Tomlinson's Columbus mayoral campaign sprints out of gate with more than $111,000 raised

Columbus Mayoral candidate Teresa Tomlinson has raised more than $111,000 in campaign contributions, according to a campaign financial disclosure information she will file with the state Ethics Commission early next week.

Tomlinson, an attorney and former executive director of MidTown Inc., seeking elected office for the first time, released her contributions and expenditures to the Ledger-Enquirer Thursday morning. She raised the money is less than three months, and the election is still seven months away.

Candidates are not required to have their disclosure reports to the Ethics Commission for the period ending March 31 until the end of next week. Qualifying for the non-partisan mayors race is not until June. The election is Nov. 2. Tomlinson, Councilor Wayne Anthony, businessman Randall Bergman and Spirit Filled Ministries program director Zeph Baker are the only announced candidates.

Tomlinson has spent about $16,000, leaving her about $95,000 in available cash. By comparison, four years ago, Mayor Jim Wetherington raised about $175,000 total in his successful bid to unseat incumbent Bob Poydasheff.

Candidates are only required to release the names of contributors of $101 or more. Tomlinson's contributions came from 373 different people or groups. Of that number, 190 contributions were $100 or less.

The maximum contribution is $2,400. Five Tomlinson donors -- former NBA player, coach and Peachtree City, Ga., resident Sam Mitchell, Columbus businessman Todd Schuster and his wife, Alison, Columbus attorney Max R. McGlamry, Columbus homemaker Moselle W. Fletcher and MidTown Associates LLP -- gave the maximum.

Her average contribution is about $300.