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Candidates file post election finance reports

By Patty Yauger pyauger@heraldstandard.Com 5 min read

Fayette County commission candidates spent more than $92,700 in the last weeks leading up to the Nov. 3 general election, according to the most recent campaign finance reports filed with the election bureau.

The figures also indicate nearly $111,000 remains unpaid to the candidates who loaned the money to their respective committees.

Commissioner Al Ambrosini, who lost in his bid for re-election spent $41,296 during the final phase of his campaign and retains a debt amount of $30,000.

The report, filed prior to the Dec. 3 deadline, reveals that his committee — Friends of Al Ambrosini — received $9,950 in campaign contributions, increasing his available funds on Oct. 20 to $45,921.

Ambrosini received $500 from the Iron Workers Political Action Committee, headquartered in Washington, D.C., and $5,000 from the WVF Political Action Committee based in Finleyville.

The committee additionally received a total of $4,000 in campaign contributions from five individuals donating $250 or more, including Steve P. Handy, Susan Sickle, Robert Sleighter, John Garlow and Joseph Maher. The campaign also received a total of $450 from three donors.

Ambrosini’s committee spent more than $37,343 for campaign advertisements, signs, materials, postage, poll workers and other related expenses.

The committee made several donations during the reporting period, including $100 to Friends of Jen Jefferies; $420 to the Geyer Theater; $375 to Penn State Fayette, Eberly Campus; $658 to the Connellsville Garden Club and $500 to the county Democratic Party.

The remaining expenditures were tied to campaign travel, luncheons, dinners and post-election meetings.

The committee reported a total of $4,624 remains in the committee coffers while the debt is related to the loans made by Ambrosini and his wife to the committee.

Jack J. Cole, who was unsuccessful in his first bid for political office, spent $22,280 during the two weeks leading up to the general election and during the four subsequent weeks.

The report shows that the Committee to Elect Jack J. Cole received no contributions during the time frame, but had carried over $22,624 from the prior reporting period.

The committee repaid Cole $14,800 in loan contributions with the remaining expenditure amount tied to printing, advertisement and polling costs in addition to donations made to the State Theatre for the Arts, Womens Democratic Club of Brownsville and the county Democratic Party.

The committee debt to Cole in the amount of $47,375 was forgiven, according to an campaign finance report attachment.

The committee retains a balance of $343 in its war chest.

The Friends of Sean Cavanagh committee received $7,150 through various donations and a $4,650 loan from the candidate.

The former commissioner lost in his bid to return to the county position.

The $11,357 total in the committee coffers was spent for advertising, print materials and payments to campaign workers. The amount also includes a $3,000 payment to Cavanagh.

The committee additionally made various donations to several fire departments, organizations and individuals, according to the filed report.

The committee documentation lists $27,049 in debt and obligations incurred during the campaign. Of the total, $5,549 is accumulated credit card debt incurred by Cavanagh and $21,500 in loans made by the candidate to the committee.

The Friends of Vincent A. Vicites committee took in $8,200 in its October and November efforts including a total $4,000 from four area businessmen, including John M. Garlow, Douglas L. Shriber, Terry McMillen and Terrance Shallenberger Jr. The committee also received $500 from the Sheet Metal Workers of Pittsburgh.

Vicites, a former commissioner, was the top vote-getter in the Nov. 3 election and will return to the commission in January.

The committee also took in separate $250 donations from the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers of Pittsburgh and HRG PAC of Harrisburg, in addition to individual contributions of $50 to $250, totalling $3,100.

Vicites’ committee spent $12,549 during the reporting period for printing, political consulting services and precinct workers, in addition to a $500 donation to the county Democratic Party.

The report shows an ending cash balance of $13,158 and $3,728 in unpaid debt. The debt was noted as loans from the candidate to the committee.

Commissioner-elect Dave Lohr took in $8,153 during the two weeks leading up to the election and spent $5,354 to cover his campaign expenses.

The bulk of the contributions were received from four individuals and totaled $7,000. The contributors included Daniel Gearing, John Garlow, Terrance Shallenberger and Bob Churby.

Lohr also received $200 from the Friends of Pat Stefano.

Expenditures totaling $5,354 were tied to printing and advertising costs, according to the report.

Lohr retained a $3,276 cash balance and $2,820 in unpaid debt.

Incumbent Commissioner Angela M. Zimmerlink, who will join Vicites and Lohr on the commission board in January, reported that she did not receive or disburse any money during the time frame and has no cash balance or debt.

In other races, incoming District Attorney Richard Bower reported that he did not receive any contributions and spent the remaining $399 in the campaign coffers for related expenses.

The report states that there is ending cash balance or debt.

Outgoing District Attorney Jack R. Heneks Jr. did not file a report, according to the election bureau.

Scott Abraham, who will become the county controller at the end of December, reported that he received two contributions totaling $300 and ended the period with a $139 cash balance.

John Lavery, Abraham’s Republican challenger, did not file a post election campaign finance report.

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