Columbia mayor’s race brings in big money

Races for Columbia mayor have become expensive ventures, and 2019 is no exception.

In the latest round of campagin finance reports due Monday, challenger Chris Kelly reported a surge of fundraising, pushing his total for the election over the $50,000 mark, which Mayor Brian Treece had reached in the report due 40 days before the election.

Treece reported raising more than $110,000 for the election on his 8-day before election report, with a surge of more than $58,000 raised since his previous report.

Well-known Columbians have thrown hundreds of thousands of dollars into each race, while Treece had also drawn support from political action committees tied to unions, reflecting his long relationship with several unions as a lobbyist.

Treece raised more than $80,000 in his 2016 election bid. His opponent in that race, attorney Skip Walther, reported raising about $72,000.

Click on the links below to browse the candidates’ finance reports.

Treece 40-day before election report Treece 8-day before election report Kelly 40-day before election report Kelly 8-day before election report Sign up for email news alerts by clicking here