urbanMSP

When Marlow asked whether the lobbyist’s clients would make a donation to Thao’s mayoral campaign, she had “no frame of reference as to the meeting or its outcome,” Nelson wrote in his letter. “The mere request for a campaign donation, without some evidence of a proposed quid pro quo, is not illegal.”

Nelson also wrote that the people at the February meeting said Thao’s vote on a potential food packaging ordinance was not discussed.

“They also stated that Council Member Thao did not express his position, either for or against, such a materials ban for the city of St. Paul,” Nelson said.

St. Paul mayoral candidate Dai Thao has raised more than $142,000 during the most recent campaign finance reporting period, trailing rival Pat Harris but outpacing Melvin Carter over that time, according to a report filed by his campaign.

While the report shows that Thao, who represents the First Ward on the City Council, has not raised as much as Harris and Carter overall, he rivals them in cash on hand with more than $97,000 eight weeks before the election. Harris has $119,297 cash on hand; Carter has $52,643.

In total, Thao has raised more than $171,000 — more than $80,000 less than what Harris and Carter have each raised. Thao, Carter and Harris have raised far more than other mayoral candidates.