Taveras is leading fundraiser among candidates for mayor of Providence 
By Philip Marcelo  |  Providence Journal

PROVIDENCE — Democratic mayoral candidate Angel Taveras led all challengers in fundraising during the most recent campaign-finance reporting period with $140,000, the second-straight quarter that the former city Housing Court judge raised more money than his more established rivals, state Rep. Steven M. Costantino and City Councilman John J. Lombardi. 

But Costantino still possesses the largest political war chest, more than $500,000 in campaign funds. He came in second in fundraising during the quarter with $108,000. Lombardi finished third with about $75,000. 

Taveras campaign director Lauren Nocera says that the second quarter (April 1 to June 30) results show the 47-year-old Mount Pleasant resident has built substantial grass-roots support behind his campaign since he declared his intentions to run in late February.  The campaign has pledged not to take money from city workers and those who do business with the city, and has received less than 1 percent of its money from political action committees, or PACs, during the second quarter, she said. 

“At the end of the day, we raised a quarter of a million dollars [in total] through none of the usual suspects,” Nocera said. “We raised more money than our competitors, we out-raised three attorney-general candidates, and went neck-in–neck with [gubernatorial candidate Lincoln] Chafee.” 

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