Braintree's At-Large Candidates Raise More Than $35,000

Candidates running for the three Councilor-at-Large seats available in next Tuesday's election have raised $35,468 this cycle and spent slightly more than $18,000.

Those numbers, which include donations large and small, as well as personal loans candidates make to their committees, come from campaign finance reports on file with the Town Clerk's office.

The reports filed by the four candidates run from the beginning of 2013 through Oct. 18. Clerk Joe Powers is still in the process of reviewing the reports and they are subject to amendment. 

Excluding loans, incumbent Sean Powers raised the most money during the period. He took in $12,374 for his campaign, all of it since the end of April. He also loaned his committee $200.

Powers faces fellow incumbent Charles Ryan and challengers Shannon Hume and John Carvello in the four-way race for three, two-year seats. 

Ryan raised $9,307 and loaned his committee an additional $5,000. Hume, currently the chair of the School Committee, took in $6,105 and loaned herself $775. Carvello, a Norfolk County corrections officer, has raised $1,907 and made personal loans in the amount of $362 to his committee.

An analysis of the funds raised and spent by the candidates shows that most of the money was spent on campaign literature, advertising and fundraisers, while receipts primarily came from small- to medium-sized individual donations, with some exceptions coming mainly by way of unions.

Powers' fundraising list contains some big local names, including a $500 donation from GOP gubernatorial candidate Charlie Baker, $100 from Republican state Sen. Robert Hedlund's campaign committee, $250 from  Jennifer Nassour, former chairwoman of the Massachusetts Republican Party, and $400 from Daniel Quirk of Quirk Auto Dealers.

Hume saw a significant amount of union support and donations from a few local names that stand out. She took in $550 from two carpenters unions, $500 from the local waterproofers and roofers, and $150 from the pile drivers. Also donating to Hume were School Committee member Lisa Heger ($50), mayoral aide Christopher Griffin ($25), George and Joan Kokoros ($40) and John and Donna Mullaney ($100).

Daniel Quirk ($100) and Christopher Griffin ($25) also donated to Ryan's campaign committee. Ryan, a Massachusetts Water Resources Authority manager, also faired well with several unions, taking in $200 from IBEW Local 2222, $500 from the New England Regional Council of Carpenters, $500 from IBEW Local 103 and $500 from Sheet Metal Workers Local 17, among others.

Hume and her husband John also donated to Ryan's campaign ($50), as did School Committee candidate Kate Naughton ($25), BELD Commissioner  Anthony Agnitti ($100) and attorney Frank Marinelli ($100).

Carvello took in $200 from the Norfolk County Central Labors’ Union and smaller amounts from several residents. His finance report is missing complete donor names and a vendor name on his expenditures list, issues noted by the Town Clerk in an attached letter.

As for expenses, Printing Unlimited and fundraising venues – i.e. Maria's Restaurant and Granite Grill – were big recipients, as were Richard's Advertising for signs and, at least for Ryan, Verizon Wireless, which was paid $1,839 since January by his committee for campaign phone services.

Ryan also dished out to The Conley Committee ($100), Lynch for Senate ($100) and the U.S. Post Office ($376). Standing out for Hume was $238 for campaign photos from Peter Silowan Photography, $376 for an ad in the Patriot Ledger and $690 for an ad on Braintree Patch.

Powers spent $910 to advertise in the Braintree Advertiser and $800 in T-shirts from Hot Market Design. Like most local candidates, Powers also used his campaign money to donate to a number of local causes, such as Kyleigh's Cure, the Liberty School PTO and former Superintendent Dr. Peter Kurzberg's retirement party.

As of Oct. 18, Powers had $7,217 left in the bank (Braintree Cooperative Bank). Hume had $1,442 (BCB also), Ryan had $7,690 (Bank of America) and Carvello had $1,205 (BCB).

The local election is Tuesday, Nov. 5. 

Visit the Town Clerk website for polling locations, a list of nominated candidates and more election info. And use our Braintree Patch Election Blog to share your thoughts on the candidates.