In the most recent campaign finance report on Aug. 15, Flaherty had less than $20,000 in the bank in his bid for an at-large seat on the City Council. That amounted to less than half the balance of any of the four incumbents he is trying to knock out of office.
“Wow, I’m pretty surprised because he’s always been know as a prolific fund-raiser,’’ said Joyce Ferriabough-Bolling, a consultant and longtime watcher of Boston politics. “I realize that there’s about 11 weeks left, but that early money is your seed money. While he’s got folks working for him, to be honest I haven’t seen much of him since his big coming out party’’ when he launched his campaign.
The fight for four at-large seats on the City Council got off to a slow start because there are not enough candidates to require a preliminary election in September. But Flaherty’s entrance in the race has shaken up what could have been a ho-hum political season.
The former city councilor has the name recognition that made him the top vote-getter in the City Council at-large election in 2003, 2005, and 2007 and propelled him into final mayoral election in 2009.
Now five well-known politicians are competing for four seats. One will lose.
In the last week, Flaherty said, he added another $10,879 to his campaign account. He said in an interview that his fund-raising effort is gathering momentum despite the sluggish economy. The four incumbents, he noted, had a significant head start, but he has still managed to raise $68,645 after holding only five fund-raisers.
He rejected the implication that he has not been visible on the campaign trail.
“I’ve been working extremely hard,’’ Flaherty said. “I’ve been at events where I haven’t seen any other candidates. I’m running this campaign as if it’s my first campaign for public office… . I’m confident I will be able to raise the necessary funds to be competitive in this race.’’
He said that he had a fund-raiser last night at The Baseball Tavern.
Like Flaherty, the four incumbents have been fund-raising to prepare for what is expected to be a bruising road to Election Day on Nov. 8.
