Former City Council President Steve Nawrocki says he leads the field of 16 mayor candidates with voters, according to a recent poll that was done by fellow candidate Nick Gradisar � a claim Gradisar didn't contest when asked about the survey done by Keating Research.

Gradisar acknowledged his campaign paid for a survey question about the mayor race in September and that 44 percent of those polled were still undecided. He declined to say where the candidates ranked in results.

"It's a close race, but many people haven't made up their mind," is how Gradisar described it Friday.

Nawrocki was told last week, and it was confirmed to The Pueblo Chieftain by two other sources, that he led the field of candidates in the Gradisar poll. Gradisar was second. Both had the support of between 10 and 20 percent of the respondents, with Nawrocki ahead by 5 points.

All of the other candidates had support in the single digits.

Given that no other campaign is polling the mayor's race at this time, the Gradisar question gives a glimpse of how voters are viewing the race. But the most important result is probably the 44 percent who wouldn't give a preference and are waiting to make up their minds.

That was confirmed by a campaign volunteer for another candidate this week who's been knocking on doors. He said voters are not sharing their preferences just yet in the mayor's contest. Ballots for the Nov. 6 election were mailed out this week.

Nawrocki, of course, was pleased to learn he was ahead in the sampling.

"I think it confirms that the community is looking for someone with experience as a leader and with a reputation for being able to bring people together," he said Thursday.

While Nawrocki was the leader with voters in that poll, Gradisar showed this week that his campaign is raising the most campaign money � $48,250 as of Tuesday.

Former Councilman Randy Thurston was in second place in raising money, with $21,304.

Nawrocki was third, with $17,370, while Councilman Dennis Flores was next, with $16,900.

Other candidates with more than $10,000 in campaign funds are former Councilwoman Lori Winner, with $13,744; businessman Tom Croshal, with $12,560; and Council President Chris Nicholl, at $12,544.

proper@chieftain.com