Savannah’s 2023 municipal races drew historic amounts of campaign donations this election cycle, according to candidate contribution disclosures.
The citywide at-large posts amassed some of the largest sums ever, and Mayor Van Johnson raised more than double his 2019 total. Some of the largest, and most frequent, donors come from Savannah’s development and business community.
Since Johnson’s first contribution disclosure of this campaign cycle, he has raised $412,401 ― $200,000 more than his first bid for mayor.
In the Post 1 At-Large race, Carol Bell raised $125,965. Pat Rossiter raised $166,185 in the Post 2 race. Rossiter’s total is the most for any candidate not named Van Johnson. For comparison, Rossiter’s competitor, incumbent Alicia Miller Blakely, raised $6,593. After Bell, the next most money raised in the Post 1 contest was $18,627 by Roshida Edwards.
Some of the big-name business interests cashing the largest donations include Landmark 24, HunterMacLean business law firm, and Plant Riverside. Between owners and the businesses themselves, donations often exceed $1,000 or brush up against the max of $3,300.
Read more:City talk: Campaign fundraising patterns raise questions, invite cynicism
Savannah mayoral election asks:Are you better off now than you were four years ago?
Mayor Van Johnson: ‘I see them buying into my program for the city’
The deluge of money and its sources invested in this year’s elections has drawn criticism, with some of those critiques coming on Johnson, who in 2019 criticized opponent Eddie DeLoach over his trove of contributions. Now, Johnson’s fundraising total rivals that of DeLoach’s.
Johnson’s most prominent opponent, Post 1 At-Large Alderwoman Kesha Gibson-Carter, has made “not for sale” a calling card of her campaign, using it in social media posts and hashtags. Gibson-Carter has raised almost $11,000 this cycle, with only four contributions at $1,000 or more.
Others have said the high dollars and establishment…
Read the full article here
