Craig Diego is the leading fundraiser in the four-candidate race for Auburn City Council.
Diego, an independent who has been endorsed by the Republican and Conservative parties, has raised $20,978.30 since launching his campaign for City Council. He has spent $15,679.83, which is also tops in the field.
Entering the final month of the campaign, Diego has $5,298.39.
Diego has outraised and outspent the two Democratic incumbents, Terry Cuddy and Ginny Kent. Cuddy, who is seeking a fourth term as a councilor, has raised $15,587 for his reelection bid. He has spent $4,688.87, which gives him the most cash on hand ($10,898.13) for the closing stretch.
Kent, who is vying for a second term on the City Council, has raised $7,711.09 and spent $1,284. She has $6,427.09 for the final weeks of the campaign.
Joe Villano, who is also supported by the Republican and Conservative parties, has raised $11,817 for his City Council campaign. He spent $5,850.51 and has $5,966.49 cash on hand.
The filings show the City Council race is competitive. Cuddy and Kent are incumbents who tout their records, from infrastructure improvements to water quality efforts. Diego and Villano are hoping to bring a different perspective to the City Council.
Democrats have held all five council seats for the last two years. The last Republican on the council was Tim Locastro, who served from 2020 through 2023.
Early voting begins Saturday, Oct. 25. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4.
District 10
Legislator Amy Sargent, a Democrat who was appointed to the Cayuga County Legislature鈥檚 District 10 seat in June, raised $4,314 and spent $1,576.66 for the upcoming special election. She has $2,737.34 remaining in her campaign account.
Sargent鈥檚 opponent, Republican candidate Mike Pettigrass, has not filed a 32-day report. According to his last filing in July, he had $2,287 in the bank.
Pettigrass and Sargent are vying for the seat vacated by former Legislator Stephanie DeVito, who resigned in April. DeVito, a Democrat, defeated Pettigrass in 2023 to win the District 10 seat.
District 10 covers the city鈥檚 southeastern neighborhoods. The election is to fill the remaining two years of DeVito鈥檚 term, which runs through 2027.
Government reporter Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on X @RobertHarding.
