Thanks to hefty loan, Kloiber leads Gorton in fundraising in Lexington mayoral race
Thanks largely to more than $117,000 in loans to his campaign, Lexington-Fayette Urban County Councilman David Kloiber has raised more money than incumbent Mayor Linda Gorton heading into the Nov. 8 general election.
But Gorton has more money left to spend, according to the latest campaign finance reports.
Kloiber has raised $124,620, according to his 60-day pre-election Kentucky Registry of Election Finance campaign finance report.
Of that Kloiber gave himself two loans — $27,916 loan in June and a $90,000 loan in August —for a total of $117,916. He raised approximately $6,430 from five contributors, according to campaign finance reports.
He has spent more than $101,834 and has $22,784.13 left to spend.
Kloiber loaned his campaign more than $285,000 during the primary.
“I feel that self funding sends a clear message that I intend to serve everyone in Lexington equally, regardless of their ability to participate financially in politics,” Kloiber said.
Gorton raised more than $54,247 from 53 contributors. She has $34,691.23 left to spend.
Some of Gorton’s donors are big names in the horse industry, including Greg Goodman, owner of Mt. Brilliant Farm, and John Nicholson, former president of the Kentucky Horse Park.
In an opinion piece for the Herald-Leader, Gorton came out against Lexington Sporting Club’s proposal to put youth soccer fields on Newtown Pike. Goodman and others in the horse industry had opposed the location of the youth soccer fields. Lexington Sporting Club pulled the proposal after Gorton’s opposition and recently won approval to put the youth fields off of Athens-Boonseboro Road.
Kloiber said Gorton is clearly using her political power to help powerful donors.
“While reviewing the mayor’s op-ed and engagement on certain issues, I have seen how strongly she supports the interest of her largest donors over issues pressing to the community at large,” Kloiber said.
Gorton said she has long been a proponent of the rural land area and the farming community. Gorton grew up in a farming community in Ohio. Her father sold Ford tractors and later managed a grain elevator.
“I’m disappointed that with everything going on in our community, my opponent would try to make this an issue,” Gorton said. “I have been a proponent of the rural area, voted to put the Rural Land Management Plan into place 22 years ago, before I even had donors.”
The Rural Management Plan helps guide management of Lexington’s land outside of the urban service boundary or growth boundary.
“His claims reflect a total misunderstanding of the importance of our rural, agricultural business,” she added.
Gorton received more than 70% in primary vote
Gorton, who served 16 years on the council prior to running for mayor in 2018, cruised to a first place finish in the May three-way primary receiving 71% of the vote.
Kloiber, who runs his family foundation and is serving his first term on council, came in a distant second with 14%. Adrian Wallace finished third with 13%.
Gorton won all but one of Lexington’s 133 precincts, according to a Lexington Herald-Leader analysis of the May primary results.
That’s an improvement from the 2018 primary when Gorton faced six other candidates including former Lexington Police Chief Ronnie Bastin, former Mayor Teresa Issac and long-time Lexington-Fayette Urban County Councilman Kevin Stinnett. In that crowded race, Gorton won all but 55 precincts.
Crime, shootings focus of general election
Crime has taken center stage in the general election campaign.
Kloiber and Gorton have clashed over soaring homicide rates and a spate of non-deadly shootings in recent weeks. As of Wednesday morning, the city has had 35 homicides to date, just two less than the 37 in 2021 with three months left in the calendar year.
Kloiber has said the city needs to look at group violence intervention, which targets people involved in violent crimes, and domestic violence intervention programs that have worked in other cities.
Gorton has said many cities that have adopted group violence intervention programs have seen shootings and homicides continue to climb. Some cities have scrapped the program, she has said.
This story was originally published September 14, 2022 at 12:01 PM.
