Committee To Elect Fillmore McPherson Reports $2,225 In Donations

The Committee to Elect Fillmore McPherson has received $2,225.00 in donations as of Oct. 10, 2011, according to a campaign finance report filed with the town.

The committee also reported having spent $28.19, leaving a $2,196.81 balance. On the line for "in-kind donations not considered contributions received," the committee entered TBD (to be determined). The report was signed by Alexander McKissick, McPherson's campaign manager.

The expenditure was to Royal Printing Service on the Boston Post Road in Guilford, CT for "Re-Elect McPherson" flyers. The in-kind donation was related to a fundraiser thrown for McPherson by Noreen Kokoruda on Aug. 14, 2011. The fair market valuation of that donation will be determined and reported in a supplemental filing, the campaign finance report said.

The report was the only one on file with the town. Campaign finance reports from parties now go directly to the state, Acting Town Clerk Nancy Martucci said. Other candidates running for office have notified the town that they are exempt from filing a campaign finance report, Martucci said. There are several categories for exemptions including:

• "I am one of a slate of candidates whose campaigns are being funded soley by a town committee of a politcal committee formed for a single election or primary and expenditures made on my behalf will be reported by the committee sponsoring my candidacy." The name of the committee is then required if this is checked. 
• "I am funding my capaign entirely from my own personal funds and will not request or receive contributions from other individuals or committees and I understand if I make expenditures exceeding $1,000 that I shall be responsible for filing financial disclosure statements according to the same schedule and in the same manner as required by treasurers of candidate committees."
• "I do not intend to receive or expend funds in excess of $1,000."
• "I do not intend to receive of expend any funds, including personal funds, for this campaign."

The only race in the upcoming municipal election is for the Zoning Board of Appeals. At one point it looked like there might be a race for the First Selectman's seat, when the Democratic Town Committee nominated Ed Raff. Raff later withdrew his application, expressing his concern that he might not have sufficient time to dedicate to running for office and serving in that position.

McPherson said most of the donations were collected in anticipation of his having someone to run against. At this time, he said he does not know what he will do with the money. He said allowed uses include donating it to the Republican Town Committee, donating it to charity, or using it for some kind of event.

The donations made to McPherson's campaign are as follows:

• Alexander McKissick, Copperfield Drive, procurement director at Pfizer, $100
• Abigail Fearon, Hilltop Drive, retired, $100
• Stephen Lutz, High Hill Circle, sales, L'Oreal, $150
• Gary Price, Middle Beach Road, surgeon, $150
• Bosworth E. Grier, Middle Beach Road, retired, $500
• Carly Callahan, Rockledge Drive, homemaker, $150
• Joseph J. Drummond, Cherry St., president, Turtle and Hughes, $150
• Ronald C. Clark, Evarts Lane, retired, $100
• J. Sanford Davis, Longview Terrace, retired, $150
• Noreen Kokoruda, Liberty Street, legislator, $200
• James Deephouse, Linden Lane, retired, $100
• James Matteson, Green Hill Road, Cleantech Oil, LLC, $150
• Jean E. Beckert, Vero Beach, FL, $100
• Henry K. Yaggi, Wickford Place, retired, $75

All addresses are Madison, unless otherwise specified.