A Carlsbad City Councilwoman who doesn't plan to run for re-election in 2012 has easily twice as much money in her campaign chest as one candidate who's announced that he's running for mayor next year, new campaign financial forms filed with the city show.

Councilwoman Ann Kulchin, who has served on the council since 1980, ended the first six months of 2009 with $37,309 in her campaign chest. The financial forms also indicate that she spent $4,600 during the period.

After being re-elected to the council in 2008, Kulchin announced that this would be her final term in office. Her spending during the first six months of the year consisted of donations to various organizations, including $2,500 to the Carlsbad Boys & Girls Clubs.

Kulchin said Friday that she plans to continue to distribute money from her campaign chest in this fashion in the years to come.

"It will be used in Carlsbad eventually," she said.

Kulchin said she has no plans to roll a large chunk of her money into someone else's campaign, saying she thinks candidates should raise their own money.

Forms recently filed by other elected city officials and by people who've run unsuccessfully for elected positions showed they have far less money than Kulchin in their campaign chests.

Councilman Matt Hall, who has announced that he is running for mayor in 2010, ended the first six months of 2009 with $13,594 in his campaign fund. Hall collected $500 during that period and spent just under $1,400, his paperwork indicates.

He is the only candidate so far to announce that he's running for mayor. The longtime incumbent mayor, Bud Lewis, has said he will not seek re-election in 2010.

Incumbent Councilman Mark Packard ended the reporting period with less than $7,000. Councilman Keith Blackburn, who was elected in 2008, reported collecting $12,561, including $2,275 that he gave his campaign. After expenditures and payments on campaign debts, he had $6,420, his forms indicate.