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ST. LOUIS — City Comptroller candidate Donna Baringer has outraised and outspent 30-year incumbent Darlene Green, according to campaign finance reports filed Monday.Ìý

A former state representative and alderwoman from ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Hills, Baringer took in almost $88,000 in contributions over the last month. Green and the PAC supporting her raised $35,000.

Green has not faced a strong challenger in decades for one of the most powerful jobs in city government. The comptroller has one of three votes, along with the mayor and president of the board of aldermen, on the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Board of Estimate and Apportionment, which approves all city spending and contracts. The comptroller runs the city's finance division, signs off on all city contracts and is in charge of internal audits, among other duties.Ìý

The race is close. Baringer came in ahead of Green by just 532 votes out of more than 41,000 cast in the March 4 primary.

With the April 8 election a week away, Baringer spent over $116,000 during the last month of campaigning. Green and her PAC shelled out $75,000.

Over the election cycle, Baringer raised some $200,000 and spent about $216,000 so far. Green and her PAC took in about $78,000 and have spent nearly $150,000.

But Green had cash in the bank when the campaign started. And, according to Monday's filings, she still had about $65,000 between her campaign account and the PAC to spend in the final days of the race. Baringer had just less than $22,000 in the bank.Ìý

Most recently, donors to Baringer included the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Police Officers Association, Commerce Bank, landlord Pete Rothschild, former city development director Barb Geisman and plaintiff attorney and civic booster Jerry Schlichter. Clark and two other Clayco employees pitched in some $6,600.

Green’s PAC took in a $10,000 contribution from the Kansas City-based Hardwick Law Firm, whose founder, Herb Hardwick, has worked for her office; he also contributed $2,000 himself. The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ teachers’ union and Service Employees International Union also donated to Green, as did several lawyers from Atlanta firm Greenberg Traurig.

Former ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Fire Chief Sherman George donated to Green, as did June Fowler, the chair of Cortex and a former BJC HealthCare communications chief.

For campaign finance reports in the mayor race, please seeÌýSpencer surpasses $1 million in fundraising, outraises Jones again.Ìý