Connelly: In money race for Seattle mayor, Durkan is way ahead

Former U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan, seen receiving an endorsement from incumbent Mayor Ed Murray, is tops in the field with $321,630 raised in her campaign for Seattle Mayor. The average donation to Durkan is $236.57. She is also running through money faster than her competitors. less Former U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan, seen receiving an endorsement from incumbent Mayor Ed Murray, is tops in the field with $321,630 raised in her campaign for Seattle Mayor. The average donation to Durkan is ... more Photo: SEATTLEPI.COM Photo: SEATTLEPI.COM Image 1 of / 9 Caption Close Connelly: In money race for Seattle mayor, Durkan is way ahead 1 / 9 Back to Gallery

Former U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan is far ahead in the race for campaign dollars among six leading candidates for Seattle Mayor, but she's also running through money at a faster pace than her competition.

Durkan has raised $321,630, according to the latest filings with the Seattle Records and Elections Commission. The average contribution to her campaign is $236.57.

Jessyn Farrell is still far behind, but has moved up quickly since resigning her seat in the Legislature. Lawmakers are forbidden to raise money while the Legislature is in session. Farrell has taken in $78,417 and given $5,500 in a little over a month. The average donation to Farrell's campaign has been $187.15.

Educator/lawyer/Black Lives Matter activist Nikkita Oliver continues to quietly impress. She has now raised $75,361, with an average contribution of just $65.21. Oliver had earlier set a $100,000 target for the primary, sufficient she said to run a low-overhead campaign.

Urban planner Cary Moon has made the largest personal investment in her campaign for the 7th floor at City Hall. Moon has donated $40,521, having made an offer to match donations from supporters. They have given $50,637, the average donation coming to $212.76.

Ex-Mayor Mike McGinn enjoys high recognition in polls, but is not putting big fundraising numbers on the board. He has raised $32,660, a little more than $2,000 coming from the candidate. The average donation to McGinn has been $181.25.

State Sen. Bob Hasegawa is by choice the pauper in the contest. He has put $8,580 into the race, and shows no contributors. He has, however, picked up some union and Democratic district endorsements, scoring a coup by copping a joint endorsement with Farrell in her home base of the 46th District.

Durkan has won support from the political arm of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, and a who's-who of past civic and state leaders. Nearly 400 people have "maxed out" at $500 donations to her campaign.

The list includes Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen; ex-Gov. Christine Gregoire and husband Mike; former Mayor Charley Royer; civic leaders Jon and Judith Runstad; State Sen. Reuven Carlyle; Seattle City Council members Tim Burgess and Sally Bagshaw; attorney Gerry Johnson; the Cocker-Fennessy public affairs firm, Chamber CEO Maud Daudon; business activist Suzie Burke; and philanthropists Martha Kongsgaard and Sonya Campion.

The biggest expenditure by Durkan is $36,400 paid out to the Greenburg Quinlan polling firm, home base to Bill Clinton's old pollster Stan Greenburg.