GREEN BAY - State lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are funneling money into the race for Green Bay mayor, even as the two candidates shy away in public from their partisan ties.

Former state Rep. Eric Genrich continues to outspend Brown County Supervisor Patrick Buckley in campaign fundraising and spending for the April 2 election. The two are vying to replace Mayor Jim Schmitt, who opted not to seek re-election after 16 years in office.

Campaign finance reports filed Monday show Genrich's campaign had received over $113,000 since the start of the campaign and spent roughly $130,000. He still had about $36,000 in his election account.

Buckley's campaign has brought in about $32,000. That includes $14,488 of Buckley's own money in the last reporting period. For the entire campaign, had spent over $25,000, leaving a balance of less than $6,500.

Most of Buckley's spending since the primary election has been focused on mailers, which accounted for $8,350 of $11,974 spent in the period.

Funding for Genrich's campaign is supported in part by his connections to Madison after serving six years as an Assembly Democrat. On top of donations from Green Bay residents, he continues to receive support from state and regional labor organizations and special interest groups like the Wisconsin People Conference.

Genrich has also received funds from the campaign committees of his former Democratic colleagues, including state Reps. Dave Hansen of Green Bay and Gordon Hintz of Oshkosh.

His spending since the primary has included $28,500 paid to Strother Nuckels Strategies, a media strategies company that worked on Gov. Tony Evers' election campaign. He also spent $3,500 on a poll by Public Policy Polling.

Buckley's latest report shows he, too, is getting a boost from Madison lawmakers. He received a donation from Republican Rep. John Macco's campaign committee, as well as individual contributions from Republican state Sen. Robert Cowles, Rep. Gary Tauchen and former state Treasurer Cate Zeuske.

He also received $500 from Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 400 in Kaukauna.

Prior to the February primary election, Buckley's campaign benefited from $12,000 in mailers paid for by Midwest Growth Fund, an independent expenditure group known for backing GOP candidates. The organization had not reported any additional spending on Buckley's behalf as of Tuesday.

Both candidates' direct support from partisan political sources is a small share of their total fundraising, and both candidates throughout the campaign have emphasized the position's nonpartisan nature. At a debate held by the Press-Gazette last week, Buckley said his experience demonstrates he can keep politics out of the mayor's office.

"Am I a member of the Republican Party of Brown County? Yes," Buckley said. "But when I served on the City Council, and as I serve on the County Board, both those positions are nonpartisan."

Buckley also took a jab at Genrich's experience, saying he voted largely along party lines in Madison. But Genrich touted his support from people across the political spectrum, adding that he recognizes the job of mayor is different than a partisan role.

"I'm really proud of the campaign that we've put together, the diversity of views that we've incorporated, and I absolutely plan to take that approach in the debates and the discussions that will come before us at City Hall," he said.