From left: Bob Schumm, Mike Machell, Mike Dever, Hugh Carter and Sven Alstrom

In the race for three seats on the Lawrence City Commission, a trio of candidates have broken out to a clear lead when it comes to fundraising.

Candidates Mike Dever, Hugh Carter and Bob Schumm each had raised more than $13,000 for their campaigns through mid-February — according to new campaign finance reports — while the two remaining candidates in the field had raised less than half that amount.

Dever, the lone incumbent in the race, led the way. He raised $13,145 during the Jan. 1 through Feb. 17 fundraising period. That is in addition to about $1,800 he raised in December.

“So far, I believe the campaign is going well,” said Dever, who owns an environmental consulting firm. “It is an unfortunate situation that campaigns cost this much. But advertising is expensive, and it is important to try to engage the voters. That’s the one good thing about spending the money. It helps engage the voters.”

Carter, a Lawrence financial adviser, has the second highest overall total, but his fundraising pace slowed considerably after the first of the year. Carter raised $3,110 from Jan. 1 through Feb. 17. That was the fourth lowest total out of the field of five. But Carter had raised $10,900 before the beginning of the year. With the two combined, his fundraising totals are the second highest in the field.

Schumm, a former city commissioner and longtime downtown restaurant owner, raised $13,090 from Jan. 1 to Feb. 17. He received donations from 130 contributors, tops among all candidates during this reporting period.

Mike Machell, a human resources director and chair of the city’s library board, raised $3,885. That’s in addition to about $2,200 he raised prior to the new year.

Sven Alstrom, a Lawrence architect who was the last to file for the race, raised $625.

Electronic copies of each candidate’s filing statements — which include the names and amounts of donors — are available on LJWorld.com. Here’s a summary for each candidate:

Alstrom

Total raised: $625

Contributors since Jan. 1: 11

Top contributors since Jan. 1: Mary Davidson, retiree, $200.

Carter

Total raised: $14,010

Contributors since Jan. 1: 27

Top contributors since Jan. 1: Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 441, $300; Tom Dobski, area restaurant owner, $300; Dale Willey, local auto dealer, $250.

Dever

Total raised: $14,945

Contributors since Jan. 1: 102

Top contributors: Bill and Cindy Self, Kansas University basketball coach, $500; Doug and Ladonna Stephens, local real estate broker, $500; Tom and Marilyn Dobski, area restaurant owners, $500; Darcey & Gilbert Soto, homemaker/technology consultant, $500; Sally Hare-Schriner, retiree, $500; Edward and Polly Sloan, attorney, $500.

Machell

Total raised: $6,095

Contributors since Jan. 1: 42

Largest contributors: Teamsters 696 Drive for Kansas, political action committee, $500; Dale and Janice Willey, local car dealer, $250.

Schumm

Total raised: $13,090

Contributors since Jan. 1: 130

Largest contributors: McDowell Mountain, LLC, a retail liquor company, $500; South Mountain, LLC, a retail liquor company $500; Gaudreau Quinton Enterprises, a bar/restaurant company, $500; The Replay Lounge, a downtown bar, $500; Old Carpenters Hall Smokehouse, a restaurant company led by Schumm, $500.