CHARLOTTE — A campaign finance report says a Charlotte mayoral candidate spent nearly $4,000 of campaign donations on clothes and continued to spend money on food and a flight after losing the election.
Republican Terrie Donovan ran against Mayor Vi Lyles last year.
Our partners at the Charlotte Observer asked Donovan about those post-election purchases. She told them there was a delay with transactions being posted to her bank.
A spokesperson for the Board of Elections says there is gray area regarding how and when candidates can spend their money.
A post-election expense could be justified if the candidate plans to run it in the next election.
Mayor Lyles’ campaign expense breakdown has been submitted to the state but is not yet available for the public to see.
The Observer reports she has not spent campaign money on clothes in the past.
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