Durango City Council candidate Gilda Yazzie reported a surge in donations compared to her fellow candidates during a two-week reporting period leading into the April 4 election.

Two of the five candidates will be elected Tuesday to fill vacant spots on the council.

In the two weeks since the last reporting period ended, Yazzie raised $2,260. Dave Woodruff followed, adding $1,350 to the bank, with Carter Rogers just behind him by gathering $1,033. Harrison Wendt trailed the pack, accumulating just an additional $270. Douglass Snow has not raised any money.

The latest reports only paint a partial picture of the size of the candidates’ base. According the previous round of reports, filed on March 14, Wendt had raised over $11,000 and Woodruff raised $8,360. Yazzie’s reported contributions totaled $5,355.

Yazzie credits her surge in support to her dedicated efforts to run a “lean, mean campaign machine.” She has started printing all campaign flyers in black and white to save costs, she said.

“I’ve been out there every day and people are hearing my message about how we’re going to make Durango more inclusive,” she said. “... People are excited about the fact that if I do get elected, I will try to bring diversity to City Council.”

For Rogers, the $1,030 he raised also marks an increase in his fundraising from the $192.16 he had accumulated as of March 14.

Rogers has received nods of support from members of the La Plata County Republican Central Committee, including features in four Facebook posts and a letter to the editor in The Durango Herald.

As of Friday, Yazzie had just $465 on-hand. Woodruff has the most available cash with $3,705.15. Rogers still has $616.70 and Wendt has $357.26.

Early reports indicated that voter turnout has been historically low.

The ballot boxes and polls close at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 4.

rschafir@durangoherald.com