Simmons Reports Big Haul in First Quarter for Stamford Race.

Stamford Democrat Caroline Simmons collected $157,000 in the first quarter of the year for her race for the Democratic nomination for mayor. The popular state legislature is challenging incumbent David Martin.

Simmons family contacts are in evidence in the report, which includes donations from far flung contributors. Republican Art Linares, a former state senator and Simmons’s husband made a maximum contribution, $1,000.

Fellow Democrats in the legislature brought some coal to Newcastle with their contributions. The first quarter report is a traditional place for a challenger to send a message to an incumbent–and Simmons has done that. She will be a formidable opponent in the September primary against Martin.

The Simmons campaign spent only $9,500 to begin the first three months of the race.

Baseball legend Bobby Valentine is expected to roil the race with an independent bid in the November contest.