Scrima slightly outspends Nelson in Waukesha mayoral race

March 29, 2010

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By Laurel Walker of the Journal Sentinel

March 29, 2010 0

Waukesha - Jeff Scrima, the candidate challenging Waukesha Mayor Larry Nelson for the next four-year term, has slightly outspent Nelson so far in the race while Nelson has outdistanced Scrima in individual contributors.

According to campaign finance reports filed Monday, through March 23:

Scrima has lent his campaign $9,000 so far and raised nearly $13,400 from individuals. He's spent just over $15,000 so far, much of it on fliers, signs, Waukesha Freeman newspaper ads and Facebook advertising.

Nelson has raised nearly $20,400 from contributors and has not lent his campaign any money. He's spent nearly $11,300 so far, most of it on yard signs, printing of brochures and supplies and mailing.

Both candidates have held fund raisers.

With two weeks to go before the April 6 election, Nelson had a cash balance of $9,757 while Scrima had a balance of $7,400.

Among Scrima's largest contributors, other than himself, since Feb. 1 were financial consultant Gary Lato ($500), retiree Phil Lee ($500), Sunset Bank president Bob Eastman ($500), retiree Joan Marzocco ($648), specialist with Soft Water Inc. Jim Olson ($648), Wisconsin Lutheran College staff member Leanne Olson ($620), Soft Water Inc. manager Steve Mackie and Dionne Mackie, ($648 each).

Among Nelson's largest contributors were Waukesha Iron & Metal vice president Larry Erlich ($500); developer William Huelsman and his wife, former state Sen. Joanne Huelsman ($500 each); La Estacion restaurant owner Marco Marquez ($500); I.B.E.W. Local 494 ($450); Wisconsin Laborers' District Council ($400); and AFSCME ($450).

About Laurel Walker

Laurel Walker covered local, school and county government for 20 years -- the last half of that at the Milwaukee Journal and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel -- before she was named Waukesha County columnist in 1997. Today she writes about the people, places and events around metropolitan Milwaukee with a broad suburban focus. She was the youngest of nine children raised on a central Wisconsin farm before leaving the nest for journalism studies at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and a masters degree at the University of Oregon. She has spent the last half of her life in Waukesha County, where she and her husband raised two sons. Though she has a fondness for life in Waukesha, she eagerly partakes in the culture of the big city to the east and the recreation of the forests to the west. With sons in the arts, she has a special fondness for symphonic music concerts and art museums. She finds peace in a good book at a Northwoods getaway weekend, adventure in family visits to the east and west coasts, and satisfaction in a column well-written that reaches readers.