AUBURN – Candidate C. Ellen Peters is outspending her opponents for one of the two open at-large City Council seats – as well as the rest of the candidates for city offices, according to financial reports filed Tuesday.

Peters has spent $3,124 so far in her bid on campaign signs, buttons, printing and radio and newspaper advertising.

Mayoral candidate Tammie Grieshaber is the second big spender. She’s doled out $2,805 for campaign supplies. Her opponent, John Jenkins, is third, spending $1,230 on campaign supplies on his bid for the mayor’s job.

Candidates were required to file reports detailing their campaign spending and the donations they had received by 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. According to city rules, they needed to detail contributions worth more $50 as well as all their campaign expenses. Deputy City Clerk Lisa Smith said candidates are required to file a final report on their spending by Dec. 19.

Peters’ at-large opponents have spent nearly one-tenth what she has, according to reports. David Burke has spent the next most, at $371. Ron Potvin is third, $307, and incumbent Councilor Bob Mennealy has spent $231 so far.

Ten of the 14 candidates for City Council seats spent less than $1,000. The four top spenders include Peters, Ward 4 candidate Bruce Bickford, who spent $1,091, Ward 3 incumbent Eric Samson and his opponent Dan Herrick. Samson has spent $1,006 and Herrick has spent $1,224.

Peters top fundraiser

Peters also leads in money raising, taking in $3,268 in campaign contributions. Contributors include former Mayor Lee Young, outgoing City Councilors Bethel Shields and Kelly Matzen, and Chamber of Commerce President Chip Morrison.

Mayoral candidate Grieshaber declared $3,149 in contributions, according to the report, from many of the same contributors.

Ward 3 incumbent Samson had raised $1,025, much of it from family members, as well as from Councilor Shields and Lewiston City Councilor Renee Bernier. Ward 2 incumbent Robert Hayes declared 37 contributions averaging $24 each, for a total of $882, according to the report.

Mayoral candidate Jenkins declared $600 in donations, all of it from Bette Swett-Thibeault of Lewiston.

Only one candidate failed to file a report before the deadline. At-large candidate John Spruill said Wednesday he was out of town and planned to file his spending report Wednesday.

School board cheap

Two candidates for Auburn School Committee reported campaign spending. Ward 2 candidate Bonnie Hayes spent $530 for signs and supplies. Her opponent Francois Bussiere reported spending $10 for a city voter list. Both reported no contributions.

No other School Committee candidates reported any contributions or campaign spending.