Billy Keyserling spent $40,018, Mayor Bill Rauch $19,325 and Peter White $300, according to final campaign disclosure forms filed with the State Ethics Commission last week.

The money was used to pay for signs, television commercials, polls, newspaper ads, radio spots, a Web site, campaign consultants and mailings in a contentious race to be Beaufort's chief.

Rauch narrowly carried the November election with 49 percent of the vote, separated from Keyserling's 47 percent by only 97 votes, while White finished with 4 percent.

"In this case, my opponent (Keyserling) was spending so much I had to keep up with him," said Rauch, adding that most of both his and Keyserling's money went to newspaper ads.

A series of ads by Rauch and Keyserling in October became an exchange over each other's supposed positions on sensitive issues like taxes and building new roads through neighborhoods.

White deemed it "bickering and fighting" and complained of an overabundance of signs around town, thinking the amount spent by the candidates was exorbitant.

Rauch laughed off a suggestion for campaign finance reform for the city and defended the use of almost $9,000 of his own money.

"If I hadn't spent the $9,000 of my own, then I would have been outspent 4 to 1 and that would have been tough to compete with," Rauch said.

Keyserling also spent about $9,000 of his own money in the campaign, much more than the $300 from White's pocket that was spent on his small signs.

"I would presume getting a name out, going door to door, and a mailing explaining your platform should be enough," said White.

But Rauch said being a candidate with deep pockets doesn't hurt, either.

"I don't know that it's unfair, but its certainly an advantage," Rauch said.

White speculated that Keyserling and Rauch spent so much money because of a pride in being the mayor of Beaufort, and said that the victorious Rauch "likes being the center of attraction."

But Rauch said there was no pride involved, just a desire to help improve the community.

"It gives me a lot of satisfaction to help the city," Rauch said. "I'll keep doing the job as long as I think I can help."

Rauch said he enjoys employing lessons locally that he learned from more than 10 years working in City Hall in New York for former Mayor Ed Koch, including time as Koch's press secretary and advance man.

Regardless of the amount of money spent, Rauch says the way to win elections is to get out and meet the voters.

"I like to ring doorbells," Rauch said. "And the only way to do that here is to walk neighborhoods."

Keyserling was unavailable for comment last week.