Mayor Gorton raises campaign cash from farmers and developers. Find out how much
Farmers and those in agricultural were big donors to Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton’s general election campaign, but developers and real estate investors also forked over cash to the first-term mayor, campaign finance reports show.
One business sector that gave big to Gorton’s campaign was the agricultural industry, which includes horse farm owners, veterinary services and those in agricultural technology. In total those with ties to agricultural gave $36,580, according to an analysis of Kentucky Registry of Election Finance reports filed prior to the Nov. 8 general election.
Greg Goodman and family members connected with Goodman’s Mt. Brilliant Farm gave $10,000 of the $36,580 contributed by agricultural interests, making Goodman and his family one of Gorton’s biggest donors.
In total, Gorton has raised $152,860., according to campaign finance reports filed as of Oct. 26
She trails challenger David Kloiber, a first-term Lexington-Fayette Urban County Councilman, in fundraising. Kloiber has loaned his campaign north of $630,000 in his effort to unseat Gorton.
He has received few individual donations.
Gorton’s money comes from 221 individuals.
During the sometimes contentious mayoral campaign, Kloiber has taken issue with contributions Goodman and others in the horse industry have made to Gorton’s campaign. Gorton, in a Lexington Herald-Leader opinion piece, came out against a proposal for youth soccer fields on agricultural land off of Newtown Pike. Goodman was one of the landowners who opposed the youth soccer fields. Kloiber said Gorton’s opposition to the project was tied to Goodman’s objections.
Gorton countered that she has long been a supporter of agricultural interests and her donors had nothing to do with her decision to oppose the soccer fields. Gorton said she was worried about the precedent of changing zoning ordinances to allow for the soccer fields.
Those in the development industry, which includes developers and those in real estate, gave Gorton $15,550 — or less than half the amount of what those in the agricultural or farming industry gave, according to an analysis of campaign contributions.
Some well-known developers who gave to Gorton include Dudley Webb of The Webb Companies, and Phil Greer, of the Greer Companies. Greer and Webb built City Center in downtown Lexington and are involved in other commercial developments including The Fountains at Palomar and a new shopping plaza off of Citation Boulevard.
The Webb families and employees gave $2,500, according to an analysis of campaign reports. The Greer family and employees gave $1,500.
Gorton said the diversity in her donors shows she has broad appeal and has spent a long time building coalitions. Gorton served 16 years on the council, four years as vice mayor, prior to becoming mayor.
“This is where experience and a record of transparency matters,” Gorton said. “ People know my priorities around smart, sustainable growth, public safety and quality of life. I’m proud of the diversity among my donors. People from all walks of life and all types of jobs trust me, based on my experience. “
Developers and those in the agricultural industry are key players in a perennial and longstanding fight in Lexington —when to expand the city’s growth boundary.
The city is developing a new way to determine when and if the city’s growth boundary should be moved. Gorton has said she supports the new process that includes using a matrix to determine if and when the city needs more land for housing, manufacturing or other commercial uses. Kloiber has said it’s time to expand the urban service boundary because too many people are being priced out of housing in Lexington.
Gorton has also raised a lot of money from retirees.
Those who listed their occupation as retired gave slightly less than those in real estate and development. In total, retirees gave $15,300 to Gorton’s campaign.
Another key sector that gave big to Gorton’s campaign -- doctors and those in the healthcare industry. Gorton is a registered nurse.
In total, doctors, nurses and health care professionals gave a total of $9,700 to Gorton’s campaign.
