Take a quick look at the contributions database on the Maryland State Board of Elections Web site and it appears that only eight of the 16 candidates running for Prince George’s County Council seats this fall have raised any money.
Not so, say some of those listed with a zero balance in their campaign coffers.
Flo Hendershot, of New Carrollton, said she has raised about $35,000 for her District 3 campaign since this spring but won’t have to report her financial status to the state until Aug. 15.
“I can’t imagine that there’s a lot of interest in how I raise my money except by other candidates,” said Hendershot, who is running for the seat being vacated by her husband, Thomas Hendershot.
Hendershot and seven other county council candidates fall into a seven-month gap between the last financial filing required by the state on Jan. 18 and the next deadline in mid-August. Of the eight candidates listed as raising a total of more than $176,000, some have raised a few hundred dollars while others have collected more than $40,000.
Samuel Dean, D-District 6, of Mitchellville, had raised the most money, according to the state, at $47,529.69.
Dean said church members and residents have been doing a good job of keeping the campaign funded since September. A Web site also helps people make a contribution to the re-election effort, Dean said.
“We have not been working that hard at trying to raise money,” Dean said.
Hendershot said no one has made a contribution to her campaign based on the amount someone has already given and she doubts whether the average voter would take time to cull through financial numbers.
“I don’t think anyone notices it except other candidates and other people in the political business,” Hendershot said.
