13 WTHR - Indianapolis News |Peterson's fundraising far outweighs competition

Peterson's fundraising far outweighs competition

Mary Milz/Eyewitness News

Indianapolis - Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson wins hands down when it comes to raising money. The Democrat has roughly 30 times as much money as Republican challenger Greg Ballard, according to campaign finance reports filed Friday.

Peterson, who started with considerable cash on hand, raised nearly $1.5 million since mid-April and has $1.5 million left.

Looking at Peterson's numbers versus his own war chest, Ballard said with a smile, "he's doing a little better."

By contrast, Ballard raised nearly $225,000 since mid-April, much of that in-kind contributions. He has just over $51,000 left in his campaign fund with a little more than two weeks until Election Day.

Explaining the vast difference, Ballard said, "I chalk it up to I was out serving my country, so I didn't make all the connections in Indianapolis, but that's okay, people have been very generous and I appreciate all the support."

Ballard's single biggest donor is businessman Stephen R. West, who contributed $10,000. Ballard also got $5,000 from the Fraternal Order of Police PAC.

Peterson's report lists more than 900 individual donors. Pacers owner Herb Simon and Emmis Communications' Jeff Smulyan donated $10,000 a piece. Law firm Bose, McKinney and Evans donated $22,500 and law firm Barnes and Thornburg gave Peterson $20,000.

Peterson's campaign manager Michael O'Connor said of the money raised, "It's a measure of how broad is your support out there and clearly it measure the ability to communicate your message to the public."

Records show Peterson spent nearly $1.5 million on TV and radio ads and $113,000 on polling and research.

"People expect their officeholders up for election out there aggressively campaigning and that's what (Peterson's) out there doing," O'Connor said.

Ballard's expenses included roughly $1,500 for yard signs, $1,200 for postage and $265 for parade candy. Ballard said he hopes to do TV and radio ads in the final two weeks.

"I tell people we're keeping an eye on the prize, but the prize isn't the office of mayor, it's changing the direction of the city is what we're really trying to do," Ballard said.

Libertarian candidate for mayor, Fred Peterson, didn't list any money raised or spent on his form.  Instead, he listed zeroes across the board.