Mayor Justin Bibb has half a million dollars to spend in his bid for a second term, more than a year before his name could again appear on Clevelanders’ ballots.
Bibb’s campaign committee reported having $510,463 on hand as of June 30, according to an unaudited filing this week with the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections. Of that, the mayor brought in more than $365,000 this year, adding to reserves he built up in prior years.
No candidate has yet stepped up to run against Bibb, who has said he intends to seek reelection. By posting strong fundraising numbers 15 months before Election Day 2025, the mayor might ward off potential challengers.
The mayor, who frequently sends fundraising appeals to his email list of supporters, reported more than 400 donations in the first half of 2024. Most contributions came from Ohio, but Bibb also received money from Virginia, California, the District of Columbia and elsewhere.
Among the donors were attorneys, developers, business owners, political action committees and stalwart neighborhood supporters.
Bibb received more than three dozen $5,000 contributions, the maximum that an individual can give to a Cleveland mayoral campaign. His maximum donors include developers Wesley Finch and Mitchell Schneider, philanthropists Albert and Audrey Ratner, entrepreneur Ansir Junaid and retired PNC Bank executive Paul Clark.
Another of Bibb’s $5,000 contributors is Aaron Eanes. A Northern Ohio native, Eanes and his brother André serve as business managers for Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce through their sports and entertainment company A&A Management.
The mayor reported relatively little money tied to the Cleveland Browns as City Hall negotiates a possible stadium renovation with the team. Although Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam often spend money in local and state politics, they did not write checks to Bibb. Browns executive David Jenkins did, however; he gave the mayor $2,500 in March.
A political action committee for Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert’s company Rock Holdings gave Bibb $1,000. Gilbert also owns the development firm Bedrock, which is poised to receive a 45-year tax-increment financing deal from City Hall for a major project along the Cuyahoga River.
Bibb also reported a contribution from Tony George, a Republican real estate investor, billboard owner and restaurateur who gives to both Democratic and GOP politicians.
When he first ran for mayor in 2021, Bibb criticized opponents who accepted George’s money. In turn, George labeled Bibb “not qualified.” Times have changed. This year, George and his wife each gave $5,000 to Bibb, and other relatives also donated to the mayor.
Bibb spent $90,727 in the first half of the year, largely on consulting, legal services, a campaign employee, payroll taxes and printing. One of the mayor’s consultings, local political firm Burges and Burges Strategists, is also running this year’s Cleveland school levy campaign.
