Fenty's Mayoral Bid Packing the Most Cash

Howard University President H. Patrick Swygert, who hopes to gain support for a new hospital on the grounds of the former D.C. General Hospital, spread his money around even more widely, giving $500 apiece to Cropp, Fenty, Orange and Johns.

In other races, council member Kathy Patterson (D-Ward 3) is the only major candidate to formally announce her candidacy to replace Cropp as chairman. Patterson has raised $106,742, reports show, and has more than $66,000 in the bank.

Some of Patterson's money was collected at a Jan. 23 fundraiser hosted by the mayor and former council member John Ray, a lobbyist for Major League Baseball. Her contributors with an interest in baseball gave at least $6,500.

In the race for the at-large seat now filled by Phil Mendelson (D), challenger A. Scott Bolden has raised $194,567, the most collected by any council candidate, and has $70,000 left. Mendelson has raised $56,375 and spent $65.

"We did well this period, to say the least," said Bolden, who lent his campaign $32,000. "We're running against a two-term incumbent and building an organization, name recognition and doing outreach. And that costs money."

With Ward 6 council member Sharon Ambrose (D) retiring and Patterson and Orange running citywide, open seats in her ward and wards 3 and 5 are drawing multiple candidates.

In Ward 3, former council candidate Sam Brooks has raised $28,150 and George Washington University Law School professor Mary Cheh has raised $21,775, including an $8,000 personal loan.

In Ward 5, Harry L. Thomas, the son of the former council member, has raised about $28,000. Frank Wilds, a community activist and businessman, raised $15,000.

And in Ward 6, school board member Tommy Wells leads in the money race with $44,000.

Staff writer Yolanda Woodlee contributed to this report.