Paschall Nets Big Haul for Hyattsville Campaign

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Who dontated to whom? Find out with the 2013 Hyattsville Campaign Finance Database.

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Patrick Paschall, running unopposed for Hyattsville's Ward 3 City Council seat, has raised nearly $4,500 in campaign contributions, according to preliminary campaign finance reports filed last Friday at city hall. 

"When I announced that I was running, I reached out to friends and family, and law school friends," said Paschall in an interview. "I was completely amazed and gratified by the outpouring of support I received."

With a little more than a week until the elections, Paschall's campaign has so far raised $1,537 more than the combined total of all other city council candidates. 

While historic local campaign finance records are hard to come by, there is reason to believe Paschall's fundraising efforts could be record-setting. Paschall's haul easily outstrips the amount raised by any single Hyattsville city council or mayoral candidate in recent memory, according to a review of campaign finance records from the last two elections.

Pascall's reported contributions include $715 in non-itemized contributions of less than $100 each. 

Paschall also cast a wide net to secure campaign funds. His big money contributions, larger than $100, came from 30 donors spread as far west as Southlake, TX, as far north as Chicago and Connecticut, and as far south as Davenport, FL. 

Paschall, one of the first city council candidates to file for election, said that he raised the money after sending out fundraising calls over the internet. Notably, he said raised all of his funds before the campaign filing deadline. Since no candidate has emerged to rival him for Ward 3's council seat, Paschall said he has stopped his fundraising efforts and is now focused on voter outreach. 

"All of the funds I raised were based on the assumption that I would have an opponent," said Paschall. "Now that I don't, I'm just getting the word out about me and my ideas."

Paschall has already spent more than half of that money on campaign literature and other expenses. 

"I don't plan to have any money left over after May 8," said Paschall. "I have spent a substantial portion of the money and I continue to, on printing. I want to leave people with a way to get in touch with me."

Council Vice President David Hiles (Ward 2), running to protect his seat, donated roughly $1,250 to his campaign, the entirety of his preliminary fundraising haul. That money has been used to purchase stamps, mailers, and print advertising. 

Edouard Haba reported roughly $870 in total donations. Of that, 52 percent, roughly $460, came from small, non-itemized contributions of less than $100. Haba received two "big money" contributions from donors "Julinda" of Silver Spring and Nema Cherif of Washington, DC.

Haba has so far spent about $350 of his funds for printing services.

Ward 2 hopeful Robert Croslin has raised $400. Of that, $250 came from Susan Holland, wife of Hyattsville City Police Chief Doug Holland. Croslin also identified two small money donors in his filings. Phyllis Ramberg of the 4000 block of Kennedy Street and Thomas Carter Ross, of the 3900 block of Longfellow Street both donated $50 to Croslin's campaign. 

Croslin's campaign is running in the red, according to filings. Croslin reported $632 in campaign expenses, a shortfall of $132.

Ward 1 hopeful Bart Lawrence has raised $225 so far, including $125 in non-itemized small money contributions. Lawrence's lone big donors were Barbara and Richard Morris of the 6000 block of 42nd Avenue who contributed $100. 

Lawrence's filings reported no expenses incurred as of yet. 

Ward 5 hopeful Clayton Williams donated $213 to his own campaign to pay for a series of non-itemized expenses individually amounting to less than $100 each, according to filings.

William Jenne, running in Ward 1, and Joseph Solomon, Running in Ward 5, reported no donations. Solomon reported roughly $210 in expenses. Jenne reported $140 in expenses for printing services. 

Pastor Herrera, running in Ward 5, and Ross Gateretse, running in Ward 4, did not turn in their campaign finance reports before last Friday's 5 p.m. deadline. 

Gateretse, in an email to Hyattsville Patch, said he would be submitting his campaign finance reports this morning.