ST. PETERSBURG -- Ed Helm said he didn't pay the state's roughly $1,600 election fee because he didn't have enough cash in his campaign chest.

Helm, the third wealthiest candidate for mayor, according to financial disclosure forms, said he won't self-finance his campaign. Helm, a retired lawyer, also ran for mayor in 2005.

"We spent a significant amount of money last time around," he said. "This time, I hadn't raised very much money and we are determined that we are not going to self-finance this and this campaign is going to have to be supported by the community. I think it will be, from the type of support I am getting."

Helm raised $11,405 between April and June. He loaned his campaign $10,100.

He said he will pay the state fee if there is sufficient money in his campaign account after the election.

Helm recently spent several weeks in Costa Rica to mark his daughter's birthday and do some volunteer work. He missed several mayoral forums in June and July, prime campaign time heading into the September primary.

"I don't regret going," he said. "I am catching up and I realize I need to catch up a little."

Cristina Silva, Times staff writer

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