Jackson Out-Raises Opponents in Mayoral Campaign Funding

Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson has more than half a million dollars on hand for his reelection bid as the September primary approaches.

With a campaign war chest of $703,782, the three-term mayor has far more money than any of his opponents, according to semi-annual financial disclosures made this week.

Jackson raised $559,367 in the first half of this year. His next closest competitor, Councilman Zack Reed, raised $57,350. Jeff Johnson, another councilman challenging the mayor, filed the day after the deadline and reported raising $55,540.

Brandon Chrostowski, founder of EDWINS restaurant, reported a fundraising haul of $52,697. Robert Kilo raised $43,051. Tony Madalone, who founded Fresh Brewed Tees, raised $12,000.

The semi-annual filings include any money raised and spent from the start of the year until the end of June. They were due on the last day of July.

Jackson received contributions this year from political action committees and advocacy funds for major companies in the area, including KeyBank, Hunting Bank, PNC and Eaton Corporation.

The Greater Cleveland Partnership, Northeast Ohio’s chamber of commerce, gave the mayor $5,000, as did Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam.

The mayor also raised money from labor unions, including groups representing firefighters, plumbers, pipefitters, bricklayers and cement masons.

Another chunk of the mayor’s balance on hand comes from fundraising in prior years.

Last year, donors from the real estate industry made up about 23 percent of Jackson’s fundraising, according to an ideastream analysis of his 2016 financial disclosures. Another 18 percent came from contributors in the construction business.

Reed’s list of contributors includes developer Scott Wolstein. The southeast side city councilman has spent money gathering petition signatures, holding focus groups and putting up billboards.

Johnson’s candidacy received a boost with the backing of the Service Employees International Union District 1199. The union has printed mailers and yard signs supporting Johnson. SEIU 1199 also spent $60,000 to air pro-Johnson TV ads earlier this year, according to filings with the Ohio secretary of state.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections had not received reports from Eric Brewer, Bill Patmon or Dyrone Smith. Brewer said that he didn’t need to file a disclosure this time around. 

The campaigns would not be required to file semiannual reports if they’ve raised less than $10,000. 

With reporting from Shane McKeon.

This story has been corrected to reflect that Chrostowski is the founder, not the owner, of EDWINS, a non-profit.