NEWARK – Newark mayoral candidate Ras Baraka and his council slate raised more than $500,000 during the last campaign fundraising period, according to official reports.
A copy of the fundraising report submitted by the Baraka campaign to the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) for the 29-day pre-election period ending on April 11 indicates that Team Baraka 2014 raised more than $423,100, and more than $471,300 to date. The Committee to Elect Ras Baraka For Mayor raised more than $118,500 during the same period, and more than $341,400 to date.
Combined, Baraka and his slate mates raised more than $541,600 in the most recent 29-day fundraising period in their effort to defeat Baraka’s rival, former state Assistant Attorney General Shavar Jeffries, and Jeffries’ council slate in the May 13 municipal election, and more than $812,700 to date.
Subtracting campaign expenditures from campaign receipts indicates that Team Baraka 2014 has more than $249,700 cash-on-hand, and the Committee to Elect Ras Baraka For Mayor has more than $167,600 cash-on-hand. Combined, Baraka and his council team have more than $417,300 cash-on-hand.
According to the most recent ELEC report, which will be released Monday morning, almost 13 percent of the Team Baraka donations this period came from contributions less than $300, with almost 26 percent of the the total raised cumulative contributions coming in at less than $300.
The ELEC report also indicates that more than 49 percent of the Committee to Elect Ras Baraka For Mayor donations this period came from contributions less than $300, with almost 85 percent of the the total raised cumulative contributions coming in at less than $300.
The deadline for submitting the report was April 14, according to an ELEC official.