Snyder attracts more donations
Greene County Commission Chairwoman Pam Snyder reported about $40,000 more in total contributions and receipts during the latest campaign finance reporting cycle than her opponent in today’s primary, longtime incumbent state Rep. Bill DeWeese. Snyder is challenging DeWeese for the Democratic Party nomination for the 50th Legislative District, which encompasses all of Greene County and parts of Fayette and Washington counties.
Donations and receipts received from March 29, which was the end of the first reporting cycle, through May 3, which was the end of the second cycle, were due on the second cycle report, which was due on May 7.
Snyder’s second cycle report states that she received $124,583, mostly from contributions, but many of those contributions were made before March 29.
She reported $126,152 in total funds available, which includes $1,569 carried over from the first reporting cycle, and $98,767 in expenses, leaving her with a $27,384 cash balance.
In-kind donations totaled $4,487 and interest from checking accounts was $13.19, according to Snyder’s report.
DeWeese reported $25,833, mostly in donations made during the second cycle timeframe.
He reported $86,238 in total funds available, which includes $60,404 carried over from the first reporting cycle, and $37,499 in expenses, leaving him with a $48,738 cash balance.
Bank account interest totaled $33.43 and DeWeese reported no in-kind donations.
Snyder received 20 contributions of more than $250 from political action committees that totaled $40,050. Allegheny Power’s PAC donated $10,000, the Green Team of Jefferson, where Snyder lives, made two donations totaling $6,000 and the CEI & CNX PAC and the Western Pennsylvania Laborers PAC of Pittsburgh both made $5,000 contributions, according to the report.
The Pennsylvania Coal PAC gave $1,500 and the re-election campaigns of Westmoreland County Commissioners Thomas Ceraso and Tom Balya each contributed $1,000.
Service Employees International Union Local 668 in Harrisburg contributed $750, the Atlas Energy PAC gave $500 and the Pennsylvania Democratic Caucus of County Commissioners gave $400.
There were 57 other contributions of more than $250 totaling $71,350.
Donations of $5,000 came from Charles Reggs of Waynesburg, who is president and chief executive officer of Shaft Drillers International in Morgantown, W.Va., David Widmer, president of Widmer Engineering of Beaver Falls and James Jones of Carmichaels, who owns Blue Mountain Equipment Rental in Uniontown.
Contributions of $3,000 came from GenPower executives in Massachusetts and Morgantown and Robert C. Hoover of Waynesburg, who is president of Alcer Solutions of Canonsburg.
Gary Bowers, president and CEO of Producers Supply in Waynesburg, and John Garlow of Uniontown, who is president and CEO of Ford Business Machines of Connellsville, gave $2,500 each.
James Laurenta, president of Medco/Dana Mining of Morgantown, contributed $2,400.
Donations of $2,000 were made by Duane Yost, president of Yost Drilling in Mount Morris, and two executives from Horizon Properties of Canonsburg.
Contributions of $1,000 came from Lloyd Blaker, president and CEO of RYM Manufacturing in Waynesburg, John Pratt, president of Jack’s Excavating in Carmichaels, Ann Droca, owner of Droca International in Nineveh and James Rizor, owner of R.J. Lumber of New Freeport.
Jason Neighbors, owner of Vending Solutions in Dilliner, and Frank Ricco, owner of Carmichaels Golf Course, contributed $500 each and Alfred Burns, owner of Burns Drilling and Excavating in Wind Ridge, gave $400.
Residents as well as owners and executives of energy, construction and other businesses in Allegheny and Washington counties and West Virginia also contributed.
Snyder received 61 other donations between $50 and $250 totaling $11,775 from residents in Fayette, Greene and Washington counties, West Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts and New Jersey.
Snyder also received donations between $50 and $250 totaling $550 from four PACs.
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers PAC in Pittsburgh and Progressive Leadership of Pittsburgh gave $200 each and Washington County Commissioner J. Bracken Burns’ re-election campaign contributed $100.
DeWeese received contributions of more than $250 from 11 PACs totaling $15,500.
The Pennsylvania State Education Association Political Action Committee for Education of Harrisburg donated $7,500 and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees AFL-CIO Council 13 in Harrisburg gave $2,500.
The Pennsylvania Automotive Association PAC of Harrisburg and Law PAC of Harrisburg contributed $1,000 each.
Donations of $500 came from the Pennsylvania Bar Association PAC, Friends of state Rep. Thomas Caltagirone of Berks County, Tennant Association Coalition PAC of Harrisburg, Pilots Association for Bay and River Defense PAC, Pittsburgh Firefighters Local 1 and Pennsylvania Amusement and Music Machine Association PAC.
DeWeese received four other donations of more than $250 totaling $4,000.
Douglas Farnham of McMurray (no employment information provided) gave $2,000 and John Laurita of Morgantown, W.Va., (no employment information provided) gave $1,000.
Contributions of $500 came from Herschel Matthews, owner of Matthews Farms in Dilliner, and David and Lisa Jordan of Dilliner (no employment information provided).
Thirteen PACs made donations of $250 totaling $3,250.
They are the Pennsylvania Bankers Public Affairs Committee of Harrisburg, First Energy PAC of Akron, Ohio, Pennsylvania Healthcare PAC of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Insurance PAC of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Professional Firefighters Association PAC of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Cable PAC of Harrisburg, NRA Political Victory Fund of Fairfax, Va., Buchanan, Ingersoll and Rooney law firm of Pittsburgh and the re-election campaign of state Rep. Robert Belfanti of Mount Carmel.
DeWeese also received 23 other donations between $50 and $250, mostly from residents in Fayette, Greene and Washington counties and Harrisburg.