Both Columbus City Council candidates — Tiara Ross and Jesse Vogel — are planning to run ads ahead of November's election.
Both campaigns aren't saying if these ads will appear on television, but both say paid media on social media and streaming platforms are something they are looking at. Vogel's campaign posted on Instagram on Sept. 7 that they were beginning to film ads.
Millie Vaughn, Ross' campaign manager, told WOSU on Monday they also plan to produce ads ahead of the election.
"We plan on communicating through many channels of paid media, and we plan on using everyone at our disposal," Vaughn said.
Eden McKissick-Hawley, Vogel's campaign manager, said Vogel's campaign needs to raise a lot of money as Ross' campaign receives thousands of dollars from elected officials in an effort to help get her elected.
"While we are so proud of the work that Jesse has put in to be able to compete in this way against this machine, we are not naive. And we know that we still have a ways to go," McKissick-Hawley said.
The financial health of both campaigns also got an update over the weekend. Recent campaign finance reports filed with the city of Columbus show Vogel significantly outraised Ross, according to recent filings in what is shaping up to be one of the most competitive city council races in years.
Vogel raised significantly more than Ross, bringing in over $175,000, compared to Ross' total of more than $21,000. The latest filing covers the months after the May primary until early September.
Vogel also currently has more leftover in his account than Ross.
After spending $32,630, Vogel has $157,000 left in his campaign account. Ross spent $21,000 and has $12,000 left in her account.
Ross' allies, however, have plenty of campaign funds to spare. Combined together, all nine sitting city councilmembers have over $380,000 in their campaign accounts.
City Attorney Zach Klein has over $934,000.
Concerns over both candidate's finances from before the primary also linger in their reports.
Ross brought in over $10,000 from in-kind contributions from three sitting city councilmembers who have endorsed her — Emmanuel Remy, Rob Dorans and Shannon Hardin. The three paid for much of Ross' campaign consultation costs.
Vogel is raising a lot of money from outside of Columbus, but he raised significantly more money from Columbus and Franklin County residents compared to before the primary. A lot of that came from 10 fundraising events Vogel reported holding in Columbus.
Vaughn said there aren't any plans for Ross to appear in ads with any elected officials like the three sitting council members helping to fund her campaign or Klein, who is her boss.
