Alex Wan: Fundraising prowess ‘humbling’

By Project Q Atlanta | Jul 8, 2009 | 4:30 PM

With the cash comes the bragging rights.

Alex Wan outpaced his opponents in the District 6 race for the Atlanta City Council in the second quarter, as Project Q Atlanta reported on Tuesday, and took a bit of a victory lap on Wednesday.

“I am humbled by the tremendous support and I am heartened because this kind of broad, early and strong financial support demonstrates that voters are looking for leaders who combine business experience with broad-based community service,” Wan says in a press release issued Wednesday.

The financial disclosure statements, which cover April through June, give Wan plenty to be happy about: He raised more than all of his opponents combined, enjoys a three-to-one cash on hand advantage and picked up donations from several influential LGBT activists and progressive state lawmakers. All in all, a pretty solid start for his campaign.

“Alex’s fundraising prowess is a credit to him personally and to the effective bridges and organizations he builds,” says Ken Britt, Wan’s campaign chair and executive director of law firm Alston & Bird.

Britt, who also serves as co-chair of the board of the Human Rights Campaign, gave $1,000 to the campaign as did longtime LGBT activist E.D. Cofrin; Paul Horning, a director of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund; and Tony Conway, who owns catering firm A Legendary Event. State Rep. Karla Drenner, the only openly gay member of the General Assembly, donated $400.

Wan raised $51,421.50 during the period, compared to $21,325 for Steve Brodie and $3,101 for Liz Coyle, one of two non-gay candidates in the race. Miguel Gallegos, a gay man who joined the race in mid June, said Monday that he wasn’t yet required to file a disclosure statement. Bahareh Azizi announced her campaign after the end of the latest filing deadline.

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