The latest campaign finance reports, submitted yesterday to the State Elections Board, show Mayor Brandon Scott collecting a surge of contributions before the May 14 primary, then raking in some more after he defeated Sheila Dixon.

“People for Brandon M. Scott” reported receiving $107,732 between April 27 and August 20, with contributions coming from developers, consultants, labor unions and business owners.

These funds supplemented the $449,000 that Scott had on hand in late April, with major donations coming from MCB’s P. David Bramble, developer of Harborplace; 28 Walker Development’s Mark Sapperstein, and companies like Whiting-Turner and the Baltimore Recycling Center.

• What happened at last night’s Scott fundraiser that was closed to the media (10/19/23)

Among those who opened their checkbooks shortly before the primary:

• Developer Kevin Johnson, whose Commercial Group and related entities receive numerous contracts in the city, kicked in $3,000. Johnson’s company was in the news recently because of its failure to make promised renovations to the historic Hendler Creamery Building in Jonestown, leading to its sale to a nonprofit mission and approval for demolition.

• Royal Farms CEO John Kemp, whose corporate parent, Two Farms Inc., has for years been pushing against widespread community opposition to build one of its gas station convenience stores in the Hamilton neighborhood, contributed $1,000.

• Union official Stephen Jones, president at Career Fire Fighters of Frederick County IAFF Local 3666, gave Scott a $6,000 maximum donation. Endorsed and given prior contributions by IAFF unions representing city firefighters, Scott is pushing forward a plan to reinstate key pension benefits for Baltimore firefighters and police.

Other 11th-hour supporters include:

• Mid-Atlantic Laborers’ Political Education Fund ($6,000).

• Pamela Himmelrich, wife of developer Samuel K. Himmelrich Jr. ($5,000).

• Nkechinyere Springs, Atlas Home Health Consulting ($4,000).

• Maryland Hotel and Lodging Association ($3,000).

• Todd Harvey of Beatty Harvey Coco Architects, planners for the Harbor Point development ($3,000).

• Cecil Flamer of Brown Capital Management ($3,000).

• Nancy Hackerman, general manager of Hackerman Holdings ($1,000).

• Natasha Guynes, HER Resiliency Center founder ($1,000).

Post-primary Backers

Many of Scott’s larger contributions rolled in after he had defeated former Mayor Dixon and other opponents in the Democratic primary.

That victory, in deep-blue Baltimore, means Scott will undoubtedly win in the general election on November 5 and settle in for another four years in office.

Among those showing support for Scott after he clinched his second term:

• Nancy L. Hoof, founding principal of Somerset Development Company ($5,000).

• Richard Manekin of Workshop Development ($1,000). The company has teamed with MCB Real Estate on a controversial project to build a multi-story apartment exceeding height limits in Charles Village.

• Chukuemeka Okoro of Okoro Development, which is looking to build a seven-story building in downtown’s Five & Dime District ($2,500).

• Eugene Poverni, CEO of the Poverni Sheikh Group, contributed before the primary ($1,000) and again afterwards ($1,000).  The company has been given rights to develop multiple city-owned Westside properties.

Also contributing:

• Willie Goode, CEO of WB Waste and other solid waste companies that have contracts with Baltimore City ($1,000).

• Robert Manekin, managing partner of JLL ($1,000).

• Easton Leasing Company of Greenbelt, MD. ($3,500).

• Clay Kenan Kirk of New York City ($3,000)

• Rev. Dr. Alvin Hathaway Sr., CEO of Beloved Community Services Corp. ($1,000).

• Neal Fruman, National Lumber Company ($1,000).

• John A. Pica, Annapolis lobbyist and former state senator ($1,000).

Overall, the Scott campaign reported spending over $530,000 in the final weeks of the Democratic primary, and now says it has $25,000 left for the November general election.

Dixon’s Money Backers

Former Mayor Dixon picked up nearly $149,000 in campaign contributions in the final days of her quest – for the third time – to return to the second floor of City Hall.

These funds do not include the $700,000 independently raised by the Better Baltimore PAC, a political action committee established by David D. Smith, chairman of Sinclair Broadcasting and principal owner of the Baltimore Sun, to support Dixon’s candidacy with extensive TV advertising during the primary season.

The $700,000 contributed to a pro-Dixon Super PAC by David Smith, John Luetkemeyer and Alex Smith now has a zero bank balance.

In addition to the $250,000 contributed by Smith, developer John Luetkemeyer Jr. gave $350,000 to the Better Baltimore PAC, and Atlas Restaurant Group founder Alex Smith chipped in $100,000. The committee now reports a $0.00 bank balance.

• Why buy the Sun? One reason is to help Sheila Dixon win the May primary, insiders say (1/17/24)

Days before the primary, Dixon got a $6,000 infusion from Mary J. Miller, a retired T. Rowe Price executive and former undersecretary of the U.S. Treasury, who ran for mayor in 2020.

In addition, the Paterakis family and H&S Bakery awarded Dixon $6,000 on top of more than $20,000 previously given.

Other top Dixon contributors included $6,000 from Park Circle Motor Company, $5,000 from Broadway Discount Liquors, $5,000 from Realtors PAC Maryland, and $5,000 from William “Billy” Madonna Jr., whose fundraising company pleaded guilt in 2010 to defrauding local Fraternal Order of Police lodges.

Dixon spent most of the money on the primary, where she ran a distant second to Scott.

Just $4,984 remains in her bank account as of August 20, according to her campaign finance report.