MANSFIELD - Selectman candidates are spending thousands of dollars in the run-up to Tuesday's election, campaign finance reports show, but not all of them are taking donations from their supporters.

The most lavish spending so far has been by political newcomer Kevin Moran, who has raised $2,375 since mid-March, and spent nearly all of it on signs ($793.80), printing ($722.67) and postage ($615), according to a report filed this week with the town clerk's office.

Moran said the spending was necessary because he started off the campaign with the least name recognition among the field of prospective candidates.

"The outreach has gotten out to a lot of people," he said. "It's led to a lot of calls from people, and a lot of e-mails."

Most of Moran's money came from a personal loan of $1,500 that he and his wife made to his campaign, which Moran said came from a salary bonus he received.

"If you amortize what this is over the 30 or 40 years I've lived in town, it's a small price to pay if I can help the town out," he said. Moran received seven donations of $50 or more, including $200 each from Selectwoman Sandra Levine and Town Moderator Robert Saquet. Saquet is Moran's father-in-law.

The next-highest fundraising has been by finance committee member Jess Aptowitz, who has raised $1,625, according to his report. So far, Aptowitz has spent just under $1,000 on signs ($722.22), printing ($249.40) and postage ($26), his report says.

Aptowitz had a larger number of donors than Moran, with 14 donations of $50 or more. Among his supporters are three of Aptowitz's finance committee colleagues: Chairman Andy Gazzolo and James Lazzara, both of whom gave him $200, and Jack Goldberg, who gave $75.

Dan Pascucci, a write-in candidate, has also spent a decent chunk of change: $621.88 on signs and photocopies. But all of that money has come from Pascucci's own pocket.

Pascucci said he wants to show voters he would be independent and not beholden to anyone, if elected.

"I would love to take money from everybody - I would like a line of armored cars on my street, lining up at my door," Pascucci joked. "But it just doesn't look right."

Pascucci also criticized Levine for her $200 contribution to Moran.

"You could make a case that Mr. Moran is prostituting himself," he said, explaining that if Moran is elected selectman and Levine wants to become the board's chairman, she will need Moran's vote to get the post.

He added: "Look at it this way: Say that George Dentino sent me money. Think how that would look." Moran rejected the criticism as unfair, saying his family is extremely close to Levine's. He has been friends with Levine's son for more than three decades, and served as an usher at his wedding. He also said his wife's family is also close to Levine's.

"If she was or wasn't on the board, she would have done it," Moran said of the contribution.

He added, "To be honest, I'd never thought along those lines. It wasn't made with that intent in mind."

Levine could not be reached for comment.

The lowest fundraising thus far has been by Robert Goldman, who reported $445 in donations, about a third of which came in small donations of under $50.

Although Goldman's report did not list any campaign spending, he said in an interview that he has spent about $481 on signs, but hasn't received a bill for them yet. Goldman said he hopes to raise about $800 to $900 by the end of the campaign.

A fifth candidate, Hasib Thomas, did not submit a campaign finance report. He has been unavailable throughout the campaign.

TED NESI covers Mansfield for The Sun Chronicle. He can be reached at tnesi@thesunchronicle.com or 508-236-0333.