Romero ahead in City Council fundraising

The latest campaign finance reports, which cover a period ending Oct. 22, show Romero raised about $96,000, including $40,000 in a public funding match, and spent about $81,000. Republican challenger Bill Hunt raised about $13,600. Romero had about $15,000 on hand while Hunt had less than $1,000 left to spend.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov.  3.

Republican candidates Margaret Burkholder, running in Ward 4, and Kelly Lawton, running in Ward 2, raised $14,200 and $16,000, respectively.

Campaign finance reports were not available by Friday night for Democrats Shirley Scott, Paul Cunningham and Jonathan Rothschild.

Independent expenditure committees also have been spending in the races:

• Revitalize Tucson, headed by Republican activist

• Christine Bauserman

• , spent $51,650
  on billboards, robocalls and street signs targeting the Democrats and supporting the Republicans.
• Campaign for Truth and Leadership, headed by Phoenix Democratic campaign strategist

• Bill Scheel

• , paid $19,430 for mailers supporting Romero.
• Jobs for Tucson II, headed by Tucson restaurateur

• Peter Wilke

• , paid $2,000 for radio ads. The money came from Tucson developer

• Tom Warne

• , who also gave $500 directly to each Democrat’s campaign.