Howard County hopefuls for the district and county executive seats have kept the cash rolling in as the primary election approaches Tuesday.
Democratic county executive candidate Ken Ulman continued to bring in the big bucks, raking in $21,953 in contributions during three weeks in August, according to the latest round of campaign finance reports. This brought his cash on hand to $335,734.
Ulman, who is the current council member for District 4, said he had a large number of small donations ? a total of 137 ? in part because of a family picnic fundraiser that brought in $10 a family.
His opponent, Republican and Council Member Chris Merdon of District 5, has $278,692 in the bank after $4,138 in contributions last month.
His 14 donations ranged from $25 to $2,000.
Meanwhile, challengers Democrat Harry Dunbar and Independent Stephen Wallis reported $364 and $3,152 on hand, respectively.
Among County Council hopefuls, District 1 Democratic candidate Courtney Watson continued to have the most money with $42,163 in the bank. She is currently on the school board.
But her challenger, Republican Tony Salazar, brought in more contributions in the latest round, reporting $4,770.
“I was pretty happy over the last few weeks to raise that money,” Salazar said, adding that he boosted his cash on hand by 25 percent to more than $20,000. “That?s more than enough.”
Republican candidate in District 5 Greg Fox raised the most money of council candidates this round with $13,335 in contributions, bringing his cash on hand to $21,214.
His Republican challenger Wayne Livesay trailed with $10,000 in the bank, but he is still planning more fundraising.
The latest round of finance reports tally contributions and cash on hand between Aug. 9 and Aug. 27.
AT A GLANCE
» County Executive
Ken Ulman (D)
Contributions: $21,953
Cash on hand: $335,734
Christopher Merdon (R)
Contributions: $4,138
Cash on hand: $278,692
Harry Dubar (D)
Contributions: $200
Cash on hand: $364
Stephen Wallis (I)
Contributions: $1,795
Cash on hand: $3,152
» County Council District 1
Tony Salazar (R)
Contributions: $4,770
Cash on hand: $20,120
Courtney Watson (D)
Contributions: $1,450
Cash on hand: $42,163
» County Council District 2
Calvin Ball (D) *
Contributions: $2,130
Cash on hand: $11,186
Gina Ellrich (R)
Contributions: $1,075
Cash on hand: $5,254
Adam Sachs (D)
Contributions: $175
Cash on hand: $814
David Hlass (R)
Information not available
» County Council District 3
Donna Thewes (R)
Contributions: $0
Cash on hand: $6,110
Jennifer Terrasa
Contributions: $610
Cash on hand: $7,279
» County Council District 4
Joshua Feldmark (D)
Contributions: $4,999
Cash on hand: $8,800
Mary Kay Sigaty (D)
Contributions: $1,400
Cash on hand: $1,293
Tom D?Asto (R)
Contributions: $1,000
Cash on hand: $3,572
Jeffrey Underwood (D)
Does not intend to raise more than $1,000
» County Council District 5:
Greg Fox (R)
Contributions: $13,335
Cash on hand: $21,214
Wayne Livesay (R)
Contributions: $6,257
Cash on hand: $10,000
Don Dunn (D)
Information not available
* Incumbent
Source: State Board of Elections