PEABODY — As the matchup between state Rep. Ted Speliotis (D-Danvers) and Republican challenger Mark Mezzina enters the final weekend, fundraising favors the incumbent by nearly four to one.
During the crucial cash appeal period from August to October, Speliotis raised nearly $19,000, while his 25-year-old opponent received $5,005 from donors, according to reports filed with the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance.
Tuesday’s election pits the longtime incumbent, who was 18 when he was elected to Danvers Town Meeting, against Mezzina. The appliance salesman at JC Penney and Town Meeting member is in his first bid for a seat in the State House.
Today at 65, Speliotis is the second-longest serving lawmaker on Beacon Hill, having been elected to the state House of Representatives in 1997. The 13th Essex District includes West Peabody, Danvers, and portions of Middleton.
Among his biggest contributors are unions and the beverage industry. He collected $500 each from the American Federation of Teachers, Boston School Police, New England Police Benevolent Association Local 150, and the Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts.
There were a total of $6,600 in donations from executives of alcohol distributors who are regulated by the state, including M.S.Walker, Beer Distributors Political Action Committee, Burke Distributing, Commercial Distributing Corp., Horizon Beverages, Ruby Wine, Williams Distributing Inc., Colonial Wholesale Beverage, Quality Beverages, Atlas Distributing, Merrimack Valley Distributors, Quality Beverages, and Martignetti Cos.
Of the 40 contributors to Mezzina’s campaign, more than two dozen were less than $100. The few exceptions were $1,000 donations each from a Winchester homemaker and an executive of Osterman Propane in Whitinsville.
Speliotis spent $14,000 from August to early October, including nearly $8,000 at Connolly Printing and for postage.
Speliotis said while he thinks his campaign will win, he’s not taking anything for granted.
“I feel good but I’m obviously nervous because there’s been lots of negative ads about me out there,” he said. “But the response on the street has been fantastic.”
Young Americans for Liberty, a national libertarian group, spent $13,687 for grassroots campaign field services and $2,945 from its related campaign operation, Win at the Door, for Mezzina. Those numbers are not reflected in cash contributions by the state because they are independent expenditures.
Mezzina spent $11,000 during the same three-month period, $10,000 of it for campaign assistance from the Massachusetts Republican Party.
Mezzina said he is not surprised that he is trailing in cash fundraising.
“Ted’s been around a long time and it’s easier for the incumbents to raise money,” he said. “But I’m getting a very good reception as I campaign door-to-door and the race will be very close.”
