race

By Amanda Falcone and Wes Duplantier

The deadline for 5th Congressional District candidates to file their second quarter finance reports to the Federal Election Commission was Sunday, but as of late Sunday a few documents were still not available.

Donovan

Democrat Christopher Donovan, whose campaign has been the target of an FBI investigation, filed a report but it was not publicly available because of technical difficulties with the commission’s website. The campaign did not provide a copy of the report when requested by The Courant.

Last week, Donovan’s former finance director, Robert Braddock Jr., pleaded not guilty in federal court to conspiracy to commit fraud, making conduit contributions and causing false campaign reports to the Federal Election Commission.

Donovan was endorsed by the Democratic Party in May.

The Associated Press reported last week that campaign manager Tom Swan said the campaign had $570,515 in cash going into the final weeks before the Democratic primary. It also reported that Donovan had raised $149,715 in the second quarter and about $1.1 million overall.

A Donovan spokesman confirmed those numbers to The Courant Sunday.

Although Donovan’s report was not available, his opponents reported their numbers for the second quarter Sunday.

The second quarter takes into account contributions and spending that occurred from late April to June 30. The numbers are the last the candidates will file before the primary, and they are an important indicator of what the candidates can afford to do over the next few weeks.

Leading the way appears to be Democrat Elizabeth Esty, who raised $338,978 from individual donors in the second quarter and more than $1.5 million overall. Esty finished the second quarter with more than $900,000 in cash on hand.

Donovan and Esty will face Daniel Roberti in the 5th District’s Democratic primary on Aug. 14.

In its filing, the Roberti camp states that it had about $288,413 at the end of June. The campaign reported that it had raised $92,940 and nearly $1.2 million overall.

A Republican 5th District primary will also be held on Aug. 14.

Campaign finance reports for two of the four Republican candidates were available Sunday. A report was also filed by Republican Michael Clark, who dropped out of the race after the convention in May.

Wilson-Foley

Lisa Wilson-Foley’s report shows that she had $454,183 at the end of June. She raised $52,503 from individuals and political action committees during that time, and most of that money — $42,119 — was from individuals like William Petit Jr., the lone survivor of the 2007 Cheshire home invasion, and former 2^nd Congressional District candidate Janet Peckinpaugh.

Some of the $9,500 from political action committees was from Maggie’s List, a political action committee that endorsed Wilson-Foley in June. It is dedicated to electing conservative women to federal office.

Wilson-Foley has raised $597,653 overall and has loaned her campaign $585,000 overall. During the second quarter alone, Wilson-Foley loaned her campaign $65,000 and made an $884 contribution.

Wilson-Foley’s opponent, Mark Greenberg, had $761,635 at the end of the second quarter. He received $3,825 from individuals and made a $650,000 loan to his campaign, bringing the total amount of money he has loaned his campaign to $1.49 million.

Overall, Greenberg has raised $283,145 from contributors.

Reports were not available for Republicans Justin Bernier and Andrew Roraback. Roraback is the party-endorsed candidate.

Although Michael Clark is no longer running for Congress, he still had to file a campaign finance report this weekend.

Clark ended the second quarter with $9,137 on hand, according to the document. He did not raise any money, but repaid himself $100,000 — money he had loaned to his campaign. He also repaid contributors $23,000.