The money flowed out much faster than it came into the campaigns of the four major candidates for Baltimore County executive, according to finance reports for the 16-day period ending Friday.
With Tuesday's primary drawing close, expensive television and direct mail advertising took its toll on the candidates' treasuries.
For example, media ads drained $66,812.14 of incumbent Republican Roger B. Hayden's money. The executive's first television spots appeared this week on commercial stations.
Mr. Hayden raised $7,862 during the 16 days, but spent $102,259. He reported that he had $66,513 left to spend.
Mr. Hayden's chief Republican opponent, Donald Brewer of Eastpoint, said he had not added to the $5,765 he reported in mid-August. He said he spent most of the $1,673 remaining after the August report for a direct mail appeal to voters. George Egbert of Aero Acres, the other Republican candidate, has not reported raising or spending anything.
A money pattern similar to Mr. Hayden's was evident for Democrats Melvin G. Mintz, Charles A. Dutch Ruppersberger III and John C. Coolahan, though on a much more modest scale.
Mr. Mintz spent $57,638 for media advertising and an additional $22,494 for advertising sent directly to homes. He still has $171,350 on hand, slightly more than the $164,000 he and his family have lent his campaign.
Mr. Ruppersberger reported paying $180,913 for media advertising, mostly for television commercials, of $186,401 spent during the 16 days. He raised $43,112 in new funds and reported having $41,259 left for the primary campaign's final days.
Mr. Coolahan raised no new money and spent $7,453 on advertising, mainly radio ads. His low-budget campaign, which raised $26,125, still had $7,123 Friday.
"I've always been a long shot," Mr. Coolahan said yesterday as he fought a summer cold. "I'm hoping that [American Joe] Miedusiewski pulls well on the Eastside," he said. Mr. Coolahan has endorsed Mr. Miedusiewski's gubernatorial campaign.
Mr. Hayden, with $666,704 collected since his 1990 victory, is the champion fund-raiser so far, although much of his money has been spent for routine campaign expenses during the last three years.
Throughout his term, Mr. Hayden has kept a campaign office on York Road with a staff paid from campaign funds. Most previous county executives gave up their campaign offices after the election and often installed their campaign managers and some workers in county-paid jobs.
Mr. Ruppersberger, with $447,462 raised for the campaign, is tops for the Democrats, with Mr. Mintz, bolstered by his hefty loans to his campaign, close behind. Mr. Mintz reported raising $420,085.
Kevin Pearl, the Lyndon LaRouche follower running both for county executive and a seat on the 10th District Democratic State Central Committee, did not file a finance report. The 50-plus LaRouche candidates in the state filed a joint report.