Roberts raises $300,000 for mayoral race

Charlotte Democrat Jennifer Roberts Tuesday reported raising more than $300,000 for her mayoral bid, a near-record amount for this point in a campaign for an open seat.

Roberts was the first mayoral candidate to file a fundraising report. They’re due at the end of the month.

“We are off to a great start but I know we have more work to do and I will continue to work hard every day to get our message out that we stand for good jobs, strong schools and economic opportunity for all people,” she said in a statement.

Roberts appears to have raised more than any non-incumbent Democrat up to this point. When he ran for a first term in 2009, Democrat Anthony Foxx had raised $250,000. His opponent, Republican John Lassiter, had raised $311,000.

Foxx raised much more in 2011 when he would go on to win a second term.

Among Roberts’ notable donors:

▪ Former textile executive Crandall Bowles: $1,500.

▪ Attorney John Fennebresque, chairman of the University of North Carolina Board of Governors: $2,500.

▪ Philanthropist Sarah Belk Gambrell: $2,250.

▪ Developer Clay Grubb: $2,275.

This story was originally published July 21, 2015 at 6:49 PM with the headline "Roberts raises $300,000 for mayoral race."