The campaign of Jersey City Ward E Councilman James Solomon, who is running for mayor, says he raised $475,000 an campaign finance reports show $938,214.03 cash on hand.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“James has all the momentum in this race and with weeks to go we’re picking up even more,” Solomon for mayor campaign manager Stuart Thomas said in a statement.
“With over 1,600 Jersey City donors, James has built a true grassroots campaign that’s going door to door in every community, talking about how he will make Jersey City more affordable. With a month to go, James is breaking out of the pack because he’s the candidate offering real change combined with a vision of a more affordable Jersey City.”
The Team Solomon October 7th report filed with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (NJ ELEC) reported raising $251,026.49 in the third quarter, with $571,982.33 cash on hand.
The New York Hotel Trades Council Committee on Political Education by far gave the largest amount, $138,400. This comes after the HTC endorsed Solomon for mayor last month, as HCV first reported.
Hammonton-based engineering firm Adams Rehmann & Heggan Associates contributed $15,000, the Washington, D.C.-based Fields of Change PAC donated $5,000, as did Ed Florio, a senior partner at Florio Kenny Raval, LLP and Vauxhall-based Prime Construction Corp., the report says.
Woodbridge-based attorney Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer wrote a check for $10,000, P.A., Remington & Vernick Engineers gave $5,000, as did council-at-large candidate Mamta Singh.
Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla, a Democratic nominee for state Assembly in the 32nd Legislative District, gave $1,000, the same amount from the Islamic Council of Hudson County and Garden Greenz cannabis dispensary owner Brian Markey.
As far as expenditures go, the campaign paid $119,588.31 to Washington, D.C.’s SBDigital for digital media consulting, as well as $29,727.16 on Carlstadt’s Bravo Print & Mail for direct mail, handouts, flyers, and palm cards.
They also paid $10,000 a month to BGT Enterprise for rent, utilities, cable, and internet, while they spent another $14,625 on the same services from Usha Dua.
According to Solomon’s individual October 6th ELEC report, he raised $184,681.75 and has $366,231.70 cash on hand.
That would bring his total raised in Q3 to $435,708.24, though his campaign noted amendments are coming and the total will be closer to $475,000.
Former Bayonne and West New York Business Administrator Joe DeMarco contributed $5,000, the same amount given by Manhattan Yacht Club Commodore Michael Fortenbaugh, according to the report.
Aaron Haier, senior counsel to Attorney General Matt Platkin, donated $5,200 and Democratic 7th District congressional candidate Brian Varela gave $1,000.
On the expense side of things, Washington, D.C.-based Impact Research Inc. was paid David Guirgis was paid $67,500 for research and polling that showed Solomon and Jim McGreevey in a dead heat, while David Guirgis was paid $9,000 for political consulting.
