Shari Pollesch Raises Record Amount for Livingston Dem Candidate, Most from Individuals

Shari Pollesch, Democratic candidate for the 22nd State Senate seat, has raised a record amount of money for a Democratic candidate in Livingston County, with more than 4 out of every 5 dollars coming from individuals.

Pollesch filed a campaign finance report Thursday showing that she has raised more than $63,000 over the life of her campaign.  Friday is the deadline for filing reports in advance of the Aug. 5 primary.

“I am most proud of the fact that the vast majority of these contributions come from individual donors,” Pollesch said. “This shows broad, grassroots support for my campaign in my community and that my message of putting people before big, corporate special interests resonates with voters.”

Of the $63,000 raised since Pollesch began her campaign last fall, 81 percent, or some $52,500, has come from individual donors.

The previous record for a Democratic candidate for a state office in Livingston County was $49,852 raised by Garry Post in his 2010 run for the 47th House seat. Pollesch has raised more than that with more than three months left in the campaign.

In addition to broad, voter support, Shari’s endorsements to date include: United Auto Workers Region 1C; Sierra Club; Michigan Education Association; Planned Parenthood; Huron Valley Central Labor Council; Michigan Democratic Party Justice Caucus; Washtenaw County Skilled Building Trades, Inc.; Michigan AFL-CIO; American Federation of Teachers-Michigan; MI Women PAC; Heat & Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 25; Michigan Professional Firefighters Union; Operating Engineers Local 324; Ted Westmeier, former Director of Livingston County Public Health, and Paul Saginaw, Founding Partner of Zingerman’s Community Family of Businesses.

Despite Pollesch’s strong fund-raising report, she said she still expects to be outspent by Republican incumbent Joe Hune. Hune had not filed his pre-primary report as of Wednesday, but the report he filed in January showed he had more than $211,000 cash on hand, including a $105,000 personal loan and many donations from PACS representing insurance companies, utilities, and other corporate interests, as well as Lansing lobbyists.

Pollesch said Hune’s reliance on Lansing lobbyists and PACS shows he is out of touch with average voters back home in his district.

 For information Pollesch’s Senate campaign, visit her website, voteforshari.com,or find her on Facebook at Shari Pollesch for Senate.  Questions can be directed to Pollesch and her campaign team by email at shari@voteforshari.com or by calling (810) 224-0560.

(Paid for by Friends of Shari Pollesch, P.O. Box 1681, Brighton, MI 48116. Printed in-house. Labor donated.)