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By JEFF HORSEMAN, Staff Writer

Reports filed with the Annapolis Board of Elections this week show that Ms. Moyer, a Democrat, still has nearly $67,000 on hand. She took in about $1,200 and spent a little over $23,000 between Sept. 12 and Sunday.

Mr. Renaut collected $6,850 during the same time, more than any other candidate for elected office in the city. He spent about $5,100 and had nearly $4,800 left as of Sunday.

The other candidate seeking to unseat Ms. Moyer, Republican Ward 4 Alderman George O. Kelley Sr., received $630 and spent $6,278 between Sept. 14 and Tuesday, leaving him with just under $3,000.

Ms. Moyer's campaign manager, Kathy Nieberding, wasn't concerned about Mr. Renaut's fund-raising momentum. The mayor has had no formal fund-raisers recently, although she's raised money steadily over her four-year term.

"We have what it takes to run the nuts and bolts of the campaign," Ms. Nieberding said, adding that the mayor's strongest asset is her record of accomplishments and long history of public service.

Mr. Renaut attributed his fund-raising surge to his campaign's late start. He declared his candidacy in July.

"If I raise $20,000, I'll be happy," he said.

A Murray Hill resident who has headed local civic groups and the city's Historic Preservation Commission, Mr. Renaut is drawing a lot of his support from downtown.

Many of his contributors live in Ward 1, which covers the downtown area. He said his fund-raising efforts have been concentrated there.

Ms. Moyer has traditionally enjoyed strong support in her home ward of Eastport, but lost Ward 1 to Republican Herb McMillan in the 2001 election.

Some downtown activists have been at odds with her over issues such as her support of 2 a.m. licenses for downtown bars, a position she held as Eastport's alderwoman in the 1990s. But her administration's handling of the Market House may be fueling the fire.

The collapse of a deal to lease the City Dock market to Dean & DeLuca was an embarrassment for Ms. Moyer. Critics accuse her of covering up the deal's failure, a charge Ms. Moyer strongly denies.

Mr. Renaut said he's been "amazed" at how the Market House issue resonates outside Ward 1.

"Practically every door I knocked on brought it up," he said.

Alderwoman Louise M. Hammond, D-Ward 1, called the Market House "the last straw for a lot of people."

She said Mr. Renaut is attracting people all over Annapolis who are upset with the mayor.

"People are looking for a candidate to vote for and have been very disappointed with what's been going on in the administration the past four years," said Mrs. Hammond, who's not seeking re-election.

Her husband, former alderman and county Budget Officer John Hammond, has volunteered his time waving signs for Mr. Renaut at city intersections.

Ms. Moyer said she's done a lot for Ward 1, including improving downtown's look, tackling its parking woes and advancing tax credits for residents to renovate historic properties.

"The same people who were opposing me (in 2001) are opposing me now," the mayor said. "They're contributing to (Mr. Renaut's) campaign."

Mr. Renaut also is getting support from outgoing Ward 2 Alderwoman Sheila M. Tolliver, whose relationship with Ms. Moyer has been adversarial at best. Mrs. Tolliver has given $1,000 to Mr. Renaut, according to finance records.

"It's not retaliation," Mrs. Tolliver said. "It's just exercising my right of citizenship."

The election for mayor and the eight aldermen takes place Nov. 8. The new council will take office in December.