Boccieri leads in fundraising

U.S. Reps. Tim Ryan and Charlie Wilson each have about $300,000 in their campaign accounts.

By DAVID SKOLNICK

VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER

State Sen. John Boccieri’s financial advantage over others vying for the open 16th Congressional District seat is widening.

As of Feb. 13, Boccieri, a New Middletown Democrat, had $332,341 in his campaign account compared to $84,735 for state Sen. J. Kirk Schuring of Canton, the top Republican fundraiser in this race.

Boccieri continues to raise more money in each reporting period than Schuring as well as the other Democrat and two other Republicans seeking the seat.

In the pre-primary period between Jan. 1 and Feb. 13, Boccieri raised $82,058 compared to $58,570 for Schuring.

Candidates don’t have to file financial reports until they’ve raised or spent $5,000, according to the Federal Election Commission.

Canton Councilwoman at large Mary M. Cirelli, Boccieri’s primary opponent, has yet to file a financial report with the FEC.

The Fix, The Washington Post’s political blog, lists the 16th District as No. 2 on its list of seats most likely to change political party control in the U.S. House of Representatives. Retiring U.S. Rep. Ralph Regula, a Navarre Republican, has held the seat since 1973.

The district includes all of Stark and Wayne counties and portions of Medina and Ashland counties. Boccieri’s state Senate district includes a small portion of Stark.

U.S. Reps. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, and Charlie Wilson of St. Clairsville, D-6th, received modest contributions between Jan. 1 and Feb. 13, according to reports filed Thursday with the FEC. Ryan raised $17,210, and Wilson collected $11,400 in contributions.

Republican Duane V. Grassell of Mogadore, Ryan’s November general election opponent, and Republican Richard Stobbs of Dillonvale, Wilson’s general election challenger, have yet to file campaign finance reports.

As of Feb. 13, Ryan’s campaign had $294,928, and Wilson’s had $321,427.

Ryan’s district includes portions of Mahoning and Trumbull counties. Wilson’s district includes all of Columbiana County and a portion of Mahoning.

U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire of McCandless, Pa., D-4th, continues to raise large sums of money for his re-election bid. He collected $240,798 in contributions between Jan. 1 and Feb. 13, and as of that latter date, his campaign fund had $911,488.

Among Republicans, Melissa Hart of Bradford Woods, Pa., who lost her House seat in 2006 to Altmire, leads the way. Hart raised $147,380 during the six-week pre-primary filing period. Her campaign had $332,342 cash on hand as of Feb. 13.

The district includes all of Lawrence County and a portion of Mercer County.

skolnick@vindy.com