O'Connor widens contribution gap - PittsburghLIVE.com: "Mark Rauterkus, a swim coach from the South Side who is running as a Libertarian, has raised $3,300 in cash and $4,000 in in-kind contributions. He has $100 left in the bank.
The numbers don't reflect the total amount of money coming into the Senate campaign, said John Verbanac, chairman of Neri-Verbanac, a political communications firm based in Harrisburg. He estimates Diven and Fontana each have at least $1 million in support, with state campaign committees paying for most of the TV ads and direct mailings.
Saturday, May 07, 2005
O'Connor widens contribution gap - PittsburghLIVE.com
Trib quote is on the money. They got it right with the reporting. Yes, I agee. The numbers don't reflect the total amount of money coming into the campaign. The numbers are reported -- but they are less than the whole truth. The real big spending is coming from other sources.
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O'Connor widens contribution gap
By Andrew Conte
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, May 7, 2005
The Teamsters union and a dozen other large contributors have put Democrat Bob O'Connor in the driver's seat in campaign contributions for the Pittsburgh mayor's race.
Already with more than double the money of any other candidate, O'Connor, a former City Council president, widened the gap over the past four months, according to campaign finance reports filed Friday. He has raised $1,185,280.
That's nearly double the combined total of the two candidates closest to him.
The nearest challenger in money, Allegheny County Prothonotary Michael Lamb, has raised $386,198. Pittsburgh Councilman William Peduto has collected $231,761. Lamb and Peduto are Democrats.
The lone Republican candidate, Joseph Weinroth, raised $250 this year and has a negative balance of $1,510.
"There's a point in every campaign in which the smart money begins to move to an apparent winner," said Joseph Sabino Mistick, a Duquesne University law professor. "These numbers may indicate the belief on the street is that O'Connor is considerably ahead."
In another hot local race -- a special election to fill the 42nd District state Senate seat formerly held by state Auditor General Jack Wagner -- the money reported did not match the record levels anticipated.
State Rep. Michael Diven, a Democrat-turned-Republican from Brookline, has raised the most money so far -- $192,011. Democrat Wayne Fontana, a former Allegheny County councilman also from Brookline, has raised $174,142.
Mark Rauterkus, a swim coach from the South Side who is running as a Libertarian, has raised $3,300 in cash and $4,000 in in-kind contributions. He has $100 left in the bank.
The numbers don't reflect the total amount of money coming into the Senate campaign, said John Verbanac, chairman of Neri-Verbanac, a political communications firm based in Harrisburg. He estimates Diven and Fontana each have at least $1 million in support, with state campaign committees paying for most of the TV ads and direct mailings.
In the Pittsburgh mayor's race, O'Connor's money lead is overwhelming.
Since January, he has raised $205,000 from 14 contributors -- more than the amount Peduto picked up from every contributor over that same period.
The Teamsters gave O'Connor $30,000. Former state Treasurer Barbara Hafer, a Republican-turned-Democrat from Elizabeth, gave him $25,000.
Twelve others each gave $10,000 or more to O'Connor's campaign.
His spokesman, Dick Skrinjar, said O'Connor "is humbled and thankful for the support he's received."
The other candidates say they're shifting to get-out-the-vote drives and have enough money to continue their campaigns through the May 17 primary.
"We are very proud of the hundreds of small contributors who have given to this race," said Lamb's campaign manager, Jennifer Pihlaja.
"We're just focused on turning it all out," said P.J. Lavelle, Peduto's campaign manager. "All that matters is who turns out 25,000 votes on Election Day."
Mayor's race money
Former City Council President Bob O'Connor has widened his lead in campaign contributions over his two main Democratic opponents in the Pittsburgh mayoral race, according to campaign finance reports filed Friday. Here are the top contributors to the candidates from Jan. 1 through May 2:
Bob O'Connor
DRIVE (Democratic Republican Independent Voter Education PAC for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters ) -- $30,000
Friends of Barbara Hafer -- $25,000
Silver Drive Partners, a development firm in Columbus, Ohio -- $20,000
Stephen C. Frobouck, president of Anderson Group of Cos., Fox Chapel -- $17,500
Gregg M. Perelman, managing partner of Walnut Capital, and his wife, Susan J. Perelman, Pittsburgh -- $15,000
Michael Lamb
Wesley Wyatt, president of Wyatt Inc., Philadelphia -- $16,000
Thomas F. Lamb Sr., retired lawmaker and the candidate's father, Mt. Lebanon -- $15,050
Peter Kalis, lawyer at Kirkpatrick & Lockhart, McCandless -- $10,000
Charles J. Queenan Jr., lawyer at Kirkpatrick & Lockhart, Mt. Lebanon -- $10,000
Douglas Campbell, lawyer at Campbell & Levine, Pittsburgh -- $5,500
William Peduto
William F. Benter, chairman of Acusis Medical Transcription, Pittsburgh -- $10,000
J.L.H. Simonds, self-employed, Pittsburgh -- $10,000
Robert Taylor, vice president of Pitt Ohio Trucking, Pittsburgh -- $7,000
Gregg M. Perelman, managing partner of Walnut Capital, Pittsburgh -- $5,606
James D. Scalo, executive at Burns & Scalo Real Estate Group Inc., Fox Chapel -- $5,000
Franklin West, executive at Franklin West Inc., Pittsburgh -- $5,000
Source: Allegheny County Elections Office<
Staff writer Glenn May contributed to this report.
Andrew Conte can be reached at aconte@tribweb.com or (412) 765-2312.
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