By Scott Buttram
Publisher
TRUSSVILLE –The salary for the mayor of Trussville will jump from $60,000 to $75,000 annually for the next administration. The candidates seeking the office, councilmen Buddy Choat and Anthony Montalto, have combined to spend more than the winner will make next year as mayor.
Montalto has spent more than the current mayor, Gene Melton, earned in any of the 20 years that he served as mayor of Trussville. In the process, Montalto has out outspent Choat by a margin of more than 3-1.
Montalto contributions total $84,106.48, including in-kind donations of $11,559.03 and $30,000 in loans he made to the campaign.
He has received $42,547.45 in direct cash donations. Of that amount, $23,500 came from three political action committees (PAC) and out of town businesses. Two of the PACs, VPAC and BIZPAC, which contributed $12,000 and $2,500, are operated by former Alabama Power Company executives Stephen E. Bradley and Clark Richards, respectively. HAWK PAC contributed another $2,500. Out of town businesses gave $6,500.
The bulk of his in-kind contribution consisted of $11,059.03 was from the National Association of Realtors in Washington D.C. for advertising.
Following the election, Montalto will have a window of opportunity to raise funds to retire campaign debt. Any contributors donating for that purpose will not be reported until after the election.
Montalto has reported expenditures of of $63,971.08.
Choat’s contribution total, including $1,177.63 for in-kind donations, was $25,103.63. There were no loans recorded to the campaign.
Choat received $23,926 in direct cash donations. Of that amount, $2,075 came from a PAC and out of town businesses. That amount includes $1,000 from the Alabama Development PAC which is based in Birmingham and four out of town business that contributed a total of $1,075.
The largest in-kind contribution which was $676.54 came from Molly Flournoy for advertising.
Choat’s expenditures are reported as $19,582.82.
The runoff election between the two candidates is Tuesday. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.
22 Comments
Kim Holden Jones
Things that make you hmmmm!
Daniel Lincoln
Buddy’s whole campaign during the runoff has been based on an accusation that Anthony has been bought by a mysterious $12,000 donation from an out-of-town PAC and that Trussville residents should be very concerned about money in politics. Every single Trussville voter is an Alabama Power customer. The fact that Alabama Power contributed $12,000 to Anthony’s campaign means that they think the outcome of the election will have a big impact on Trussville’s future success and their customer base. The fact that Alabama Power is showing so much support to help the Montalto campaign defeat the Choat campaign speaks volumes about the qualifications of the candidates. The take away from this story is that Anthony has earned the support of Alabama Power (one of the largest employers in the state) and that Buddy’s accusations of dirty money in politics have no merit. I am so glad The Trussville Tribune published this story to reveal that the accusations against Anthony are unfounded.
Carol Miller
The article says “former ” Al power employees….not the company
Jessica Weathers Schaub
Exactly. This article has no real merit.
Bruce Ludwick
The narrative among many seems to be: spending money assumes corruption. But…let’s consider this scenario: maybe someone believes enough in Trussville to “bank on it” and has inspired everyone (from grassroots to corporations) to back the future of the city. Anthony Montalto for Trussville Mayor is this person, and he deserves your vote today!
Jessie Odell
That’s exactly how I see it Bruce. Some very successful people have invented in Trussville. Successful people who believe in Anthony, his abilities and his honesty. It seems the current mayor and buddy Choat are both trying to spin this into something negative. It’s obvious a vote for Choat is a re-election vote for Melton.
Kristi Lyle Jones
Can someone explain to me how the amount of money you spend on you campaign looks good or bad? I’m not seeing why this matters, but would love to know. Still not 100% sure where my vote will go.
Butch Cole
Doesn’t the sudden concern for one candidate’s financial future and the mathematical equation that is being DRIVEN home throw up red flags?
Outside investment interest is good for the people of Trussville. More worried about the inside influence. Only ones that are worried about the outside interest are the ones that haven’t had to complete. With more investment and competition for our and the city’s money comes more choices, a larger and better at marketplace for the people.
Seems to me that the day before the biggest election in Trussville history and the increased involvement of a lame duck mayor would have at least warranted a side bar but at least we didn’t get the” micro management of the school board” worked in some how. …of course I haven’t checked the site this morning? ????
Both got PAC money so really the story is one candidate raised more money, .,and that is bas how?
Curtis Norris
Vote for Buddy Choat today!!!!i
Denton Hooper
Mr montalto!!! Been is his office a time or two.. Mrs montaltos too haha
Kim Reid
Why would ANYONE spend more money to get a job than the job itself pays? Maybe they’re a special kind of stupid aren’t they
Trevor Waldo
Part of it is fiscal responsibility, which is absolutely imperative if you are talking about running a city. Do you want to elect someone who is smart with money and uses only what is necessary or do you want a mayor who peppered your mailbox with multiple copies of the same high cost full color card stock flyer?
Jessie Odell
Our presidents have been doing it for years…..lol
Kim Reid
And they’re also a very special kind of stupid as well
Jessie Odell
Kim Reid haha
George Fritsma
Seems like a non-issue.
Marc Ward
Congratulations Buddy on a HUGE win!!!!!!!
Marc Ward
I’d like to thank Tack Back Trussville for rallying Choat supporters and getting them to the polls
Butch Cole
Not sure of your intent honestly but TBT is a big collection of citizens, Choat and Montalto citizens but ALL good people who cared enough to step up.
Butch Cole
We created a group with several goals in mind and #1 was a new mayor. Accomplished
James S Vining
They aren’t spending their money, they spent other people’s money…
Kim Reid
Doesn’t matter WHOSE money they spend, I call it being stupid. Maybe they need to go back to economics class and relearn how to be fiscally responsible.