Polivka and Logan pay their own way

More information has been provided about a commissioner's missing money.
By STEPHEN SIFF
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- In the first six weeks of 2004, Trumbull County Commissioner Dan Polivka spent more than $26,000 to keep by election the seat he won by appointment.
That figure is more than double what any other candidate in either race for Trumbull commissioner spent, and most of it came from Polivka's own pocket, according to reports filed Thursday at the Trumbull County Board of Elections.
Polivka collected about $2,000 worth of donations and lent his campaign about $10,000. He lent his campaign nearly $26,000 last year, when he successfully ran for Warren councilman at-large and lobbied for the commissioner appointment.
Candidates often borrow money for their political campaigns from personal bank accounts, and in many cases leave the loans on their campaign books for years.
Many other candidates in two crowded races for the Democratic nomination for county commissioner are also paying their own way.
Logan
The runner-up in the spending sweepstakes, Gwen Logan, is seeking the same seat as Polivka. She has spent $14,000 and lent her campaign $10,000 since January.
Logan has never before run for office. Since January 2003, she has lent her campaign $30,000 and spent nearly $27,000. She also collected about $12,000 in contributions.
A third candidate in the race for Polivka's seat, Donald Barzak, since January has spent more than $11,000 of mostly other's people's money. But he has also lent his campaign $3,500.
Commissioner Joseph J. Angelo Jr. was the spending leader in the crowded race for the Democratic nomination for the seat he now holds. Angelo has spent nearly $11,000 since January.
The runner-up, party-endorsed candidate Paul Heltzel has spent $9,000 of the $16,000 he lent his campaign.
None of this, however, compares to the spending for Trumbull County coroner. The incumbent Democrat, Dr. Ted Soboslay, has spent more than $57,000 over the six-week period to fend off a challenge from Dr. Phillip Malvasi, who has spent almost $20,000.
Soboslay lent his campaign $58,000 to pay for the race; Malvasi lent his campaign $22,000.
Angelo's money
A report filed Thursday also provide additional information on the $4,000 in campaign funds reported stolen last year from Angelo's pocket.
In a May 23 police report, Angelo said he believed a burglar broke into his home and stole $4,000 in campaign cash from a pair of pants hanging in his pockets on April 26.
He later said the actual amount of the cash withdraw from his campaign was $6,000, but $2,000 was in a different pocket and was overlooked by the thief.
According to the report filed with the board of elections Thursday, Angelo made a $6,000 "cash withdraw for investment purposes" from his campaign's bank account on Feb. 13, then replaced the money with two cash donations to his campaign on June 13.
The board of elections does not generally require candidates to provide bank records to prove donations were made, and Angelo did not provide any. However, election rules prohibit cash donations more than $100.
"Someone stole the money, and I replaced the money," Angelo said. "I'm the guy who is out the $4,000. It came from my personal savings."
Angelo said the money was invested in six-month certificates of deposit. He could not be reached Thursday evening to resolve questions about the dates of these transactions.
siff@vindy.com