Newcomer raised more money than incumbent commissioner ahead of March primary
Leigh Altman, a Democratic challenger in the at-large county commissioners’ race who has never been elected to public office, ended 2019 with almost five times as much cash on hand as her closest competitor, according to campaign finance reports.
Altman, a public-interest attorney, reported her campaign had about $35,100 as of Dec. 31.
By comparison, Mecklenburg County Commissioner Pat Cotham, a three-term incumbent, reported just under $7,300 in cash on hand. Ray McKinnon, a pastor who previously lost his bid for an at-large seat in May 2018, trailed Altman and Cotham with about $3,300 in campaign funds.
“It was a day-to-day grind,” said Dan McCorkle, a local Democratic strategist and Altman’s campaign manager. “It’s not glamorous — it’s kind of drudgery. But to get the kind of money you need to run a campaign, you have to do it.”
Altman previously ran to represent the District 4 seat on the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners in May 2018, capturing 37% of the vote. She lost to Mark Jerrell, who won the seat with almost 41% of the vote.
The Black Political Caucus of Charlotte-Mecklenburg recently endorsed Altman, incumbent Ella Scarborough and McKinnon for the three at-large county commissioner seats.
The group also endorsed George Dunlap, the chairman of the county commissioners who represents District 3. Dunlap had almost $17,650 in cash on hand at the end of 2019. Cade Lee, his Democratic challenger and an undergraduate at UNC Charlotte, posted just $1,350, campaign disclosure reports show.
Low fundraising for others
Ahead of the March 3 primary, three candidates in the at-large county commissioners’ race reported less than $1,000 in funds — such as Lloyd Scher, a former commissioner from 1992 to 2000, who didn’t have any money leftover after securing $299 from individual contributions.
Updated campaign finance reports were not immediately available for two other at-large candidates, including incumbent Scarborough.
In total, Altman has raised $56,000 for this election, and she’s spent about $21,000 on advertising, marketing, consultants and campaign meetings, among other expenses, according to disclosure reports.
Eric Heberlig, a professor of political science and public administration at UNC Charlotte, said it is unusual for non-incumbents to raise more money than incumbents.
“Incumbents typically have a much greater advantage because they have existing donors lists — they have the power that comes from their office,” Heberlig said. “It suggests Ms. Altman does have connections through her work, (and) through other community activities, to an extensive donor list.”
Name recognition for incumbents
Cotham said that ever since winning her first election, she hasn’t been focused on fundraising targets. So far this cycle, Cotham raised $450, tacking onto her initial campaign funds of $7,300, according to her disclosure report.
But Cotham said she does intend to raise “some money” in the coming weeks.
“I spend my time heavily in the community — people know me,” Cotham said in an interview Thursday. “My campaigning really starts the day after an election. I just really stay in campaign mode, and that has worked well for me.”
Heberlig said that Cotham and Scarborough, both long-time fixtures in Mecklenburg County politics, can probably depend on name recognition when voters head to the polls next month. Still, Heberlig said, they shouldn’t grow too complacent.
“The danger for incumbents would be if they get caught napping — if they assume that based on their name recognition, they don’t have to campaign actively until we get closer to the elections,” Heberlig said. “Somebody who is out there actively soliciting for votes could pull a surprise.”
McCorkle, the campaign manager for Altman, said her nest egg will only continue to grow — assuming she has a successful primary.
“It’s always good to have a war chest,” he said. “It all boils down to the sheer determination to get the resources (candidates) need to compete in the primary.”