Ad-time buy reduces Traficant war chest

No 17th Congressional District resident has given more than $50 to the former congressman's campaign.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Former U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr.'s campaign is running low on money after it bought $32,976 worth of advertising time.
Before going to federal prison July 30 for bribery and racketeering, Traficant of Poland said he had filmed two television commercials that would air in the final days of the congressional campaign. As of Thursday, there have been no Traficant campaign commercials.
But a financial disclosure report filed Thursday with the Federal Election Commission shows that Traficant's campaign had $16,302 left in its coffers.
The campaign paid $32,976 to Keynote Media Group, a Youngstown company, for "media time purchase." Another $159 went to Massaro Productions of Youngstown for "advertising message."
Traficant, an independent, is running in the 17th Congressional District against Democrat Timothy J. Ryan of Niles and Republican Ann Womer Benjamin of Aurora. The financial reports filed with the FEC, which take in the time between Oct. 1-16, are the last ones congressional candidates file before the Nov. 5 general election.
Overall, Traficant's campaign spent $40,470 in the first half of October. The rest of the money went toward campaign materials, stamps and $1,000 in monthly rent -- $500 for the Girard office and $500 for the Ravenna office.
Comparison of donations
Donations trickled into Traficant during the first half of the month. He collected $8,426 during that time frame compared with $94,359 for Womer Benjamin and $45,192 for Ryan.
Traficant has not received any campaign contribution of more than $50 from any resident of his congressional district. Candidates do not have to report the names of people who contribute $50 or less.
Of the money Traficant raised Oct. 1-16, $1,000 came from Everard Book, a retiree from Englewood, Fla.; $130 came from Keith Conrad of Atlanta, N.Y.; $70 from William G. Gerke of San Bernardino, Calif.; and $34 from Brian D. Wilson of Cleveland. The committee did not list their occupations.
Of the $94,359 Womer Benjamin raised in the first half of the month, $71,000 came from the Republican National Committee for in-kind TV air time, and already has been spent. Of the rest, $13,500 came from political action committees and the rest came from individuals.
Also, Womer Benjamin filed reports with the FEC saying that she received $11,000 in contributions after the Oct. 16 deadline.
Listing expenses
Besides the Republican-paid TV commercials, Womer Benjamin's biggest expenses in the first half of October included $4,285 to Casey Communications of Columbus for communications consulting; $8,368 to Capital Square Printing of Columbus for printing fees; $6,859 to Kathy Clark of Columbus for salary; and $4,070 for postage.
Of the $45,192 Ryan raised in the first half of the month, $25,500 came from PACs and the rest from individuals. He also reported to the FEC that his campaign raised $25,500 after the Oct. 16 deadline.
Of the $107,053 he spent in the first half of the month, $76,000 went to media buys. He paid salaries to nine staffers during the first 16 days of October, including $3,000 to Allen L. Ryan, his campaign manager and brother, who received $9,500 in salary between July 11 and Aug. 30 and is owed another $3,000 by the campaign. He also put Two Ticks and a Dog, a Warren company which does his commercials, on salary for $1,000, and paid $2,345 to Fraioli and Associates, a Washington company, for a consulting fee.
The three candidates have raised nearly $1 million for this congressional race.
From the beginning of the year through Oct. 16, Ryan has raised $518,941 and spent $441,075. In comparison, Womer Benjamin raised $317,219 and spent $293,950, and Traficant raised $77,488 and spent $133,647 during the same time period. He had about $40,000 in his campaign fund before Jan. 1.
6th District
In the 6th Congressional District race, U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland, a Lucasville Democrat, continues to spend more and raise more money than Mike Halleck of Salem, his Republican opponent.
Of the $36,616 Strickland raised in the first half of October, $26,250 came from PACs and the rest came from individuals.
Strickland spent $201,373 during the first half of the month, including $162,360 to MacWilliams Robinson & amp; Partners of Washington, D.C., for media buys and $2,500 to the company as a retainer. Strickland also paid $22,000 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee for "advertising: media," says his FEC report.
Of the $17,495 raised by Halleck in the first half of the month, $8,600 came from PACs and the rest from individuals. Halleck also reported to the FEC that his campaign raised $3,500 after the Oct. 16 deadline.
Halleck spent $69,478 during that time period, much of it for advertising and mailings. Halleck also had to give $7,000 back to the Columbiana County Republican Central Committee, which exceeded the allowable donation limit by a county political party to a congressional candidate.
From Jan. 1 to Oct. 16, Strickland raised $706,526 and spent $605,781, while Halleck raised $169,548 and spent $136,563.
skolnick@vindy.com