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Campaign-finance reports out
Photo
Early voting in Ohio is under way. Hugh Dillard, front left, and his wife, Mary, voted Tuesday, the first day to cast early ballots, at the Mahoning County Board of Elections office at the Oakhill Renaissance Center in Youngstown. Ann Simms, right, an elections employee, helps a man, who declined to be identified, before he voted.
YOUNGSTOWN
Jerry Greene, one of three Democrats running for sheriff, is the only Mahoning County candidate on the March 6 primary ballot to raise more than $100,000 during the last half of 2011.
The $106,720 raised by Greene is more than twice as much as any other Mahoning County candidate on the ballot. He raised all of it between Oct. 13 and the end of the year.
Greene, director of jail services for the sheriff’s office, received at least $1,000 contributions from 20 people during the last half of 2011, according to his campaign-finance report.
Candidates running for office this year had to file reports by Tuesday listing contributions and expenditures between July and December 2011.
Greene made $60,000 and spent $19,736 for a Nov. 2 fundraiser, according to his report.
As of Dec. 31, Greene had spent $45,520. Most of Greene’s money went toward purchasing time on local television stations for campaign commercials and for political consultants.
His two opponents in the Democratic primary, Poland Township Police Chief Brian Goodin and former Youngstown Police Chief Jimmy Hughes, raised small amounts in comparison.
Goodin received $1,700 and spent $143 while Hughes loaned $18,500 to his campaign, received no contributions from outside sources and spent $16,742 during the last six months of 2011.
Sheriff Randall Wellington, a Democrat who decided not to seek re-election, raised more money than Goodin and Hughes combined last year.
Wellington, who has endorsed Greene, received $23,092 in contributions, much of it at an August event when he hadn’t made a final decision on another run for office. He stopped raising money Aug. 22.
In the county prosecutor Democratic primary, incumbent Paul J. Gains received $32,131 in contributions during the last six months of 2011. He already had $34,020 sitting in his campaign fund as of July 1.
As of Dec. 31, Gains had $48,233 cash on hand.
Youngstown Prosecutor Jay Macejko, Gains’ primary opponent, had $41,282 in contributions during the second half of the year, including a $10,114 loan he gave to his campaign.
After expenses, Macejko had $20,333 in his fund as of Dec. 31.
Macejko and Greene received the county Democratic Party’s endorsement in December.
Among the six Democrats running to replace county Commissioner John McNally, only three raised at least $1,000.
Austintown Trustee David Ditzler, endorsed by the county Democratic Party for the seat, wasn’t one of them. He received $250 from fellow Austintown Trustee Lisa Oles and loaned $500 to his campaign.
Walter Pishkur received no money from others, but loaned $50,000 to his campaign in 2011.
Richard “Oz” Ouzounian had a $1,000 contribution and loaned $3,062 to his campaign.
Domenic DelMonte raised $1,360 for his campaign during the final six months of 2011.