Prince William County Chairman Corey Stewart’s challenger is beating him in fundraising, a fact both sides claim will help their chances in the November election.
Former County Attorney Sharon Pandak’s campaign raised $66,869 in July and August with help from former Gov. Mark Warner. Stewart raised less than half that amount during the same period — $31,645 — according to the latest campaign finance reports filed last week.
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The fundraising reports kicked off more sparring in the race, a rematch of the 2006 special election that vaulted Stewart, a Republican, into the chairman’s seat.
Pandak, a Democrat, said her success is due to widespread concern with Stewart’s leadership tactics. Stewart said Pandak’s fundraising proves she is the more attractive candidate for unpopular housing developers who oppose his slower-growthinitiatives.
“I always knew I was going to have a financial disadvantage,” Stewart said, claiming the homebuilding moratorium he championed last year has frustrated the housing industry. “A lot of the money she has raised is from developers,” he said.
But citing the development supporters, including $10,000 from the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association, undermines others who support her views on the issues, Pandak said.
“The fact that the chairman has engaged in grandstanding, opposed to coming up with solutions for out-of-control-growth and illegal immigration, has people coming to us,” Pandak said.
Stewart said he is on the right side of the issues and has won before without a financial advantage.
Pandak, who is making a concerted effort to raise her name recognition, outspent Stewart by more than $64,000 between July and August. As a result, Stewart ended the period with a slim $38,400-to-$36,800 financial advantage for the final lap of the race.
