Michael J. Renzullo of Winsted already has spent nearly 10 times the money promoting his candidacy for the 63rd House District than his Democratic primary opponent, Douglas J. Benedetto of Torrington, has raised.
According to his latest campaign finance report, the period through July 24, Renzullo had received $16,149 and spent $9,913. Much of that money is tax dollars, having received $10,738 from the Citizens' Election Fund, which provides cash for candidates running for state office.
Benedetto, meanwhile, had raised $1,741 through July 17 and spent none of it. He cannot qualify for the Citizens' Election Fund until he raises at least $5,000.
Benedetto, who serves on his city's Board of Public Safety, said he still intends to raise $5,000 and apply for the state funding in time for the Aug. 14 primary against Renzullo, a three-term selectman in his hometown. He said he is working to gain name recognition in Winsted and Colebrook by visiting the businesses and town officials in those towns.
"Money isn't everything. I'm doing it the old-fashioned way," he said. "I'm knocking on doors."
But he admitted he has found it difficult to squeeze in time for campaigning while running his own business, Detail Unlimited, an auto detailing and accessories shop he's owned in the city for 25 years, and serving on the public safety board.
"We're working on it," he said. "It's tough when you have a full-time job."
Renzullo, meanwhile, has been aggressively promoting his candidacy. He has hired a treasurer and a campaign manager, is strategically visiting the homes of Democrats who have a history of voting frequently, paying for radio ads and putting up several political signs throughout the district.
Thus far, some of his expenses include $68 at Monaco's Restaurant in Winsted for food for a campaign meeting of four people; $418 to reimburse his campaign manager, Larry Sweeney, for travel expenses; $124 to reimburse himself for purchases at Staples and travel expenses; $73 for food at the Backstage restaurant in Torrington for a campaign meeting of four people; $862 for an iPad and accessories; $1,000 to pay Barbara Wilkes, his treasurer; $1,478 to pay Premium Graphics and $622 to pay Cross and Oberlie for political signs; $1,574 to pay Sweeney as campaign manager; $60 to reimburse his mother, Mary-Elin Renzullo, for an AT&T data plan that is needed to access an online voter database; $685 for brochures; $347 for lumber at The Home Depot; $105 for embroidered shirts from Walmart for campaign workers; $843 for 60-second ads on WZBG 97.3 FM in Torrington; $135 for cleaning supplies for campaign headquarters; and $105 for a DeWalt drill to assemble large political signs.
"Everything is very explainable and standard," Renzullo said. "There's nothing that we've spent money on that isn't directly campaign related."
Renzullo said he will have to sell the iPad when the campaign is over and the proceeds go back into the Citizens' Election Fund.
He said he had been planning on opening his headquarters at the former Capitol Products building at 35 Willow St., which his nonprofit Laurel City Revamp owns, but Building Inspector Marc Melanson told him he first needs site plan approval from the Planning and Zoning Commission because the building has been closed for at least six months and is a change of use from a manufacturer to an office.
He said he will not be violating campaign finance law because he is technically an employee of Laurel City Revamp as its executive director.
Campaign finance law prohibits payments to any entity in which the candidate or the candidate's family members have at least a 5 percent ownership interest.
Renzullo also said he offered space at the former Capitol Products to his opponents, including Republican Jay M. Case, because a nonprofit cannot endorse any one candidate.
He said Case told him he had already secured another location and Benedetto did not return a message.
Benedetto said he hoped to open his headquarters on East Main Street in Torrington by the end of the week.
The winner of the Aug. 14 primary will face Case, also of Winsted, during the general election on Nov. 6. Case had raised $32,240 in campaign funds as of June 30, including $26,850 from the Citizens' Election Fund, and had spent $600, according to his campaign finance report filed July 10.
Another $2,066 in expenses had been incurred but not yet paid.
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