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File under ‘not terribly surprising:� In their , incumbent City Council members running for re-election show a sizable fundraising advantage over their sparse opposition.

The reports, filed 120 days out from the May election, show . He reports $87,624 in contributions, with $7,912.61 spent, and $80,123.19 remaining cash on hand. By comparison, former council member Brigid Shea, who is exploring a run for mayor but hasn’t yet declared, , with only $3,200 remaining.

The rest of the reports tell a similar story:

• Mayor Pro Tem and Place 6 incumbent $ 54,425 in contributions, $19,299.18 spent, and $36,000.82 cash on hand.

• Place 2 council member $70,460 in contributions, $10,059.34 spent, and $64,654.04 remaining.

• Place 5 council member $3,1460 in contributions, $6438.76 spent, and $25,521.24 left in his campaign chest.

The two challengers for a council seat � Laura Pressley and Kris Bailey, neither of which have yet declared with place they will run in � report far less. $3,100 raised, $767.49 in expenditures, and $2,332.51 remaining. Bailey reports in the time period.

The pronounced fundraising difference between incumbents and challengers is due in part to the role campaign “bundlers� play. As fundraisers who solicit donations on a candidate’s behalf, bundlers can radically beef up a candidate’s war chest. Leffingwell names nine bundlers in his report, Cole names seven, Martinez names four, and Spelman names one: David Armbrust. A for Downtown law firm Armbrust & Brown, Armbrust serves as a bundler for all four incumbents. Neither Shea, Bailey or Pressley name any bundlers.

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