The Bayonne mayoral race is looking very close, at least financially, as Mayor Jimmy Davis and challenger Jason O’Donnell have comparable amounts of campaign cash on hand/fundraised this year, according to campaign finance reports.Â
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
O’Donnell, a former Assemblyman, and his five-person council slate have about $117,271 on hand and have raised around $216,173 since January 1st, according to reports filed with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (NJ ELEC).
Notable contributions to O’Donnell’s mayoral account include a $500 donation from the Bayonne FMBA Local No. 11 on January 13th, as well as a $750 check from the Bayonne Fire Superiors Association Local 211 on January 29th.
While the Bayonne FMBA Local No. 11 endorsed Davis last month, yet still provided some modest financial support to O’Donnell, a retired Bayonne firefighter and former city public safety director, this quarter.
The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825, who endorsed O’Donnell back in November, gave $8,200 to his mayoral account on January 19th, before dropping a hefty $41,000 in the Team O’Donnell war chest on March 6th.
Greg Lalavee is the business manager for IUOE Local 825 and his brother, Christopher Lalevee, runs the labor super PAC Stronger Foundations, Inc.
Stronger Foundations has recently begun releasing ads on social media attacking Davis over giving out tax breaks to developers and an ongoing “sexting” lawsuit.
According to their own April 4th ELEC filing, they spent $79,997.95 on TV production, TV media buys and digital media buys.
“Stronger Foundations, Inc. is an independent organization designed to inform the public about the importance of infrastructure investments throughout New Jersey, as well as provide information regarding the positions of legislators and other elected officials on these very same issues,†Stronger Foundations spokesman Mike Makarski said earlier this month.
Furthermore, the O’Donnell team has been willing and able to spend money when necessary: spending $16,200 on a poll by McLaughlin and Associates on January 11th, shelling out $30,000 for accounting/payroll services to Organizing Montrass Group, Inc. on February 15th and $54,000 on consulting services with KNS Strategies on March 17th.
On the other hand, the incumbents have roughly $94,751 on hand and raised $239,440 this quarter.
Davis’ mayoral campaign received a $600 contribution from Bayonne FMBA Local No. 11 on February 1st, the same day Police Chief Drew Sisk wrote a $2,000 contribution for his former colleague (Davis is a retired police captain).
The most notable donation to Team Davis was a $13,000 check from Ryan Graham, received on February 9th according to ELEC.
Graham is the director of business development for employee benefits for the Verona-based Fairview Insurance – one of the largest insurance firms in the state.
Additionally, Secaucus-based Vision Media Marketing has done most of the heavy lifting for the Davis campaign: helping them with mail, videos, photos, advertising and consulting services.
This earned them a lump sum of roughly $74,014 between February 19th and April 3rd, ELEC shows.
Disbursements also indicate that Team Davis also spent $24,500 on a poll done by Global Strategies on March 6th.
Finally, Dr. Mitchell Brown, a third mayoral candidate running independently, has just $9,861 on hand and has only raised $14,815 for this election cycle, according to his ELEC report filed on April 8th.
The Bayonne municipal elections are on May 8th.
The operating engineers usually do their own polling and only support candidates they think have a strong chance to win. Good sign for O’Donnell.
Oh, LookyLou! Just as we learned by GA that we might be getting a 2 month break from his nasty manners, spying on LinkedIn pages and directing past and current council members …. Lindastan has decided to share his brilliance and “strategery” with the now blessed politicians of Bayonne. ( Probably can’t find it on a map though )
Will Stronger Foundations be supplying any campaign workers to distribute flyers?
Nothing like a Shadow that can reach from Hoboken to Bayonne. Shadow and his nasty accomplice ( known for his “signature” nasty mouth too ) will FORGE a new alliance with the peninsula city even if they’ve never been there, their egos are just too big for 1 square mile!