Eyebrows went up in Virginia's 45th District -- which includes Alexandria and parts of Arlington and Fairfax counties -- when the first campaign finance reports in the hotly contested Democratic primary were released.
Off to a whopping start was market research consultant Laura Mandala -- a relative latecomer to the field of six vying to replace Del. Marian Van Landingham (D), who announced late last year that she was retiring for health reasons. According to reports filed with the state Board of Elections, Mandala, a resident of the Parkfairfax development in Alexandria, had raised $72,971 by April 15, more than twice her closest rival, David Englin .
Upon closer scrutiny, however, the outpouring of support is hardly what is seems. Mandala gave $1,082 to herself, and the bulk of her war chest came from one major contributor -- Edward G. Spoden , who gave a hefty $57,000.
So who is this mystery benefactor? Turns out he's Mandala's significant other of six years, whom Mandala describes as a "semi-retired independent contractor for an office equipment company" who believes in her quest and is fond of liberal causes.
If you subtract her boyfriend's generous donation, that leaves Mandala with $15,971, in fifth place in the fundraising race, just ahead of former delegate Richard Hobson , who has raised $10,500.
Second-place finisher Englin, a newcomer to local politics and an Air Force veteran, had raised $35,037. His campaign touted that a good portion of it -- more than 20 percent, or $7,821 -- was raised online, but more than half of his donations came from outside of Northern Virginia.
Rounding out the pack were Elsie Mosqueda , a legislative aide to Del. Brian J. Moran (D-Alexandria), with $30,050; former Alexandria deputy prosecutor Jim Lay , with $29,813; and Libby Garvey , chair of the Arlington School Board, with $29,788.
There is no Republican in the 45th District race yet, but Chris Marston , chair of the Alexandria Republican City Committee, said that a nominating committee could nominate someone as late as June 14 -- the day of the primaries.
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