City Councilor John R. Connolly raises $166,000 in April in bid for mayor

By Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff

City Councilor John R. Connolly raised more than $166,000 in April for his run for mayor, more than double his fund-raising total in any previous month, according to his campaign.

The haul brought Connolly’s political account to almost $500,000, according to a statement from his campaign. It kept Connolly near the front of the pack for fund-raising and gave him significantly more money than many of his opponents.

“We’re thrilled by the accelerating growth of our donor base,” Connolly’s campaign manager, Nathaniel Stinnett, said in a statement. “These April donations reflect a surge in new donors and increased enthusiasm across the city for John’s vision for an inclusive Boston with safe, healthy neighborhoods and world-class public schools.”

So far this year, Connolly has raised $360,000 from more than 1,500 people, according to the campaign; the balance of money in his account was raised earlier. April fund-raising totals for other candidates should be available in the next few days on the website of the state Office of Campaign & Political Finance.

The only mayoral candidate with a larger bank account is Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley, who began the year with $868,000. City Councilor Michael P. Ross ended March with almost $226,000 in his political account. Records show Ross deposited more than $121,000 in April.