Audio Rybak leads challengers in campaign fundraising (story audio) Listen to the Police Officers Federation's radio ad Photos R.T. Rybak Peter McLaughlin More from MPR Smoking ban heats up race for Minneapolis mayor (08/28/2005) Sparks fly at Minneapolis mayoral debate (08/25/2005) Rybak's budget proposal focuses on public safety (07/29/2005) Tools E-mail this page Print this page Sponsor

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak leads all his challengers in the mayoral race in terms of fundraising, with a week to go before the non-partisan primary election. (MPR Photo/Tom Scheck)

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak is the top fundraiser among the city's mayoral candidates. Rybak's campaign reports the mayor raised $245,000 between Jan. 1 and Aug. 30, 2005. Rybak's top challenger, Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin, raised $211,000 over the same period. Green Party Candidate Farheen Hakeem raised less than $10,000. The fundraising totals were released on the same day the city's police union started a campaign to unseat Rybak.

Minneapolis, Minn. — Campaign fundraising reports are a good gauge of a candidate's electability, but it's important to remember money is not the only factor. At this time four years ago, R.T. Rybak trailed three other candidates in fundraising totals. Despite that, Rybak won the primary and the general election.

This year, Rybak is ahead in the fundraising but he's already spent the bulk of the money he's raised. Rybak has $12,000 left of the of the $245,000 he's raised.

Rybak says it's a sign of his campaign's strength that he's the top fundraiser, even though he refuses money from anyone who does business with the city.

"My fundraising has allowed me to be an independent mayor to speak for citizens," Rybak said. "If Commissioner McLaughlin wants to take money from those who would turn around and ask him for a giant subsidy if he ever became mayor, I think that ties his hands."

Peter McLaughlin scoffs at Rybak's criticism. McLaughlin said no amount of money could change his position on the issues. McLaughlin also points out that Rybak broke a 2001 campaign pledge to hold no campaign fundraisers outside of election years.

McLaughlin has $33,000 left from the $211,000 he's raised. The funds include a $20,000 loan McLaughlin made to his campaign. McLaughlin says 60 percent of the money he's raised comes from individuals who have donated $50 or less to the campaign, far less than the $500 maximum. He says that's a sign many people aren't happy with the current mayor.

"The people of this city want a mayor who can lead. That's why there's so much support for me as a challenger. That's why we're seeing contributions from a broad spectrum of people in this city," McLaughlin said. "It's an indictment of the mayor's record and a cry for better leadership in this city. That's what this campaign report is about."

Green Party candidate Farheen Hakeem has a fraction of the financial support going to Rybak and McLaughlin. Hakeem says she's raised $7,600, and has $800 left in the bank. Hakeem says her campaign is focusing not on fundraising, but on grass roots activism, where a supporter will give $5 or $10.

"This is what was to be expected," Hakeem said. "We're going to be making a strong impact based on very few dollars, which is good, because it shows that we are powered by the people. We do have the support of the public, and support of a public that does not have a lot of money."

Hakeem says another reason she doesn't raise as much money as her opponents is her refusal to take money from political action committees.

With a week to go before the Sept. 13 primary, one special interest is loudly entering the mayor's race with radio ads criticizing Rybak. The Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis is running the ad as a part of its "Anyone but Rybak" campaign.

"Mayor R.T. Rybak says the only people who have to worry about crime in Minneapolis are engaging in "high risk lifestyles." Well, thank you Mr. Mayor. That clears up the go-for-broke grandmother who was buying gas when she was murdered. The wild and crazy 3-year-old who was shot while holding his mom's hand," the ad says in part.

Union head John Delmonico says Rybak cut police officers during his first three years in office, even though the police federation warned crime would increase. He says Rybak added police officers in his latest budget because it was a political necessity.

"I think by what he's done to the police department, he's literally cut the guts out of it," Delmonico said. "I don't think he's listened to anybody."

Delmonico also said crime in Minneapolis is approaching New Orleans proportions, and Rybak can't blame it on the weather.

Rybak's campaign manager called the comparison outrageous. Rybak says he's not surprised by the police union's tactic, even though the union endorsed him in 2001. Rybak says he was the only candidate who had to make tough budget decisions as mayor, and says his current budget adds 71 police officers to the force.

"The police union in this town for many years controlled the police department," Rybak said. "They know that I believe they should not be controlled by a union boss. If that has a consequence in this election, so be it."

Crime was an issue in the mayor's race even before the police union weighed in. With the shooting of a Qwest communications worker in the city Tuesday, the issue isn't likely to subside before the Sept. 13 primary.