By Yolanda Woodlee and Elissa Silverman
Washington Post Staff Writers
Saturday, March 11, 2006

D.C. Council Chairman Linda W. Cropp raised nearly $500,000 in 38 days, more than double her closest opponent, council member Adrian M. Fenty, in the five-person race for the city's Democratic mayoral primary in September, according to campaign finance reports filed yesterday.

Cropp, the last candidate to enter the race, has raised a total of $1.3 million since she kicked off her campaign the week of Labor Day -- $497,000 of that since this reporting period began Feb. 1. Her report to the D.C. Office of Campaign Finance shows she has $804,000 to spend as the campaign inches into spring, when the candidates will have to start collecting signatures on petitions to secure their places on the primary ballot.

"I'm so pleased that this finance report reflects what's happening with our campaign in this city," Cropp said yesterday. "My campaign to lead this city to the next level of change is generating excitement all over this city."

Fenty raised $222,579 this reporting period, for a total of $1.1 million since he launched his campaign in June. Fenty had anticipated that he would not have to raise more than $1.5 million for his entire campaign but now says that probably is the minimum needed. "It's going to continue to be an expensive campaign," he said.

Fenty had on hand $28,000 less than Cropp at the close of the reporting period yesterday.

In the past month, the campaigns have moved into full throttle, with the candidates appearing in two televised debates and knocking on doors in inclement weather, even though the vote is still six months away.

Two other candidates, council member Vincent B. Orange Sr. (D-Ward 5) and Marie C. Johns, the former president of Verizon Washington, are battling for third place in the fundraising war. Although Johns raised $87,290 since Feb. 1, compared with Orange's $55,000, he has surpassed her in total contributions. Orange's total is $333,000 compared with Johns's $317,000. Johns has $180,000, more than double Orange's $74,000, left in her coffers.

Trailing far behind his four opponents is lobbyist Michael Brown, who raised $30,755 for a total of $137,733. Brown has less than $12,000 to spend.

Orange said that he's "still in the race" and has enough money to keep his campaign, which costs about $25,000 a month, "up and running."

Johns said her campaign to raise "10K in 10 days" was successful.

"Team Marie has been out, and the message is resonating across the community," she said. "I'm very excited."

Brown was pleased that his campaign nearly reached its goal to raise $1,000 a day since the last reporting period. "We don't have to have more money than everybody else," Brown said, "like [mayors] Sharon Pratt and Tony Williams, who didn't raise as much as everyone else."

In the chairman's race, council member Kathy Patterson (D-Ward 3) collected $26,298 this reporting period. She has $59,313 on hand and has raised a total of $133,041.

The other declared candidate for the seat, council member Vincent C. Gray (D-Ward 7), did not file a report. Although Gray publicly announced his run last month, officials with the Office of Campaign Finance said Gray has not submitted an official statement of candidacy that would require him to file a report.

At-large incumbent Phil Mendelson (D) raised $12,375 this period. He has $67,129 on hand and has collected $68,750 so far for the race. A. Scott Bolden, a lawyer challenging Mendelson, has been an aggressive fundraiser for the seat. According to Bolden's filing, he raised $40,816 this period. Bolden has $83,128 on hand and has raised a total of $235,384.

The race for Patterson's Ward 3 seat will be hotly contested, if campaign finance filings are any indication. By March 10, Sam Brooks had collected a total of $33,500; Mary Cheh, $26,255; Robert Gordon, $16,250; Erik Gaull, $10,449; and Cathy Wiss, $4,533.

In the Ward 5 race, Frank Wilds has raised a total of $25,657; Bruce Marshall, $11,460; and Regina James, $1,490.