May 8, 2007 By Amy Zalar 4 min read

Incumbent Democratic Fayette County Commissioner Vincent A. Vicites had more money on hand than all of the other four Democratic candidates combined with nearly $62,000 in available funds in the last few months, according to pre-election campaign expense reports filed Friday. In advance of the May 15 municipal primary, Vicites campaign finance report lists total funds available of $61,843, while Sean M. Cavanagh’s report lists funds of $44,027 and Vincent Zapotosky’s lists available funds of $16,075.

Neither of the other two Democratic candidates, John “Toots” Croftcheck or John “Sonny” Mikita, reported receiving any monetary contributions during the first four months of 2007. Croftcheck listed expenditures at $1,222, while Mikita listed expenditures at $3,040.

All five Democratic and two Republican candidates were required to file at the Fayette County Election Bureau what’s known as the second Friday pre-election report by May 4. The report covers the reporting period from Jan. 1 through April 30.

The only two Republican candidates seeking that party’s two nominations, incumbents Joseph A. Hardy III and Angela M. Zimmerlink, are separately running mostly self-financed campaigns, although the amount of money each raised varied greatly.

Hardy, the billionaire founder of 84 Lumber, reported all of his $54,852 in campaign contributions during the reporting period came from him. He spent $44,038 on the campaign, leaving a balance of $10,813. Among Hardy’s expenditures is $530 in the form of two $265 payments to Kingfish Worldwide for sound systems for two separate rallies. Mark “Kingfish” Wasler, who is a member of the Fayette County Airport Authority and who voted to rename the Connellsville Airport after Hardy, runs Kingfish Worldwide.

Zimmerlink listed contributions of $1,300, with $300 of that amount from herself and her husband, while her father-in-law gave a $1,000 contribution. She spent slightly more than $700, leaving a balance of almost $600.

Vicites’ available funds of $61,843 include $43,103 in carryover contributions he previously received. Late last year Republican Hardy gave Democrat Vicites a $20,000 contribution. Vicites’ most recent report included expenditures of $28,522, leaving an ending cash balance of $33,320. He also reported unpaid debts and obligations of $23,906.

Among the notable individuals contributing to Vicites campaign in addition to Hardy were Fayette County Airport Authority members Terry Shallenberger and Jesse Wallace III, who each contributed $200. Former U.S. Rep. Austin Murphy contributed $100, while engineer Terry McMillen contributed $1,500. Former Redstone Township Supervisor Ray Paris contributed $100 and Luzerne Township Supervisor Ron DeSalvo contributed $100.

The reports include several contributors who gave to more than one candidate.

McMillen also contributed $1,500 each to Cavanagh’s and Zapotosky’s campaigns, while Murphy contributed $200 to Zapotosky in addition to the $100 he gave Vicites. Ray Bologna of Burgettstown contributed $200 to Vicites and $100 each to Cavanagh and Zapotosky.

Cavanagh and Zapotosky, who recently announced they are running together as a team, had numerous instances of receiving common contributions, in addition to McMillen.

Cavanagh and Zapotosky received contributions of $1,000 each from John Garlow, owner of Ford Business Machines which several months ago lost out on the copy machine contract for Fayette County. Also, Cavanagh received contributions of $250 from jury commissioner Doug Sepic, while Sepic contributed $100 to Zapotosky. Melvyn Sepic of Uniontown contributed $200 to Zapotosky and $250 to Cavanagh, while engineer John Over contributed $200 to Zapotosky and $500 to Cavanagh. Businessman Arthur J. Boyle Jr. of Laughlintown contributed $1,100 to Cavanagh and $400 to Zapotosky.

Cavanagh and Zapotosky each received $200 from South Union Township Supervisor Rick Vernon and both men separately received $500 from the Murtha For Congress committee of U.S. Rep. John Murtha, D-Johnstown.

Cavanagh’s report included available funds of $44,027 and expenditures of $34,931, leaving him a cash balance of $9,096. He also reported unpaid debts and obligations of $22,121.

Sean P. Lally, who is running for Fayette County controller, contributed $1,100 to Cavanagh, while former Fayette County Sheriff candidate Mark Santore contributed $2,000 to the former commissioner.

Zapotosky, a former coordinator for constituent services for both Murphy and former U.S. Rep. Frank Mascara, received $100 from Mascara, in addition to the contribution from Murphy. Zapotosky also received $200 from Fred Lebder, the longtime chairman of the Fayette County Democratic Party.

Zapotosky’s report included available funds of $16,075 and expenditures of $15,839, leaving him a cash balance of $235. He also listed unpaid debts and obligations of $9,767.