AUGUSTA — Mayor David Rollins hauled in more than $15,000 ahead of his win in the November election, raising and spending six times more than his chief rival for the city’s top office.

Rollins raised $15,510 to William Dowling’s $2,585 on his way to winning 58 percent of votes in this year’s mayoral race, according to final campaign finance reports submitted to the city on Tuesday. The former city councilor will serve a year as mayor, the remaining portion of former Mayor William Stokes’ term.

Most of Rollins’ money — more than $13,000 — was spent early in the race, between Sept. 17 and Oct. 21. He reported spending $5,400 on signs and literature printed by J.S. McCarthy Printers in Augusta, with the company donating another $750 in material to his campaign. The mayor bought $4,800 in print advertisements with the Kennebec Journal, also paying Don Roberts, an opinion columnist for the newspaper, $3,000 to manage his campaign in its early stages. In all, Rollins spent $15,474.

Dowling, who was mayor of Augusta from 1999 to 2006, never caught up: He spent just $600 before Oct. 21, including $500 in Kennebec Journal ads. He ramped up his spending late in the race, spending $1,260 for signs and literature at J.S. McCarthy in late October and early November. Campaign-long, Dowling spent just $2,555.

Rollins got money from many prominent Augusta businesses, including $750 each from G&E Roofing, $500 each from Charlie’s Motor Mall and O’Connor Motors. Dowling was backed by a few businessmen, including Larry Fleury, who gave him $300, and Kevin Mattson, an owner of Dowling’s employer, Dirigo Capital Advisors, who gave him $400.

Outgoing Ward 1 City Councilor Michael Byron ran a write-in campaign for mayor. There were 117 write-in votes in the race; however, all weren’t necessarily for him.

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He spent $944 total in the race, on Kennebec Journal ads and on lawn signs from Garant Graphics in Hallowell. However, since he reported raising no money in the report filed this week, his campaign carried $944 in debt.

Michael Shepherd — 370-7652

mshepherd@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @mikeshepherdme


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