In 5th District –

Esty, Roberti Hold Fundraising Leads

By Caitlin Emma

©The Connecticut Mirror

The latest federal campaign finance filings for the eight candidates vying for the Fifth District show Democrat Dan Roberti as the fundraising frontrunner, but he loses that distinction to rival Elizabeth Esty when it comes to how much money is immediately available.

Roberti raised the largest total amount, almost $557,000, over the first and second quarter, according to his filing with the Federal Elections Commission. Cheshire Democrat Elizabeth Esty comes in second with $424,000, but she has more money available than Roberti.

The reason is that donors can contribute $2,500 for each phase of a congressional campaign. In Connecticut, that can mean $7,500: one $2,500 donation for a nominating convention, another for a primary, and another for the general election.

Donors can give a maximum $7,500 now, but the campaigns must be careful not to spend more than $2,500 of those donations until May, after the nominating convention is held. Another $2,500 can be used up to the primary in August. If a candidate doesn’t win the primary, the last $2,500 can’t be spent.

While Roberti reported the biggest numbers, he can’t use almost 42 percent of the $557,000 until after a nominating convention next spring, because many of his individual donations exceeded $2,500. FEC limits leave him with about $322,000 for the first phase of the campaign.

Esty garnered her figure in a larger number of smaller amounts. She can’t use about 14 percent of her total funds, leaving her $364,000 available through the convention.

Roberti offers no experience in elected office, but he has extensive connections in national Democratic circles through his father, Vincent Roberti, a former state representative who became a Washington lobbyist, fundraiser, and movie producer.

Roberti also received contributions from a few political action committees in the second quarter, including Citigroup Inc PAC and Keystone America PAC based in Washington, D.C.

Esty’s total figure stems from about 700 contributions from individuals. She also received PAC money. Her largest PAC donation of $1,500 came from the Women’s Campaign Forum PAC in Washington, D.C.

Republican candidate Lisa Wilson-Foley made her first fundraising push in the second quarter and reported raising $202,507. She can’t use about $53,189, or roughly 26 percent, of the individual donations until after the convention. She also loaned herself $200,000, bringing her overall total to $402,511.

Wilson-Foley, the owner of a health care company, received $5,000 in PAC money from RehabCare Group Inc in St Louis, Mo. State Senator Kevin Witkos, R-Canton, also gave Wilson-Foley $500 through his PAC, Witkos for Better Government.

 (This story originally appeared at CTMirror.org, the website of The Connecticut Mirror, an independent, nonprofit news organization covering government, politics, and public policy in the state.)