Holden leading mayoral race in campaign dollars raised

Published Oct 30, 2012 at 10:00 am (Updated Oct 30, 2012)

With just a week before Election Day and the final campaign finance reports having been submitted, Democratic Mayor Kip Holden is winning the race for campaign cash and has nearly three times as much in his war chest as his main opponent, Republican Metro Councilman Mike Walker. Between Sept. 28 and Oct. 17—the period covered in the latest campaign finance reports—Holden raised nearly $85,000, compared to Walker's $38,000, and has a total of more than $326,000 to spend in the final days of the campaign, while Walker has $133,000. Holden also far outspent Walker during the three-week reporting period, shelling out nearly $176,000 on campaign ads to Walker's $38,000. However, the reporting period does not include spending as of last week, which was when Walker began airing a high-profile and controversial TV ad about a Baton Rouge Police escort for Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan. Reports also show that candidate Steve Myers, no party affiliation, has $124,500 to spend, most of which he has lent his campaign. Candidate Gordon Mese, who also has no party affiliation, is not accepting campaign contributions. In the race for Louisiana Supreme Court 5th District seat, Jewel "Duke" Welch—a Republican who has the support of several of the area's well-known trial lawyers—is leading the crowded field of candidates in fundraising. He raised more than $170,000 during the three-week reporting period and has $267,000 to spend in the final weeks of the campaign. Read the complete story here to access the full campaign finance reports. —Stephanie Riegel