Hogsett Raises $1.4 Million For Indianapolis Mayor's Race

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Former U.S. Attorney Joe Hogsett is on pace to set a fundraising record in the Indianapolis mayor's race.

Hogsett's campaign announced Monday that he raised $1.4 million last year. That would represent the highest fundraising total ever in the year prior to an Indianapolis mayoral election for a Democrat.

Former Democratic Mayor Bart Peterson raised $1.1 million in 2006, but ended the year with $2.5 million cash on hand from a prior campaign.

The bulk of Hogsett's fundraising occurred between Aug. 18 and Nov. 21, when he brought in nearly $917,000. Annual campaign finance reports aren't due until Jan. 21, but Hogsett had to offer an early glimpse of his war chest under an Indiana law that requires campaigns to file out-of-cycle reports if they change treasurers. Hogsett's campaign switched treasurers in November.

The bulk of Hogsett's haul came from individuals, The Indianapolis Star reported. Attorney Jeffery Mallamad, a partner at Barnes & Thornburg, gave $110,100, the most of any donor. Cindy Simon Skjodt and Deborah Simon, both of Carmel, gave $100,000 each. The sisters are daughters of the late mall tycoon Melvin Simon.

Hogsett also raised $35,250 from PACs, $20,400 from labor unions and $22,950 from corporations. Another $101,797 came from miscellaneous groups.

So far, Hogsett is the only candidate vying to succeed Republican Mayor Greg Ballard, who announced in November that he wouldn't seek a third term in 2015.

The Rev. Charles Harrison, founder of the city's Ten Point Coalition, has formed an exploratory committee but hasn't committed to a campaign or said which party he'd run under. The deadline to declare for the primary is Feb. 5.

Ballard's 2011 reelection campaign was the most expensive on record in Indianapolis. He raised nearly $4.9 million that year, while Democratic challenger Melina Kennedy raised nearly $3.7 million.