Stewart outspends Stansell by almost $30K for Briley seat

In the race for Rep. Rob Briley’s legislative seat, Democratic lawyer Mike Stewart is putting his fund-raising lead to work, spending in excess of 15 times more money during the second quarter than his primary opponent.

Stewart, an attorney at the politically active law firm of Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, spent about $30,000 during the second quarter, his campaign tells The City Paper.

That’s in comparison to his opponent in the Aug. 7 Democratic primary, Eric Stansell, who says he spent about $1,945 during the quarter ending June 30.

While his financial disclosures for the second quarter are not yet available, Stewart’s campaign has spent money on mailers, yard signs that proliferate the district, a full-time paid staffer, a part-time staffer and invitations to various events.

“I have been very blessed to have a lot of friends and some relatives who know about my work on progressive Democratic causes and who have pitched in with contributions,” Stewart said.

Stewart’s spending spree is thanks to his strong first quarter when he padded his campaign’s bank account, raising more than $65,000. He was able to snatch up the low-hanging fruit of campaign contributions from attorneys, many of whom practice within his own firm.

He raised about $26,000 from fellow Waller Lansden lawyers, according to a previous City Paper report, during the first quarter.

Stewart said his connections within the legal field have “obviously helped my fund raising.”

During the second quarter, Stewart raised about $11,000, his campaign says, including a $1,000 contribution from Mayor Karl Dean. Stewart said he was an early supporter of Dean’s mayoral bid, contributed financially and calls him a “great mayor.”

Stewart finished the second quarter with about $30,000 in the bank.

A fellow East Nashville attorney, Stansell tells The City Paper he took in $5,760 for the second quarter. Stansell now has $9,093 in his campaign account as of the end of the quarter.

Stansell said the race is “awfully close” for Stewart to have outspent him by almost $30,000 and he said it does not “take a great deal of money” to win the primary.

“I think anyone would rather have more money than less money. I think that’s a given,” Stansell said. “If you have more money, it gives you more options. That being said, I’ve been very judicious in my expenditures, and I’ve spent very effectively so far.”

The pair of East Nashville attorneys is competing for the District 52 House seat, which Briley (D-Nashville) is vacating. The district mainly represents East Nashville but swings south of town to cover areas of Oak Hill and Green Hills as well.