Spending race tight in state rep contest

LYNN – Democrats Brendan Crighton and Charlie Gallo are running a tight race in their campaigns? bids to raise and spend money before voters go to the polls next Tuesday to choose a West Lynn-Nahant state legislator.Crighton raised $40,602 and Gallo raised $38,730 between January and Aug. 22, according to reports filed with the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance. The reports are available online.By contrast, campaign spending reports filed with the Federal Election Commission list U.S. Rep. John Tierney?s campaign spending $647,000 with $1.3 million in “cash on hand” through Aug. 20. Democrat Seth Moulton?s campaign listed $1.2 million in expenditures through Aug. 20 with $481,000 in cash on hand.Tierney and Moulton face off in next Tuesday?s Democratic primary election along with Marisa DeFranco, who spent $62,474 through Aug. 20, according to her federal filing, and Democrats John Devine and John Gutta.Devine, of Woburn, reported $40 in campaign receipts on his federal report, and the commission website on Tuesday listed “no committee records found” for Gutta, a Groveland resident.Gallo and Crighton?s reports point out sharp differences in how Gallo, a School Committee member, and Crighton, a city councilor at large, raised money to fuel their bids for a seat in the Legislature.Both men spent thousands of dollars with Woburn-based Connolly Printing, and Crighton also spent $3,500 to have Saugus-based Park Press print for his campaign. Gallo?s expenses include spending $750 to gain access to “votebuilder,” software candidates use to track different ways they reach out to voters while campaigning.Spending by both Democrats dwarfed the $911 Democrat Aikaterini Panagiotakis Koudanis reported in contributions on her campaign finance filing. Koudanis, a former council candidate, listed former legislative candidate Gardy Jean-Francois and 2013 council candidate Arianna Murrill-Rosario among her contributors. Her report lists $518 in expenditures through Aug. 22.Gallo?s campaign donation list includes four personal loans Gallo made to his campaign totaling $21,500.?I saved up to do that so we could spend more time knocking on doors,” Gallo said.He said his contributions reflect West Lynn and Nahant support, but Crighton said his campaign contributors include a wide range of 11th Essex District supporters.?We?ve reached out to as many people as we can. We?re thankful – certainly to our friends in labor for their support,” Crighton said.Crighton?s campaign finance report lists 14 contributors who donated $500 compared to five who gave $500 to Gallo?s campaign.Crighton?s report lists Lynn resident Michael Cassetta as a “fuel innovator.” Other $500 contributors to Crighton?s campaign include Arlington security services manager Michael Desousa and $500 each from political action committees representing Massachusetts laborers? and police officers.Gallo?s $500 contributors included retiree Mona Constantino, local attorney Anne Gugino Carrigan and $500 contributions from three labor unions.