Thursday, July 18, 2013
YOUNGSTOWN
With a Democrat already announcing she’ll challenge him next year, U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson’s campaign is busy raising money for his re-election effort.
Johnson of Marietta, R-6th, raised $269,127.51 and spent $84,646.38 in the year’s second quarter, between April and June, according to a campaign finance report filed with the Federal Election Commission.
Including what he had before this filing deadline, Johnson’s campaign had $315,610.28 in his fund as of June 30.
Democrat Jennifer Garrison of Marietta, a former three-term state House member, says she will run next year for her party’s nomination to the 18-county 6th Congressional District seat. Also, state Sen. Lou Gentile of Steubenville, D-30th, is considering a run.
Because she just declared her candidacy and this filing was for financial activity up to June 30, Garrison did not file a report with the FEC.
The district includes all of Columbiana County and eight southern and central- western townships in Mahoning County.
Of the amount Johnson raised during the year’s second quarter, 65 percent of it came from political action committees, including several energy organizations. Johnson, a two-term incumbent, sits on the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Among Johnson’s biggest expenses were $20,000 to Communications Counsel Inc., his campaign’s media consultant based in Columbus, and $15,133.66 to Epiphany Productions, an Alexandria, Va., fundraising consulting business.
“This campaign finance report indicates that voters are already making their voices heard through their checkbook: they support Bill Johnson’s pragmatic conservatism,” said Matt Dole, a campaign adviser who works for Commun-ications Counsel.
In the 13th Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, a Democrat from Niles serving his sixth term, raised $87,570 and spent $76,196.76 between April and June.
Ryan, who represents a strong Democratic district, ended the second quarter with $110,411.83 largely because of money in the campaign account that carried over to this filing period.
Of the money Ryan raised in the second quarter, 76 percent came from PACs with several contributions coming from those representing energy companies. Ryan sits on the House Appropriations Committee.
Among Ryan’s biggest expenses was $9,000 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which raises money for Democrats running for U.S. House seats, and $10,110.88 to Fraioli & Associates, his longtime fundraising consulting firm. Both are based in Washington, D.C.
The 13th includes most of Mahoning and Trumbull counties.
In the 14th District, U.S. Rep. David Joyce, a Republican from Russell, raised $406,146.37 and spent $83,194.02 between April and June. About 42 percent of what he raised in the quarter came from PACs.
Joyce, serving his first term in Congress, had $786,326.24 in his cam-paign fund as of June 30.
Michael Wager, an attorney from Beachwood, is seeking the Democratic nomination for the 14th District seat.
He raised $145,133.85 and spent $114,636.37 between April and June. Only 9 percent of what he raised in the quarter came from PACs.
Wager had $204,800.77 in his campaign fund as of June 30.
The 14th includes 11 northern townships from Trumbull County.