Candidates stay busy raising funds

The three 17th District candidates have raised almost $1 million combined.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- With only a few days to go before Tuesday's election, the major party candidates running in the 17th and 6th Congressional Districts races are busy raising last-minute funds for their efforts.
During the past two weeks, Democrat Timothy J. Ryan of Niles, who is running in the 17th District, raised $44,000, primarily from political action committees and Democratic members of Congress, says reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.
Of that amount, Ryan returned $5,000 to Team Majority, a PAC for U.S. House Minority Whip Nancy Pelosi, because the money exceeded the permissible contribution limit.
With the influx of new money, Ryan has raised $557,941 for his campaign this year.
Ann Womer Benjamin, an Aurora Republican, raised $33,500 in the past two weeks. Most of her money came from PACs and Republican organizations.
Womer Benjamin has raised $350,719 for her campaign this year.
Womer Benjamin has accused Ryan of accepting $67,000 in illegal contributions that exceed federal contribution limits under the guise of paying off primary election debt; a contention Ryan flatly denies. Womer Benjamin filed a complaint with the FEC about Ryan's contributions.
Must file notices
Congressional candidates must file notices with the FEC listing each contribution they receive of at least $1,000 less than 20 days before the general election, but not for the final two days of the campaign. Those notices must be filed with the FEC within 48 hours of receipt of contributions.
Candidates do not have to file reports detailing their expenses during the last 20 days of the election.
Former U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. of Poland, who is running as an independent candidate from his White Deer, Pa., federal prison cell, did not file any late contribution notices with the FEC.
Traficant, who is serving an eight-year sentence for bribery and racketeering, has raised $77,488 toward this campaign.
Between the three candidates, they have raised close to $1 million toward this campaign.
In the 6th District race, U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland, a Lucasville Democrat, continues to raise more money than Mike Halleck of Salem, his Republican opponent.
During the past two weeks, Strickland has received $33,000 in contributions, primarily from PACs. Halleck has raised $6,500 -- $3,000 from PACs, $2,500 from the Ohio State Republican Party, and $1,000 from James G. Grantz, a New Springfield plumber.
To date, Strickland has raised $739,526 for his campaign compared to $176,048 for Halleck.
skolnick@vindy.com