Richmond's race for mayor quickly has turned into a contest between the haves and have-nots.

Dwight Clinton Jones, William J. Pantele and Robert J. Grey Jr. each have raised close to or more than $100,000 for their bids for mayor, according to campaign-finance reports released yesterday.

Meanwhile, Paul Goldman has brought in $3,500 in donations, followed by Lawrence E. Williams Sr., who reported no money raised.

Jones, a Richmond delegate and pastor, raised $130,656 through June 30. He spent $32,309, leaving $98,347 available for mailers, advertisements and other campaign activities leading up to the Nov. 4 election.

Jones' contributions include $50,000 from his state legislative campaign fund and $2,000 from the Rev. Al Sharpton, president of the National Action Network of New York.

Pantele, president of the Richmond City Council, raised $129,477 and spent $19,937, leaving a balance of $109,540. His contributions include $77,185 from his council campaign committee and $500 from former Chesterfield County Supervisor Renny B. Humphrey.

Grey, an attorney, raised $96,100 and spent $4,500, leaving $91,600 available. He lent his campaign $10,000 and received donations from corporate leaders who have been allies of Mayor L. Douglas Wilder, including Dominion Virginia Power Chairman Thomas F. Farrell II, McGuireWoods attorney Richard Cullen, and CCA Industries President William H. Goodwin.

While most of the candidates have not announced fundraising goals, some estimates have put the cost of a viable, citywide campaign at $500,000. In 2004, Wilder spent $277,897 in easily winning a four-way race, according to the Virginia Public Access Project.

"I think it's going to be close, and you'll see these candidates stay neck and neck from start to finish in terms of fundraising," said Kevin O'Holleran, campaign manager for Jones.

"We're plugging away to raise the funds we think we're going to need to be successful in the race," he added.

Craig Bieber, Pantele's campaign manager, said the reports show Pantele has the most grass-roots support and is in the strongest shape financially. He reported contributions from 447 donors since April 1, compared with 256 for Jones and 54 for Grey.

"Our 'people's campaign' for mayor is generating a great deal of momentum, and the response from the Richmond community has been tremendous," Pantele said in a statement. "In particular, we take great pride in the large number of individual donors who have chosen to support this campaign."

Grey said he is pleased where his campaign stands in light of his entry just before the June 10 filing deadline. He announced yesterday that S&K Chairman Stuart Siegel would be his treasurer.

"It looks like, from my analysis, that we raised the most money for the period," Grey said. "That's a momentum-builder, and I'm looking to try to keep that going."

He said he expects to boost his fundraising efforts in the coming months to reflect more grass-roots support.

Goldman sought to turn his opponents' fundraising into liabilities by suggesting that Jones, Pantele and Grey would be beholden to the desires of their contributors.

"It's obvious they're supported by their special interests in Richmond, their power brokers who wanted to get back in control of the mayor's office," Goldman said.

"None of those [candidates] were really for the change to an elected mayor. I'm the one candidate who's out here who doesn't answer to anybody but the people."

Williams said he's been focusing on launching his Web site, www.LawrenceWilliamsForMayor.com, and will focus soon on raising perhaps $50,000.

"It's going to be less than the other candidates," he said.
Contact Will Jones at (804) 649-6911 or wjones@timesdispatch.com.

Top donors in Richmond mayoral race