Community Corner

Dan Drew Raises $41,362 in Latest Finance Report Filing

The Democratic mayoral candidate in Middletown says his fundraising indicates a strong grassroots campaign, his opponents say it's "dirty money."

Dan Drew, the Democrat running for mayor in Middletown, has raised $41,362, his most recent campaign finance filing shows, an amount Drew and his supporters point to as indicating his campaign is gaining momentum.

“Dan Drew’s grassroots support is growing stronger each day,” said Dan Pickett, Drew’s campaign chairman. “Our campaign has received more than 230 individual Middletown contributions in this election cycle.”

Those contributions, Pickett added, are coming from Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike who are tired of what Pickett described as the growth in the city’s tax rate under Giuliano’s administration and the acceptance of political patronage inside City Hall.

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Giuliano’s most recent campaign finance filing indicates that the Republican incumbent has raised nearly $21,000 for the reporting period that ended Sept. 30.  The Independent candidate in the race, Christine Bourne, has raised less than $5,000, her campaign finance document indicates.

Giuliano’s camp took aim at Drew’s campaign contributions on Friday, calling them “dirty money” and accusing the Democrat of being indebted to special interests.

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“A significant portion of donations received by Mayoral candidate Dan Drew are shakedown contributions from some of Hartford’s premier political insiders – an indication that his financial support comes from those with a special interest in the outcome of a local election,” Giuliano’s campaign said in a press release.

“Dan Drew owes his soul to those who could care less about Middletown – the lobbyists, and the same people who have put our economy in dire straits,” said Chris Healy, campaign manager for Giuliano. “Dan Drew has to troll for money from the political class because he doesn’t know Middletown or have support from the people who make the city special.”

Healy said $5,215 in contributions to Drew’s campaign came from registered lobbyists and $6,717 from state, legislative or municipal employees.

Drew fired back at those accusations Friday, saying his campaign’s 230 individual contributors from Middletown, a clear indication of his grassroots support in the city.

“This is definitely a grassroots campaign, despite the spin that Chris Healy puts on it,” Drew said.

“In the Democratic primary, the campaign ran out of lawn signs and had to order more,” Pickett said.

 


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