Who’s leading Atlanta mayor money race?

If money is the prime indicator of who’s going to be Atlanta’s next mayor, the 2009 election will be a photo finish between City Councilwoman Mary Norwood and state Sen. Kasim Reed (D-Atlanta).

Norwood, a two-term council member who represents the entire city, raised more money than any candidate in 2008, according to campaign disclosure forms reviewed Monday by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Reed, who ran both of Mayor Shirley Franklin’s campaigns, didn’t spend as much money on his campaign and had more cash in his war chest.

Political newcomer Jesse Spikes, a partner at the law firm of McKenna, Long & Aldridge, was third.

Franklin, a two-term incumbent, is prohibited from running for a third consecutive term. Election Day is Nov. 3.

Ten other people have filed paperwork to raise money to run for mayor. They are Peter Brownlove, Casey Dantzler, Rod Mack, Rob Mallard, Mary Martin, City Councilman Ceasar Mitchell, Duvwon Robinson, Amaha Selassie, Rufus Terrill and Dave Walker.

Most of them have not raised any money or did not file their campaign contribution report on time. There is a $25 late fee. It goes up by $50 if the candidate is more than 15 days late.

Here’s a closer look at the top candidates in the money race.

MARY NORWOOD

• Total raised in 2008: $510,327
• Donations between July 1-Dec. 31: $393,434
• Cash on hand: $275,172
• Notable donors: Charles Loudermilk, founder of Aaron Rents; John Sherman, founder of the Fulton County Taxpayers Foundation; City Councilwoman Anne Fauver; businessman J. Mack Robinson
• The skinny: Nearly all of Norwood’s donations came from Atlanta residents. Most are listed as retirees, physicians and homemakers.
• In her own words: “[The level of contributions] signals that this is indeed a campaign for all those Atlantans who want their city to work for them again.”

KASIM REED

• Total raised in 2008: $423,210
• Donations between July 1-Dec. 31: $225,805
• Cash on hand: $328,129
• Notable donors: Charles Moody, president of Moody Construction; developer Egbert Perry; state Sen. David Adelman, former Atlanta Chief Operating Officer Lynnette Young
• The skinny: Reed received contributions from donors in 15 other states and the District of Columbia. Reed said he’d abide by a state statute that prohibits Georgia General Assembly members from accepting contributions during the session.
• In his own words: “During my years in public service, I have fought for legislation to increase transparency and open government. It is in keeping with this spirit… that I will not accept any contributions for my mayoral campaign during the legislative session.”

JESSE SPIKES

• Total raised in 2008: $235,157
• Donations between July 1-Dec. 31: $82,452
• Cash on hand: $152,423
• Notable donors: Former U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher; Harvard Law School professor Charles Ogletree; Jeffrey Portman, president of America’s Mart; Atlanta Life Financial Co. CEO William Clement
• The skinny: Most of his donors were longtime friends, fellow attorneys and associates. Spikes said contributions will rise once more people meet him.
• The candidate’s take: “I believe that the people who don’t know me now, once they hear my ideas, they will be willing to support me.”