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Westport First Selectwoman Diane Farrell, a Democrat campaigning for Congress against U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays, raised more money than the incumbent did in the last quarter, according to documents filed yesterday with the Federal Election Commission
Westport First Selectwoman Diane Farrell, a Democrat campaigning for Congress against U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays, raised more money than the incumbent did in the last quarter, according to documents filed yesterday with the Federal Election Commission
Farrell beats Shays in fund raising
By Ryan Jockers
Staff Writer
April 16, 2004
NORWALK -- Westport First Selectwoman Diane Farrell, a Democrat campaigning for Congress against U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays, raised more money than the incumbent did in the last quarter, according to documents filed yesterday with the Federal Election Commission.
Farrell's campaign raised $370,000 between Jan. 1 and March 31, while Shays' campaign raised $249,000 in the same time period, the FEC documents show.
Yesterday was the deadline for congressional campaigns to file the April quarterly report. The next filing deadline is July 15.
Shays, R-Bridgeport, has raised $592,000 overall for his re-election campaign, which he officially will announce May 10. Both candidates have a similar amount of cash on hand. Shays has $365,000. Farrell has $330,000.
Farrell, a two-term first selectwoman, said she did not expect the fund-raising success her campaign has achieved. The campaign manager of Farrell for Congress, Adam Wood, said no Democrat seeking the Fourth Congressional District has raised as much so early in the race.
"It's wonderfully heartening," Farrell said. "It's validated our intuition that people are ready for change in the district and eager to talk about the issues both at the local level and the national scene."
Michael Sohn, campaign manager for the Christopher Shays for Congress Committee, said the campaign is confident it will raise and spend the amount needed to "get its message out."
"Chris has always raised no more and no less than he needs to run a campaign, and we will do that again," Sohn said.
He added that Shays' focus has been "doing his job representing the people" of the district, which includes 17 southwestern Connecticut towns. That is where he's been spending a majority of his time and energy . . . just like he has since 1987," Sohn said.
Farrell's campaign drew a $2,000 donation from Westport actor Paul Newman and won praise from the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Robert Matsui of California.
"The Fourth District is another example of our success in expanding the House playing field, and this will certainly be a race to watch," Matsui said in a statement.
Copyright © 2004, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc.