Sunday, February 22, 2004
Most of the money raised by candidates goes toward TV and radio advertising.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- There's an adage in politics that money drives campaigns.
Apparently candidates running for Mahoning County commissioner subscribe to that philosophy because in just a six-week period, the top fund-raising candidates in both commissioner races raised a combined total of about $135,000, and took on more than $100,000 in campaign loans and debts.
All this for jobs that pay $68,052 annually.
Youngstown Law Director John A. McNally, a Democrat running for the commissioner seat currently held by Ed Reese, raised the most money of any Mahoning County candidate during the pre-primary period, which covers Jan. 1 to Feb. 11.
Candidates had to file pre-primary financial reports with their county board of elections by Thursday. Candidates who don't raise or spend at least $1,000 aren't required to file the reports. The primary is March 2.
McNally, Belinky
McNally raised $76,765 in contributions during the period.
Also, McNally lists $9,698 in other income. Except for $1,500 of that, which was a loan he gave to his campaign, that money was a refund from WKBN given when McNally pulled his commercials from the television station because of an employee lockout there.
That $8,198 refunded from the station was originally campaign contributions from donors, although McNally chose to list it on his financial form as "other income," meaning he actually raised nearly $85,000 from contributors.
Although McNally took in the most money, he has already spent almost all of it. McNally's campaign fund is left with $9,824, after he spent $76,638.
McNally spent almost $55,000 for television and radio commercials, and $12,733 to Prodigal Media, a Poland-based media company, in commissions for handling his media purchases and production.
Mark Belinky of Boardman, a Democrat in that race, raised $12,885 during the same time period, and lent his campaign $33,500. Belinky has spent $24,036, including $17,043 to Two Ticks and a Dog, a Warren company, for television and radio advertising and production fees. Belinky has $22,353 left in his campaign fund, more than twice what McNally has.
Ditzler, Traficanti
In the other commissioners' race, Austintown Trustee David Ditzler raised nearly $50,000 during the year's first six weeks, and has spent all but $8,615 of it. Ditzler, a Democrat, gave $25,520 to Burges and Burges of Akron to purchase advertising and produce his commercials.
Anthony Traficanti, a Democrat also running in that race, raised $16,998. He also accepted a $5,000 loan from his mother and accumulated $69,428 in personal campaign debt. Besides the debt, Traficanti of Poland has spent nearly $10,000 of the money he raised from others. Traficanti has committed $35,000 toward media advertising.
Sheriff
In another race of note, Sheriff Randall A. Wellington of Youngstown came into 2004 with $40,630 in his campaign war chest. He raised another $8,083 -- $4,460 from people in his employ -- during the first six weeks of this year, and has spent $19,159 on his campaign. Wellington has almost $30,000 in his campaign fund.
Former Sheriff Edward P. Nemeth of Boardman, who is challenging Wellington in the Democratic primary, raised $23,405 and has spent $16,168.
Howard L. Faison of Youngstown, also running for sheriff in the Democratic primary, raised less than $3,000 toward his campaign, and has only $694 left.
Prosecutor
In the Democratic primary for prosecutor, incumbent Paul J. Gains of Boardman has a large money advantage over his challenger, Brad Gessner of Austintown.
Gains had nearly $30,000 in his campaign fund going into 2004, and raised $32,715 from donors. He also lent $10,000 to his campaign.
Gains raised more money from his employees, $6,905, during the first six weeks of the year than the $5,580 Gessner raised from all his contributors during that same time frame. Gessner had $13,325 in his campaign fund going into 2004. He spent $12,230 during the first six weeks of the year, and has a $6,775 fund balance. He also has $8,349 in debt.
Gessner paid $10,000 to Two Ticks and a Dog to do his commercials, and still owes the company $4,561 in unpaid bills.
skolnick@vindy.com