Spending in Columbia mayoral race approaches $100,000

Candidates for mayor of Columbia have spent nearly $100,000 on the race, according to newly filed ethics reports.

Mayoral incumbent Brian Treece and challenger Chris Kelly have spent $98,367 for the election period that started earlier this year. The report, required to be filed eight days before the April 2 election, shows that Treece has so far spent $79,344 compared to Kelly’s $19,022.

Treece raised $57,937 since the last MEC report Feb. 21. In that same time, Kelly raised $33,619.

The spending in this race still trials behind the 2016 election, when Treece beat Skip Walther for mayor. The two had spent $119,398 at this point in the 2016 cycle.

Treece collected $20,000 from five different companies housed on Phillips Farm Road in south Columbia.

Treece’s two largest donations came from Operating Engineers Local 101 out of Kansas City and Robert Campbell of advertising agency Division D. Both donated $5,000 to Treece’s campaign.

Kelly’s largest single contributor was former Columbia Mayor and MBS Textbooks owner Bob Pugh, who gave Kelly $2,000.