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Struthers mayoral candidate raised $17,280 to $100 for his opponent during first 3 1/2 months of year
YOUNGSTOWN
Danny Thomas Jr., a Democrat running for Struthers mayor, raised $17,280 compared with $100 by his opponent for the open seat during the first 31/2 months of this year.
Ronald Carcelli, who’s also seeking the Democratic nomination in the May 5 primary, also raised only $200 during the second half of 2014.
But that doesn’t mean he isn’t financially competitive.
Carcelli, who’s been planning to run for mayor for a while, raised $11,098 during the first half of 2014 and had $6,637 left over from his successful 2013 Struthers school-board race.
As of Jan. 1, Carcelli had $11,888 in his fund and added $100 from a March 26 donation.
Carcelli spent $2,974 – primarily on campaign materials – between Jan. 1 and April 15, leaving him with $9,014 as of the latter date.
Thomas, a former council member, didn’t start raising money for his campaign until Jan. 27. But once he started, he didn’t stop.
Thomas received $17,280 in campaign contributions.
A longtime Democratic political consultant, Thomas received $100 contributions from Bill DeMora, the Ohio Democratic Party secretary, and Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley’s campaign; and $250 from state Representative and former ODP Chairman David Leland’s campaign fund.
Thomas spent $8,325 during the reporting period. Like Carcelli, most of Thomas’ expenses were for campaign materials such as mailers, yard signs, door hangers and shirts.
Candidates and committees backing issues on the May 5 ballot had to file pre-primary campaign finance reports by Thursday.
The Ohio Education Association gave $8,297 to the Citizens for South Range Schools, which is backing a 4.9-mill, three-year additional levy to raise $931,838 annually on the May 5 ballot.
The Columbus-based OEA represents about 121,000 teachers, faculty members and support staff in Ohio’s public schools, colleges and universities.
The Citizens for South Range Schools was required to file a report by Thursday but failed to do so.
Among the candidates running for the seven council seats in Youngstown, Councilman Nate Pinkard, D-3rd, raised the most money, $10,853. He also loaned $2,000 to his campaign.
Pinkard is among eight of the 21 Youngstown council candidates to loan money to his campaign.
Of the candidates, Rick Alli, Pinkard’s Democratic primary opponent, loaned the most to his campaign, $4,000.
In Trumbull County, races for Niles and Warren mayor have attracted large amounts of contributions, especially for Warren Mayor Doug Franklin, who has no opponent in the May 5 Democratic primary but will have a challenge from independent Dennis Blank in November.
Franklin, who is completing his first term as mayor, raised $36,968 and spent $1,294, leaving him with $38,582 to spend the rest of the way.
He received 10 contributions of $1,000 or more. For example, Franklin received $1,000 each from C.J. Betters and Victor DeGeronimo, partners in the purchase of the former RG Steel Mill just south of Warren. The mill is being demolished. It is in Howland and Warren townships with a small part of it in the city of Warren.
Additionally, Franklin received $3,368 worth of in-kind contributions from his safety-service director, Enzo Cantalamessa, for food and banquet services provided by the Cantalamessa family business, Enzo’s Restaurant on Elm Road in Warren.
Niles Mayor Ralph Infante, who is receiving a challenge from former longtime Niles councilman Thomas Scarnechia in the Democratic primary, raised $23,025 in contributions and has $10,912 left. Scarnecchia raised $3,280 and has $1,124 left.