Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Angela Alsobrooks has stated she’s serious about her run for county executive. And judging by campaign finance reports filed last month, she wasn’t joking.
In the past year, Alsobrooks raised $777,000 and has about $983,000 cash on hand. She had $508,000 in the bank before she began to raise money Jan. 12, 2017.
“I often say, don’t judge me by my words but by the work I have done,” she said in a statement Jan. 17. “The same holds true here: don’t judge our support by a dollar amount, but by the work we did casting a wide net to earn the support of a broad base of county residents.”
The campaign noted it received more than 2,200 contributions from at least 1,600 people, with 65 percent from Prince George’s County residents and businesses.
The amounts from individuals and corporations range from $10 to $6,000. Those who contributed to the Alsobrooks campaign include:
• $6,000 – Pamela Bundy of Bundy Development Corp. of Northwest
• $4,400 – Enid Cruise, a chiropractor who runs Absolute Chiropractic Care in Oxon Hill
• $3,000 – Sheila Curry of Upper Marlboro, widow of the late Prince George’s County Executive Wayne K. Curry
• $1,740 – Plumbers & Gasfitters Union Local 5 of Camp Springs
Alsobrooks has more than 12 times the amount of money as her closest opponent, state Sen. C. Anthony Muse (D-District 26) of Accokeek. According to his campaign report, he raised about $123,000 with $86,000 cash on hand.
The list of contributions on the Muse campaign report includes $2,500 from Holmes Mechanical Contractors of Capitol Heights, $1,000 from Hiligh Trucking Hauling of Hyattsville and $300 from Prince George’s County National Coalition of 100 Black Women of Riverdale.
Former Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Maryland) raised almost $159,000 with $81,667 cash on hand. However, Edwards didn’t begin raising money until October with contributions from individuals and organizations such as $6,000 from Patricia Bauman, who runs her own foundation in Northwest; $6,000 from LiUNA! (Laborers’ International Union of North America); and more than three dozen donations of $5.
“I’m running a campaign focused on the urgent needs of the people in Prince George’s County,” Edwards said in a statement. “It’s time for the next era of opportunity in Prince George’s County. One that is transparent, innovative and focused on expanding economic opportunities and fairness for all residents.”
Campaign reports show Calvin Cafritz, who owns a real estate company and is president and CEO of the Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation of Northwest, contributed at least $1,000 each last month to both Alsobrooks and Edwards. However, Cafritz has committed up to $6,000 for Alsobrooks.
Although Cafrtiz donated money to two Democrats, he paid a $2,500 check to Republican Gov. Larry Hogan’s campaign, according to the governor’s campaign report.
The other two Democratic candidates in the county executive primary race posted lower amounts. Paul Montiero, a former official with President Barack Obama’s administration, raised $60,000 with about $16,000 cash on hand, while Lewis S. Johnson filed a form that shows he raised less $1,000 for the reporting period.
Those interested in running for political office in Maryland have until Feb. 27 to file a certificate of candidacy. The next campaign finance reporting deadline is May 22.