Allegheny County executive candidates raise more than $3M

Candidates for Allegheny County executive have raised more than $3 million this year, a record haul for the race for the county’s top elected position.

Five of the six Democratic candidates submitted campaign finance reports by the May 5 deadline. They included former County Councilman Dave Fawcett, state Rep. Sara Innamorato, Pittsburgh Controller Michael Lamb, Pittsburgh Public Schools board member Theresa Sciulli Colaizzi and activist William Parker of Garfield.

Allegheny County Treasurer John Weinstein failed to meet the reporting deadline, but submitted paperwork after 5 p.m. Monday. His campaign did not respond to questions asking why his filings were late.

Campaign finance reports submitted as of Monday showed more than $3.6 million has been pumped into the race, easily eclipsing the 2011 primary, which saw more than $2 million raised.

Weinstein raised the most funds this year with nearly $1.4 million. The amount was buoyed by $100,000 each from the Operating Engineers and Steamfitters unions. Weinstein also got some big personal checks, including $20,000 from Mark Schreiner, the president of private jet charter company Corporate Air.

Weinstein brought $481,000 over from last year, and spent $1.4 million this year. He has $391,000 cash left on hand, according to the filings.

State Rep. Sara Innamorato raised the second-most money with nearly $843,000, the reports showed. She had more than 600 donations of less than $250 apiece, leading the field in the number of small-dollar donors.

Innamorato’s funds also included $200,000 from the political action committees of a progressive advocacy group and two service workers unions, SEIU Local 668 and SEIU Healthcare. She spent more $716,000 and had about $227,000 cash on hand, the reports showed.

Fawcett raised $630,000 this year, including a $350,000 loan from his personal finances. He carried over another $300,000 from last year, and has spent more than $930,000 this year. A large portion of that has been on TV ads. Fawcett had $148,000 cash on hand, the reports showed.

Lamb raised $628,000 this year, including $75,000 from incumbent Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, who endorsed Lamb last month. Lamb spent $651,000 this year and had $111,000 cash on hand, according to the reports.

Both Sciulli Colaizzi and Parker had raised less than $100 each, the reports showed.

The lone Republican candidate, Joe Rockey of Ohio Township, raised $209,000, records show. About half of his total was a loan from his personal finances.

Other races

Other countywide races also have seen significant campaign contributions.

In the race for Allegheny County District Attorney, the two Democratic candidates raised about $304,000 combined.

Incumbent District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr., D-Fox Chapel, raised $227,000 this year and carried over another $162,000 over from last year. He spent $327,000 this year and has $61,000 left on hand, the reports showed.

His opponent, Chief Public Defender Matt Dugan, raised $77,000 this year but got major in-kind contributions from the PA Justice and Public Safety political action committee. The group funds criminal-justice reform candidates and is financed largely from liberal billionaire George Soros.

PA Justice and Public Safety donated $760,000 worth of television ads supporting Dugan, a Democrat from Moon.

Allegheny County Council’s most competitive, and contentious, primary also saw a large infusion of funds, especially for a part-time seat.

Public relations specialist and challenger Joanna Doven, D-Squirrel Hill, raised about $130,000 this year. She spent over $101,000 and had about $28,000 cash on hand, the reports showed.

Incumbent Allegheny County Councilwoman Bethany Hallam, D-North Side, who is facing Doven, raised about $43,000 this year. She spent about half of what Doven did and also has about $28,000 left on hand, according to the reports.