Two Surprise mayoral candidates have far outdistanced their competitors in campaign fundraising.      

Former Councilman Cliff Elkins has the fattest war chest with nearly $23,000, according to the latest round of campaign-finance statements due Thursday at City Hall.

Planning & Zoning Commission Chairman Lyn Truitt is not far behind, with more than $18,750 raised.

The other competitors have much smaller pots. Political newcomer Richard Jenkins has raised more than $7,000, Councilwoman Martha Bails more than $5,300 and resident Anthony Messina $3,700. Former Councilman Bob Vukanovich, raised $2,000 in loans only.

The mayor’s race is a significant one. There are a record six candidates vying to replace Mayor Joan Shafer, who steps down at year’s end after serving as the city’s leader since 1995.

Of Elkins’ contributions from individuals, only about 15 percent comes from Surprise residents. Many individual donations are from people with a stake in local development. For example, representatives from Element Homes, which builds models in Marley Park, donated about $2,370.

Political-action committees that donated to Elkins’ campaign include the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona, with a $1,000 donation, and firefighter groups throughout the Valley.

Truitt said that about two-thirds of his collected funds come from residents. The Friends of Lyn Truitt group raised nearly $7,000 early in the campaign.

However, during the period covered by this latest filing, June 1-Aug. 22, Truitt received a lot of contributions from individuals in the business sector. Element Homes representatives also donated $2,330, as did multiple real-estate professionals. Truitt operates his own real estate business.

Bails, who received no donations from developers, criticized candidates who accepted those contributions.

“Nobody had to buy Martha’s ear,” she said.

Elkins dismissed the remark.

“(Developers) have a comfort level, knowing what I’ve done for the last couple years,” he said. “And I didn’t solicit anybody. It all came to me.”

Truitt said it was clear that nobody with business dealings in Surprise was “looking for favors.”

“I recognize they are stakeholders,” he said. “They have a vested interest in what happens in Surprise. It’s reasonable they would want to participate in bringing in the best leadership.”

Other information gleaned from the reports: