A look at the mayoral candidates' campaign donations
Editor's note: Certain elements of this story, including the headline, main photo and some of the article text, have been edited due to concerns about the potential appearance of bias.
As the election race draws to its close, campaign finance reports filed by all three Hoover mayoral candidates show a variety of donors have made contributions, from developers and car dealers to individual donations.
Ivey, who has been mayor since 2011, leads the field in fundraising, having collected more than $122,000 in cash donations this year, plus another $6,072 in in-kind donations. His most recent campaign finance filing was not yet available from the Jefferson County Probate Court, so Ivey’s total may be even higher.
Some of Ivey’s biggest contributors include the Alabama Builders PAC, which gave $15,000, the Birmingham-based AL Dev PAC ($12,500), Embassy Homes ($5,000), a Montgomery-based political action committee called MAXPAC run by lobbyist Joe Fine ($5,000), Signature Homes developers Jonathan Belcher ($2,500) and Dwight Sandlin ($2,500) and the Alabama Realtors PAC ($1,500).
Ivey, who is president and CEO of Crest Cadillac, also received donations from several Hoover car dealers, including $5,000 from Hendrick Chevrolet, $5,000 from Benton Nissan, $2,000 from the Tameron Automotive Group and $1,000 from Mercedes-Benz of Birmingham. He also received $2,000 from Auto Investment Inc. in Pelham.
Other big donors included the Hoover Firefighters Association PAC ($5,000 worth of advertising), Frank and Pamela Barefield ($5,000), Hoover Councilman Gene Smith and his wife Pam ($3,000), Alabama Sports Council President and CEO and Bruno Event Team President and CEO Gene Hallman ($2,500), Hoover Municipal Judge Brad Bishop ($2,500), Duncan & Thompson Construction Services ($2,500) the Paden & Paden law firm ($2,500) and the Neel-Schaffer engineering consulting firm in Jackson, Mississippi. ($2,500).
Ivey still had more than $47,000 in his campaign account left over from the last election, and he also loaned his campaign $100,000 of his own money, but it can be paid back from the campaign fund.
Frank Brocato
Brocato has collected nearly $93,000 in cash donations for his campaign, plus another $18,300 in in-kind donations, his campaign finance reports show.
U.S. Steel, one of the biggest landowners in Hoover, gave Brocato $5,000 on Aug. 15, but he returned the contribution four days later. McClinton, however, kept the $5,000 from U.S. Steel, which has been unhappy with the city’s decision to rezone its land along Interstate 459 between Preserve Parkway and the Patton Creek shopping center from apartment use to mostly commercial use.
Brocato’s largest contributor has been American Printing, which gave him $13,900 worth of free services.
Among his other large contributors were David and Susan Silverstein of Birmingham ($5,000), Infomedia of Birmingham ($3,200 in in-kind services), a PAC for the Wallace, Jordan, Ratliff and Brandt law firm in Birmingham ($2,500), Anthony and Suzanne Anelmo of Birmingham ($2,500), Sue Cory of Birmingham ($2,500), James Stroud of Birmingham ($2,500), Ricky Brooks of Hoover ($2,500), Dan Fulton of Hoover ($2,050), Rod and Lisa Nowlin of Oxford ($2,000), Courtney Mason of Birmingham ($1,500) and Brian Brocato of Fairhope ($1,500).
Brocato also loaned his campaign more than $28,000 of his own money.
Steve McClinton
McClinton took in just under $15,000 in donations, including the $5,000 from U.S. Steel Corp. and $3,000 of his own money. His next biggest contributors were the Ifediba Law Group of Birmingham ($1,500), Eugene Borgosz of Pelham ($1,000), Gallant Lake LLC of Pelham ($1,000), Lake Cyrus Club Prop LLC of Birmingham ($500), Coman Baum Jewelry Services of Birmingham ($500), CCN Asset Management Co. of Birmingham ($500) and Dan Fulton of Hoover ($500).
As of Aug. 14, Ivey had spent more than $213,000 on his campaign this year, compared to almost $113,000 spent by Brocato and almost $9,600 by McClinton.
Ivey still had about $41,000 in his campaign account as of Aug. 14, compared to about $14,000 for Brocato and $5,200 for McClinton on Aug. 22.
Here are all the contributors of $100 or more for each of the campaigns:
FRANK BROCATO
$28,891 — Frank Brocato (includes $28,047 self-loan and $845 in in-kind services)
$13,933 — American Printing (in-kind services)
$5,000 — David and Susan Silverstein, Birmingham
$3,200 — Infomedia, Birmingham (in-kind services)
$2,500 — Anthony and Suzanne Anelmo, Birmingham; Richard Brooks, Birmingham; Ricky Brooks, Hoover; Sue Cory, Birmingham; James Stroud, Birmingham; Wallace, Jordan, Ratliff and Brandt PAC, Birmingham
$2,050 — Dan Fulton, Hoover
$2,000 — Rod and Lisa Nowlin, Oxford
$1,750 — Lynn Johnson, Birmingham
$1,500 — Brian Brocato, Fairhope; Courtney Mason, Birmingham; Al and Nancy Worthington, Shoal Creek
$1,000 — Adams and Reece LLP, New Orleans; Rose Anselmo-Sarris, Birmingham; Pam and James Alan Barksdale, Florence; BTC Wholesale Distributors, Alabaster; Steven Casey, Birmingham; DBI Properties, Birmingham; Jeff and Judy Flannery, Birmingham; Louis and Vickie Graffeo, Birmingham; Hueytown Chiropractic Clinic; David and Tammie Jackson, Birmingham; Michael and Shannon Kamber, Birmingham; Sam and Gwen Knowlton, Birmingham; Porter McAllister, Birmingham; Van McClurkin, Pelham; Mark and Terri McCutcheon, Indian Springs Village; Louis Nequette, Birmingham; Lance Radbill, Hoover; Frank and Marion Rosato, Birmingham; Drayton Smith, Birmingham; Patrick Sullivan, Birmingham; George and Karole Whaley, Birmingham; Wayne and Rebecca Wheeler, Birmingham
$600 — Steve and Angela Sullivan, Vestavia Hills
$500 — Dean Assimos, Mountain Brook; Bryan Balentine, Birmingham; Marc Booth, Pelham; Bradford Building, Birmingham; Dorris Brocato, Birmingham; Ken Bruno, Birmingham; Betsy Cooper, Birmingham; Thomas Cordell, Birmingham; Richard DeShazo, Birmingham; William Gaine, Birmingham; Gonzalez, Strength & Associates, Hoover; Thomas and Jane Harris, Birmingham; Hoover Court Town Center; J. Tatum Capital LLC, Birmingham; Cooper and Anna Johnson, Birmingham; Edd and Debbie Johnson, Birmingham; Lynn Johnson, Birmingham; Joseph and Co., Hoover; Joseph Warehouse Co., Birmingham; Mary Joy Liollio, Hoover; Mainsail Asset Management LLC, Scottsboro; Burt Mullis, Hoover; Elbert and Marilyn Mullis, Birmingham; Michael and Dana Mungenast, Birmingham; Charlie Nowlin, Birmingham; Ronald and Nancy Richardson, Hoover; Martha Robinson, Birmingham; Lynn Broughton Shannon III, Birmingham; Wilson Shepherd, Birmingham; Ellen Staner, Birmingham; Lois Truss, Birmingham; Philip Underwood, Birmingham; Dereck and Rushton Waltochack, Birmingham; Charles Yates, Hoover
$400 — J. Kim; Nick and Dawn Manakides, Hoover;
$350 — Michael Mullis, Birmingham
$325 — Cody Cothron, Birmingham
$300 — Thomas Bradley, Birmingham; Charles Carr, Fairhope; Roger Cartwright, Birmingham; Brian and Gina Harris, Hoover; Douglas and Neal Hashew, Birmingham; Hugh and Janet Jacks, Shoal Creek
$250 – William Andrews, Birmingham; Keith Mitchell Barfield, Hoover; Harry Bayer, Birmingham; John and Louise Beard, Birmingham; Charles and Teresa Boackle, Birmingham; Tommy and Mary Brakefield, Birmingham; Susan and David Brouillete, Birmingham; Philip Corley, Birmingham; Rick DiGiorgio, Hoover; Earl and Elizabeth Gibson, Birmingham; Morris and Sue Jackson, Birmingham; James Jr., Birmingham; Carlo Joseph, Hoover; Carol Joseph, Birmingham; Sam Joseph, Montclair, N.J.; Jerry and Jeannette Minor, Birmingham; Matt Moore, Birmingham; William and Joy Moore, Birmingham; Charles and Anna Morgan; Fred Nelson Jr., Hoover; Nowlen Downs DMD Inc., Hoover; Pannonia Holdings LLC, Birmingham; Russell Pate, Mountain Brook; Andrew and Bridget Patterson, Vestavia Hills; Margaret Porter, Birmingham; Michael Rooney, Birmingham; Dale and Linda Sitton, Indian Springs Village; George Van Tassel Jr. and Lee Van Tassel, Birmingham; Peter and JoAnn Weston, Hoover; Stuart Whatley, Birmingham; Janet White, Birmingham; Drennen and Julia Williams, Birmingham
$200 — James Barron, Birmingham; Mary and Patrick Carpenter, Homewood; Larry Childs, Birmingham; Neil Clay, Bessemer; Kirk and Alicia Cuevas, Birmingham; Doris Davis, Hoover; Dennis and Janie Dollar, Hoover; James and Lois Dye, Birmingham; Raymond Fitzpatrick Jr., Birmingham; Patricia and Robert Harwell, Birmingham; Carllie and Hugh Hines, Birmingham; William Ireland, Birmingham; Chervis Isom, Birmingham; Edward Meyerson, Birmingham; Moore and Moore Inc., Hoover; Duane Wiss, Huntington Beach, Calif.
$173 — Wrapsody (in-kind donation)
$150 — Michael Booth, Vestavia Hills; Connie and Cecil Bostany, Hoover; Mollie Buck, Birmingham; Mary Ann D’Alessandro, Birmingham; C.A. and Susan Faulkner; Jeff Flannery (in-kind administrative services); Mary and John Hargrove, Birmingham; Parks and Ann Lee, Mountain Brook; Newman and Alise Nowlin, Oxford; Walter Spidle, Birmingham; Union State Bank, Birmingham
$100 — Rodger and Margaret Ambrester, Birmingham; Martin Andrews, Birmingham; David Bannister, Hoover; P. Lauren Barrett and Deborah Barrett, Birmingham; Jeffery and Gail Bayer, Birmingham; D.A. Bedsole, Vestavia Hills; James and Sonya Brancha, Birmingham; David and Mary Lynn Bruno, Birmingham; Mary Esther Carpenter, Homewood; Marcus and Zoe Cassimus, Birmingham; Dick and Vickie Chenoweth, Birmingham; Joe Covington, Birmingham; Al and Cathy Craig, Birmingham; Meredith Cummings, Birmingham; Michael Davis, Mountain Brook; Gordon and Marilyn Day, Birmingham; Philip Fine, Birmingham; Peter DeFranco, Bessemer; Richard Finley, Birmingham; Robert and Cynthia Garrison, Birmingham; Andrew and Ramona Graffeo, Birmingham; B.W. and V.J. Graffeo, Birmingham; John Hedland, Birmingham; Gregg Helms, Hoover; Susan and Don Huff, Birmingham; Sergie Kampakis, Birmingham; Bruce Kilgore, Birmingham; Byrle and Mary Jo Kynerd, Birmingham; Jim and Connie Larock, Birmingham; G.W. Leitman, Birmingham; Kay and Bobby Lepper, Brentwood, Tenn.; Joseph Lowman, Madison; Julie Martin, Birmingham; J. Lee McCarty, Birmingham; Arthur and Catherine Milligan, Hoover; Nina and Ashok Mujumdar, Birmingham; Muro Marketing, Hoover; Mildred Pate, Hoover; Carol Pizitz, Birmingham; Phyllis Ripple, Hoover; Annette Rosato, Birmingham; Christopher Rosko, Hoover; T.A. and Beth Saunders, Birmingham; Julia Saylors, Mount Pleasant, S.C.; Al Simmons, Birmingham; Carl Smith, Hoover; Robert and Martha Smith, Birmingham; Tommy Waddell, Birmingham; Le and Donna Walker, Birmingha; Perry Williams, Montgomery; Jim Wright, Birmingham
GARY IVEY
$100,000 — Self-loan
$15,000 — ABPAC (Alabama Builders PAC), Montgomery
$12,500 — AL Dev PAC, Birmingham
$5,000 — Frank and Pamela Barefield, Birmingham; Benton Nissan, Hoover; Embassy Homes, Birmingham; Hendrick Chevrolet, Hoover; MAXPAC (run by Joe Fine, Montgomery)
$3,000 — Gene and Pam Smith, Hoover
$2,500 — Jonathan Belcher, Hoover; Brad Bishop, Indian Springs; Duncan & Thompson Construction Services, Birmingham; Gene Hallman, Vestavia Hills; Neel-Schaffer, Jackson, Miss.; Paden & Paden, Bessemer; Dwight Sandlin, Hoover; Strada Professional Services, Birmingham
$2,000 — Alex Baker, Hoover; Auto Investment Inc., Pelham; Gary Campbell, Chelsea; Randy Lott, Hoover; Tameron Automotive Group, Hoover
$1,500 — Alabama Realtors PAC, Montgomery; Glenn Durrough, Bessemer
$1,000 — Cheche Ayers, Birmingham; BIZPAC, Montgomery; Ronald Bruno, Birmingham; Tom Fisher, Birmingham; Gonzalez, Strength & Associates, Hoover; Mercedes-Benz of Birmingham, Hoover; Premier Property Management, Hoover; Republic National Distributing Co., Jefferson, La.; Santek Waste Services, Cleveland, Tenn.; Brian Skelton, Hoover; Jimmie Stephens, Bessemer; Michael Wood, Hoover
$1,250 — Thomas Rice, Nashville
$800 — Randy Wilhelm (includes $300 in-kind food)
$772 — Pat Lynch, Birmingham (in-kind food)
$750 — Tenet Health, Dallas
$700 — Marty Connors, Alabaster
$500 — Edgar Aldridge, Birmingham; Cardiac Solutions, Birmingham; Douglas Clark, Pelham; Paul DeMarco, Homewood; J. Wilson Dinsmore, Birmingham; Dunn Construction Co., Birmingham; Charles Grelier, Birmingham; Hector Hoyos, Chelsea; John Kontos, Birmingham; Martin Advertising, Birmingham; Charles and Ava McPherson, Trussville; Lisa Self, Birmingham; Edward and Pamela Smith, Birmingham; Stephen Bradley & Associates, Birmingham; The South Haven Corp., Birmingham; Richard Thompson Sr., Birmingham; Jason Williamson, Birmingham; James Wilson III, Montgomery; Will Wilson, Montgomery
$350 — Mary Saia, Birmingham; Paul Saia, Birmingham
$300 — Theo Lawson, Pleasant Grove; Donald Romano, Hoover
$250 — Charles Adams, Birmingham; Beers Properties, Birmingham; Rosemary Bolin, Birmingham; Andrew Bolt, Hoover; Patrice and James Bonner, Birmingham; Jeffery and Jennifer Brewer, Birmingham; Randall Christian, Birmingham; Doug and Connie Clark, Pelham; W.J. Edmiston, Birmingham; House Consultants, Birmingham; Alicia Huey, Birmingham; David and Tammie Jackson, Birmingham; Morris and Sue Jackson, Birmingham; Riley & Jackson, Birmingham; Telecom Enterprises of Arkansas, Birmingham; Mike and Robin Wood, Birmingham
$200 — Alan Engel, Jasper; Mike Hale, Trussville; Adm. John Natter, Hoover; Joe Rives, Hoover; Gwen Vinzant, Birmingham
$100 — Alison Bradley, Hoover; David Bradley, Hoover; Kenneth Gomany, Birmingham; Michael Hudson, Hoover; Paul Logan, Hueytown; Keith Parrott, Mountain Brook; Linda Spear, Hoover; Merv and Bettie Torme
STEVE MCCLINTON
$5,000 — U.S. Steel Corp., Pittsburgh
$3,000 — Steve McClinton, Hoover
$1,500 — Ifediba Law Group LLC, Birmingham
$1,000 — Eugene Borgosz, Pelham; Gallant Lake LLC, Pelham
$500 — Coman Baum Jewelry Services Inc., Birmingham; CCN Asset Management Co., Birmingham; Dan Fulton, Hoover; Lake Cyrus Club Prop LLC, Birmingham
$250 — Dr. and Mrs. David Conner, Homewood
$144 — Judy Miller (in-kind food)
$140 — Don Miller (in-kind food)
$100 — Karen Apel, Hoover; Subbu Bodem, Hoover; Trent Cowsert, Birmingham; Darrell Dinkel, Hoover; Dr. Don Gibson, Franklin, Tenn.; Todd Langner, Trussville; Steve Payne, Birmingham; Michael Spear, Valley; Betty Jean Woodward, Lizella, Ga.