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The candidates running in Frederick city's election raised less money and spent more in the last cycle of financing their campaigns, according to campaign finance reports filed on Monday.

The candidates raised a combined $38,755 between Aug. 14 and Oct. 1, according to the reports, which is about $22,000 less than the same group of candidates raised in the first round of campaign finance filings submitted on Aug. 17.

Twelve candidates, two for mayor and 10 for aldermen, also spent about $10,000 more than they did in the first stretch of fundraising before the city's Sept. 15 primary.

Democratic mayoral candidate, Jason Judd, led the pack in contributions this past cycle, raising a little more than $14,000 from Aug. 14 to Oct. 1 — which is nearly triple the amount of money raised by the majority of the candidates during the same time period.

His opponent on Nov. 3, Republican mayoral candidate Randy McClement, raised $2,410 in the second round of fundraising, and spent about $4 547, his report states. His highest donation was $500 from the Realtors Political Action Committee of Maryland.

Judd said he believed his credentials have earned him the support, which came from a broad range of 120 individuals in the latest round. The highest donation he received was $1,250, from Frederick city resident Dennis Hoffman, however the vast majority of Judd's donations are less than $100.

The city's campaign donation cap is $2,500.

Judd's total contributions ring in at $44,864 in financial and in-kind support since his campaign started. Supporters donated about $30,000 in Judd's first round of fundraising, he reported in August before the primary election, during which he also raised significantly more than any other candidate in the primary race.

"I think people want to support the campaign," Judd said. "We're offering a vision for the city, and I think folks appreciate the experience I've had at the city level, the state level and the national level. It's good preparation for this job."

Judd spent a little more than $17,000 between August and October, about $4,000 more than detailed on his last finance report. He said the heavy spending came in the weeks leading up to the primary, with mailings and advertisements.

Judd, who as of Oct. 5, had an account balance of $4,680, has three fundraisers planned in the coming weeks.

But, Judd maintains that his biggest boost has come from non-monetary gains.

"While we've done a good job raising money, we've also done a good job of getting volunteers, who are out there talking us up," he said. "I think that's the real strength of the campaign."

McClement raised $5,348 in the first finance reporting cycle, which gives him a total amount of $7,758 in overall campaign fundraising. McClement said he had hoped to raise more money between August and the Sept. 15 primary, and in the last reporting cycle, but it has been proven that his modest monetary gains have not held him back.

"I can't answer the question as to why people don't give," McClement said. "But I ran on what I had, I made do with what I garnished. I tried to get people to support me with votes in the primary, and that's all that matters."

McClement has about $951 left in the bank to get him through the city's Nov. 3 general election, and said that although he would continue to raise money, he remembers that money doesn't guarantee votes.

"I'd love to be the biggest fundraiser if that was the way you win the contest, but that's not the way you win," McClement said.

The top fundraiser in the Democratic aldermanic race was Karen Lewis Young, who also took the top spot in the primary, raised $4,548 in the fundraising cycle months, of which she spent $3,886.

The top fundraiser in the Republican aldermanic race was Shelley Aloi, the only candidate who needed neither contributions nor expenditures to get her through the primary election.

Aloi — who had a balance of $0 in both categories until August — raised $2,963, of which she has spent $2,276, her report states. The majority of her donations are in-kind donations — which are services in lieu of money — which she said has been the most humbling and valuable display of support.

"It's a matter of networking," Aloi said." I've found that people love to give in different ways."

E-mail Erica L. Green at egreen@gazette.net.