Larkin Says She Spent $500 To $1K Trying To Win Newport's Ward 2

NEWPORT, RI—Political newcomer Valerie Larkin, who lost the Ward 2 race, may have been the most frugal candidate in the hunt for a Newport City Council seat. According to the state Board of Elections campaign finance reports, she spent about $248 before the Primary and $627 after the Primary. By contrast, her opponent dropped more than $5,000 for both the Primary and the general election.

Larkin told the Patch on Friday she admittedly was outspent by the other candidates.

At the other end of the spectrum, Ward 3's Kathryn Leonard had the biggest war chest of any council candidate. Leonard started the race with $21,808 in the bank. (She has been on the council on and off for about 20 years.) But even though she ran unopposed (after an early candidate withdrew), she added to her funds. Between July 1 and Oct. 8, she took in $4,000; and between Oct. 9 and Oct. 29, she banked another $3,000. Several supporters gave her $1,000 apiece, including Maureen Donnell, of Palm Beach, Fla., Lisette Prince de Ramel, of Newport; Virginia Decker, of Newport; James Coleman, of New Orleans, Mary Coleman, of New Orleans, and James Coleman Jr., also of New Orleans. She spent about $2,800 on fundraising at the Inn at Castle Hill, on an event at the Potter League, and for other expenses.

Newport's city council candidates have to file one more campaign finance report. But up to the end of October, here is how they stood financially.

Ward 1

Angela McCalla, another political newcomer, won the seat with 1,139 votes. She spent $2,032.

James Dring spent $2,776 in a losing effort. He picked up 762 votes.

Ward 2

Lynn Underwood Ceglie won the seat with 1,586 votes. She spent $5,202 for both the Primary and the general election.

Valerie A. Larkin lost with 1,055 votes. She spent $26 on the general election after dropping $99.94 to win in the Primary.

Ward 3

Kathryn Leonard won with 1,928 votes. She spent $2,800 or about $1.45 per vote.

Photo Caption: Valerie Larkin, leftmost, on Election Day. Credit Lori Bates