But several candidates in this year's race are breaking piggy banks all over town to help them spread the message of their campaign.

Three candidates in the race for Wendell town board have filed paperwork with the Wake County Board of Elections, stating that their campaigns will spend more than $3,000 in this year's race.

A fourth candidate has said he will spend almost that much.

And the fundraising and spending isn't just limited to candidates.

Two political action committees have also filed notice with the Board of Elections indicating that they will be campaigning this year, too.

Christie Adams, Ginna Gray and Glenn Harris have each raised more than $3,000 in this election cycle.

Ira Fuller said he will not cross the $3,000 threshhold, but he says he will bump up against it.

That figure is important, because it triggers requirements to increased campaign reporting.

While some candidates are raising a lot of money, other candidates aren't taking any. Fuller says he is financing his campaign out of his own pocket.

Ronald Thompson, the only incumbent in the field, isn't taking any contributions either. "I've had people come by the house and write me a check, but I've said 'No.' I've had some of them get kind of upset with me over it, but I do not want anybody to say I'm obligated as they can say now about some of the candidates," Thompson said.

Gray, who has raised $5,578 in cash and in-kind contributions, says she doesn't feel obligated to her donors.

"To be perfectly honest, I have enough integrity to do what's right for Wendell. I believe that's what makes the difference," Gray said. Her largest single donor is John Lewis, who is a plaintiff in the lawsuit against the town over its decision to rezone land for a proposed expansion of the Pepper Pointe subdivision. He gave the Gray campaign $1,000. Lewis also contributed $1,000 to Adams' campaign. As of Sept. 29, Adams reported raising $4,161. She dismisses concerns that money is playing an improper role in the campaign. "People are worried about who's contributing to a campaign. I would be more worried about who's running," Adams said.

Harris, the third candidate who has crossed the $3,000 threshold, reported raising $4,087 in cash and in-kind donations as of the Sept. 29 reporting date. Lewis also donated $1,000 to the Harris campaign as did Judy Edwards, another plaintiff in the Pepper Pointe lawsuit. She also donated $1,000 to the Adams campaign. Harris, too, says the amount of money raised in this year's campaign is not important.

"I haven't brought in a huge amount of money," Harris said.

Other candidates lag far behind the top three in fundraising. James Parham says he has raised about $1,000 for his campaign. Most of that money came out of his own pocket. He did collect $100 from Everette Webb.

Lee Batson said she has spent nearly all of the $800 or so that she has raised. All but about $300, she said, was her own.

While the candidates are raising and spending money, political action committees are also getting in the game.

Citizens for a Better Wendell, created prior to the 2007 election cycle, was reactivated this year. They have not yet filed detailed spending reports with the Board of Elections. The deadline for those reports is Oct. 29. Dan Edwards, the treasurer for that group, is Judy Edwards' husband.

Another group, Citizens for Wendell's Progress, has raised $2,500 from a handful of individuals, including William Barker, the developer of the Pepper Pointe subdivision. Bruce Lynch is the treasurer for that group.