Hogsett raises $900K in 3 months in campaign for Indy mayor

Former U.S. Attorney Joe Hogsett has sprinted out to an early fundraising lead in the Indianapolis mayor’s race, pulling in more than $900,000 in a three-month period, according to campaign finance reports.

Of course, he didn’t need much to take first place. His competition is still trying to figure out who’s running.

The early glimpse at Hogsett’s warchest comes courtesy of a quirk in Indiana’s election law that requires campaigns to file out-of-cycle reports if they change treasurers, which Hogsett’s campaign did in November. Annual finance reports aren’t due until Jan. 21.

From Aug. 18 through Nov. 21, Hogsett raised $916,899, bolstered by a few major contributions and more than 250 individual donations.

His campaign spent $45,488 in the period, leaving him with $871,410 cash on hand.

The figure dwarfs that of Republican Mayor Greg Ballard’s first campaign in 2007, when he raised $375,000 to incumbent Mayor Bart Peterson’s $4.2 million. Ballard’s 2011 campaign was the most expensive on record; Ballard raised nearly $4.9 million, while his Democratic challenger Melina Kennedy raised nearly $3.7 million.

The bulk of Hogsett’s haul came from individuals, a group comprised primarily of attorneys, CEOs, business owners and consultants.

Attorney Jeffery Mallamad, a partner at Barnes & Thornburg, gave $110,100, the most of any donor. Cindy Simon Skjodt, and Deborah Simon, both of Carmel, gave $100,000 each. The two sisters are daughters of the late mall tycoon Melvin Simon.

Hogsett also reported $35,250 raised from PACs, $20,400 from labor unions and $22,950 from corporations. He raised $101,797 from miscellaneous groups, such as businesses and political campaigns.

Thomas Cook, a spokesman for Hogsett’s campaign, said the staff expects to release the total numbers from 2014 well before the next filing date.

Republicans, meanwhile, are rapidly approaching a more ominous deadline. They still have to find a candidate before Feb. 5, the drop dead date to declare for the primary.

The Rev. Charles Harrison, founder of the Ten Point Coalition, has launched an exploratory committee, but has not decided if he’ll run, or for which party.

Call Star reporter Brian Eason at (317) 444-6129. Follow him on Twitter: @brianeason.