Hammond, Nichols each raise more than $2,500 for Menasha mayoral campaign
Duke Behnke
MENASHA — Mayoral candidates Austin Hammond and Rebecca Nichols each raised more than $2,500 during the most recent reporting period of the election campaign, giving them an early financial advantage over candidates Kyle Coenen and Stan Sevenich.
Hammond reported $3,459 in contributions for the period ending Dec. 31, and Nichols reported $2,790 for the same period, according to campaign finance reports filed with the city clerk's office.
Coenen raised $665, and Sevenich raised $300.
Each of the candidates incurred expenses during the period, largely for campaign materials such as photos, logos, buttons, cards, yard signs, T-shirts and websites.
The top two finishers in the Feb. 20 nonpartisan primary election will advance to the April 2 election. The winner of the race will earn a four-year term as mayor and succeed incumbent Don Merkes, who didn't seek reelection after 16 years in office.
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Hammond's $3,459 in contributions came from 30 people or organizations, including three, plus himself, who contributed $200 or more.
- Melissa Hammond, Fremont, $500
- Sharon Baeten, Fremont, $380
- Austin Hammond, Menasha, $377
- Sarah Bauer, Menasha, $260
The contribution limit for an individual or candidate committee is $500.
Hammond also reported a $167 contribution from the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.
Nichols' $2,790 in contributions came from 20 people or organizations, including seven who contributed $200 or more.
- Katherine Bauer, Menasha, $500
- Neenah-Menasha Professional Firefighters Inc. (Jamie Leonard), Neenah, $300
- Neenah-Menasha Professional Firefighters Inc. (Anthony Leiton), Neenah, $275
- John Pack, Menasha, $250
- Candyce Rusin, Menasha, $250
- Eric Roush, Menasha, $200
- Joanne Roush, Menasha, $200
Coenen's contributions consisted of $615 from himself and $50 from Merkes.
Sevenich's contribution consisted of $200 from Sue Knoll of Menasha and $100 from himself.
The next campaign finance reports will cover the period from Jan. 1 to Feb. 5. Those reports are due Feb. 12.
For information about registering to vote and polling locations, visit the MyVote Wisconsin website at myvote.wi.gov/en-us.
Contact Duke Behnke at 920-993-7176 or dbehnke@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DukeBehnke.