DeWeese, Roberts outspend primary opponents
HARRISBURG – When it comes to raising money to run for a state House seat in Fayette County, it’s no contest. The incumbents have the upper hand. State Reps. H. William DeWeese (D-Waynesburg) and Larry Roberts (D-South Union Twp.) both have raised more than $60,000 thus far for their re-election campaigns, according to the latest campaign finance reports.
Their opponents have raised only a fraction of that amount, if any money at all.
DeWeese, who also serves as the House Democratic leader, faces Lonnie Miller and the Rev. Robert Spence Jr. in Tuesday’s primary. No Republican candidate has filed to run for the seat.
Meanwhile, Terry Janosek is challenging Roberts in Tuesday’s primary.
The winner will face Republican Joe Sabatini in November’s general election.
Candidates for state offices are required to file periodic financial statements with the state Bureau of Commissions, Elections and Legislation. The most recent filing date was May 6.
DeWeese, of Franklin Township, Greene County, reported having raised about $63,000 for his campaign. Donations from political action committees accounted for about $24,000. Pennsylvania PACE alone gave DeWeese $11,000 in PAC money. Several individuals also contributed between $75 and $250 to his effort.
DeWeese reportedly spent about $46,000 on a variety of campaign-related expenses, including advertisements, mailings, a golf outing and $3,000 for a leased Ford vehicle.
By contrast, his opponents both raised less than $3,000. Spence, of Luzerne Township, reportedly raised $2,600, while Miller, of Cumberland Township, invested about $2,300 of his own money in his campaign. The two candidates used their money for expenses such as signs, ads and postage.
Roberts, of South Union Township, reported having raised almost $64,000. A number of individuals contributed $100 to $1,000 to his campaign. He also received about $15,000 from PACs, many of which were labor unions.
Roberts has spent about $6,500 for promotional items such as radio advertisements and signs.
His primary opponent, Janosek, loaned himself $10,000 for his campaign. So far, he has spent about $2,300 on signs, buttons, fliers and other items. GOP candidate Sabatini reported having raised no money so far.