Out of towners, unions help fund Lynn mayoral campaigns into final week

LYNN – Mayor Edward J. Clancy Jr. and mayoral candidate Judith Flanagan Kennedy each raised under $30,000 in campaign money since Sept. 1 but Clancy drew on a deep campaign war chest to outspend his rival by a six to one margin since that date.Campaign finance reports filed in City Hall Monday listed $92,300 spent by Clancy between Aug. 29 and Oct. 16 and $15,300 spent by Kennedy between Sept. 1 and Oct. 22.The mayor added $29,000 in campaign receipts to a war chest of $146,400 during September and October while Kennedy added $22,000 to an initial campaign budget of $3,700.Her report lists contributions of $100 or more from individuals and unions, including some who have had disagreements with Clancy or the city.Custodian and former firefighter Jacob Bradley gave Kennedy $100. Bradley sued the city claiming a civil service test was discriminatory.English High School Principal Andrew Fila gave her campaign $200. Claire Cavanagh, a city associate public work commissioner and former aide to the late Mayor Patrick J. McManus, gave Kennedy $100.Claire Butcher, a local resident battling the city in court over her public feeding of birds, gave Kennedy $100. McManus’ widow, Debra, also contributed $100.Sand Bar owner Christopher Brown gave her campaign $100.Kennedy won the endorsement of International Association of Firefighters Local 739 and her campaign finance report lists a $500 contribution from the local as well as a $500 contribution from the Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts.A half dozen firefighters contributed to Kennedy’s campaign and police and school unions gave her a total of $900.Six construction unions gave the mayor’s campaign a total of $1,000Kennedy’s campaign expenses include reimbursements for office supplies, coffee and signs purchased by campaign worker and Lynn resident Philip Brooks.Clancy’s campaign expenditures include $13,400 in advertising purchased in The Daily Item and $26,000 in consulting services expenses divided between Lynnfield-based Dapa Research and Newgrange Group, based in Boston.Clancy, like Kennedy, received his share of out of town contributions with New Hampshire resident and removal specialist Shawn Clarke giving the mayor $400 and Tyngsboro hospital vice president Kevin Coughlin contributing $200.Clancy received $500 campaign contributions since late August from Brookline attorney Lewis Eisenberg; Wilmington construction executive Steve Falvey and Chelmsford consultant Gary Sullivan.Out of town contributions to Kennedy included $200 from Somerville resident and real estate agent Ronald Costa; $250 from Duffy Insurance owner and Peabody resident Paul Duffy and Bethann Hooks of Southington, Conn. who gave Kennedy $500.Click here for complete Lynnelection coverage, candidate profiles and more. You may also comment on theelection and read what others have to say.