Predictions 118th HD and 17th CD

 
Sorry I have been out of the loop for the last 2 days but I had some family obligations to tend to. I'll start off with the easy ones. You can beat me up on later posts.

Mike Carrol will be reelected in the 118th HD. Terrance O'Connor is the Republican candidate but has not made much of an effort other than putting on tricorner hat and yelling into a bullhorn from the back of a pick up truck just like he did last time. Carroll has pleasantly surprised me with his desire to overhaul the campaign finance laws (there aren't many) of Pennsylvania and reforming the redistricting process.



Karen Boback is unopposed in the 117th HD as is Eddie Day Pashinski in the 121st HD. I told Pashinski  that I'm not voting for him this time. More on that later. As a political junkie I hate unopposed races. Sorry but I have to put up James favorite Karen pic.






In the newfangled gerrymandered 17th Congressional District Matt Cartwright (D) will win in a blowout over Laureen Cummings(R). Probably 60%+. Cartwright beat incumbent  Blue Dog Tim Holden in the primary in the overwhelmingly Democratic district because people wanted a real Democrat not Republican lite. It's great that both candidates have run positive campaigns discussing issues. My contact at the DCCC tells me that Cartwright is up 26% in their latest poll.

If you are still undecided here is the video from WVIA debate.

 

Watch 2012 PA 17th Congressional District Debate on PBS. See more from WVIA Special Presentations.

Free Ride

Looking over the candidate roster for the upcoming State Senate and House elections I was struck by how many incumbents will not face a challenger in the primary or general. That might change as the independents and 3rd party candidates have until August 1st to circulate petitions so a handful of Greens and Libertarians may still make the race. I always want a choice in an election but I realize it is a big decision to run for office and put up with the aggravation of press scrutiny, unfair attacks and snarky bloggers.

Capitol Ideas did the math

It'll Be A Lonely Primary For A Lot Of Lawmakers This Year.

if we're counting correctly, it would appear that seven of 25 state senators up for re-election this year are running without primary or general election opposition...In the House,at least 69 of 203 members are running without primary or general election opposition.

Locally it looks like that Karen Boback (R-117) and Mike Carroll (D-118) will have a free ride but that could change in the 117th.

Jim explains how the Supreme Court decision threw a monkey wrench into the process.

As to uncontested races... I think the redistricting fiasco played a part in this. I have to wonder how many people simply decided not to run due to the uncertainty about what district they were going to be in. I'm still waiting to see where we folks in Plains end up: the 121st or the 118th. Redistricting added a whole layer of complication to this year's petition season.

PA State Represenative candidates in Luzerne County

The candidate roster can found at the PA Department of State.

Mike Carroll (D-118) and Karen Boback (R-117) will not have an opponent in the upcoming primary and general elections. Like most political junkies I hate uncontested elections because the people should always have a choice plus you never know if the incumbent might have something blow up on them. It looks looks like Duke started too late to get the 300 signatures needed in the 117th.

The big news is assistant Luzerne County Assistant District Attorney Frank McCabe is running in the Democratic primary trying to unseat my 3rd favorite State Rep Phyllis Mundy in the 120th HD.
A resident of the district said "Nice, a stealth undercover petition signing. He must know people to get all of those signatures with no one spilling the beans. Now its getting fun." I don't think that Mundy hasn't has had a primary challenger since she won the election in 1990 taking the seat from Republican incumbent Scott Dietterick who was found guilty of insurance fraud just before the election. The Yonk will correct me if I'm wrong. What Democrat could have a beef with Phyllis? Young Republican Aaron Kaufer is the GOP candidate.



The other matchups include Ransom Young (D) taking on freshman Tarah Toohil (R) in the Hazleton area 116th HD. Rick Arnold (R) has a rematch with Gerald Mullery (D) in the 119th. Pete Mailloux (R) is taking on incumbent Eddie Day Pashinski (D) in the 121st HD for now but all this could change depending on the mapmakers response to the Supreme Court.

Mike Carroll voted for the Congressional gerrymander

I'm surprised that there has not been more outrage over the new Congressional districts approved by the state legislature in the print and electronic media. But the reaction has been "so what, that's the way it is." Much like the national press accepting that every bill in the Senate needs 60 votes to pass without pointing out that the filibuster was rarely used in the past. The only people who are kicking up a fuss are bloggers.

Pittston State Rep Mike Carroll (D-118) voted for the new Congressional map joining 36 other Democrats in the PA legislature and 128 Republicans to approve it. I only met Carroll once at the 1st Blogfest so I don't know why he wants Republicans to win more elections to the US House of Representatives. Maybe he is looking to run for Congress in the future in the now Democratic friendly 17th CD when/if Tim Holden retires.

In the next election the 118th includes my little burgh of Plains Twp. and I'm open to helping a real Democratic primary challenger and if that fails maybe even a (shudder) Republican candidate. I'm not a one issue voter like the abortion hotheads or gun nuts but this vote betrays his party and the people of the the 11th Congressional District.

See NEPartisan for a Lackawanna County perspective


Selling Out PA in NEPA: Ken Smith, Sid Kavulich, Ed Staback

PA State House redistricting

Late this afternoon the new boundaries for the Pennsylvania State House and Senate were revealed. As usual Borys is on top of what it means for Lackawanna and Luzerne counties with a list of what towns will be switching districts. It's hard to visualize without a map to actually look at but I'm sure our local papers will have them tomorrow.

I don't cover Lackawanna County much so I will leave it to my friends at NEPartisan to analyze what this means to citizens north of the border with the move of the 115th to Monroe County and 117th and 118th that have been mostly in Luzerne County getting chunks of Lackawanna.

The 120th represented by Phyllis Mundy appears to have the least change picking up Edwardsville from the 117th which makes it a bit more Democratic as far a registration goes.

Mike Carroll's 118th seat has Monroe County towns taken out and is moving both north and south. According to this Plains Township will now be in the 118th despite being in the 121st for a long time and will now snake up to include some Lackawanna towns such as Moscow. I know both towns and they have different concerns. I live in Plains and we have more in common with W-B than Moscow or Pittston.

The 121st (Eddie Day Pashinski) will still be centered on Wilkes-Barre and W-B Township but will move south to include a part of Mountaintop, more of Hanover and throw in Laurel Run, Sugar Notch and Warrior Run. Ashley moves to the 119th ( I'm not sure how they pulled that one off) and the district makes into the Hazleton Area that has freshman Rep. Gerry Mullery objecting.

I only looked at 3 of the traditional 6 House Districts in Luzerne County and have yet to look at the Senate bounderies but is apparent that the people drawing the lines ignored geography, the common interests of the people invovled and common sense.

It may take 10 years but it would be good idea to take the redistricting process out of the hands of the politicians. Much as I advocate Judge's on Merit. Sometimes we need less politics deciding the ground rules.

Predictions: Home Rule Yes and some state legislature races

I have been doing an informal survey of office holders, fellow bloggers and other political watchers over the last few days and we pretty much agree on the following races.

The Luzerne County Home Rule Charter will win big. Unlike 2003 there has not been a very organized effort against it and people are so fed up with what has been going on for years that just has recently been exposed that they are willing to take a chance on another form of government. The charter is not perfect but the biggest objections about an elected county executive and council elections by district can be addressed in 5 years by amendment instead of going through the whole process of electing another commission and writing another charter.


The PA 14th Senate race will be won by John Yudichack(D). The district has an overwhelming Democratic registration and Yuddy has been a good state rep. I like Steve Urban (R) and think he has been a good county commissioner. The Libertarian candidate Betsy Summers will eat into his vote but even if she wasn't in this Yudichack would still win big.

In the 118th State Rep District incumbent Mike Carroll (D) will be returned for another term.
Carroll has pleasantly surprised me with his desire to overhaul the campaign finance laws (there aren't many) of Pennsylvania and reform the redistricting process. His opponent Terrance O'Conner likes to dress up in 18th century garb and stand in the bed of his pick up truck yelling into a bullhorn. Today is Halloween so O'Conner should fit right in. One of his campaign planks is repeal ling the sales tax on ammunition. It's hard to win an election when you make yourself into a cartoon character and a joke.

Karen Boback (R) will win big in the overwhelmingly Republican 117th District. I have to congratulate Richard Shermanski (D) for running a energetic campaign.

James O'Meara (R) is my favorite underdog in this cycle. He has stayed positive in his uphill challenge to unseat Eddie Day Pashinski (D). He came to every blogger event and he married a great girl. I have never cast a straight ballot so this is one Republican I will be voting for. Pashinski wins big.

State Represenative races in Luzerne County

It's refreshing to see that the 6 State House seats in the county will actually be contested this fall. In 2008 none of the 5 Democratic incumbents faced a Republican in the general election much to my chagrin. This time out we have a full slate on both sides plus a couple of Libertarians thrown into the mix.

As usual the incumbents will be well financed and so far the challengers have little or no money but that could change in the next few months. It's not like there are not people in Luzerne County willing to toss some of their spare change to GOP candidates. 10th CD Republican candidate Tom Marino's FEC report shows more than $30,000 in contributions from people in the county and many of the same names show up on the lists of contributors for statewide Republican candidates. The trick this time is to get those people to actually support the local candidates unlike past elections and to be fair some of them of them have actually been bankrolling the Luzerne County GOP operation over the last few years.

The top target for the Republicans has to be the open seat in the 119th District where Gerald Mullery won a spirited Democratic primary easily but spent all his money doing it. Rick Arnold
doesn't have any money either and to make it more interesting there is a Libertarian Brian Bergman.

Tarah Toohill surprised some people by getting just 800 votes less than longtime 116th State Rep Todd Eachus in their respective unopposed primary elections. Eachus has about $185,000 cash on hand and Toohill has about $2000. Blog buddy McGruff has done his best to tie Eachus to the bonusgate scandal and other transgressions. Who knows, lightening may strike in this one.

In the 121st Eddie Day Pashinski has about $30,000 going into the fall and his Republican challenger James O'Meara didn't raise a dime at the last reporting deadline but that will change if you want to have desert with him.

Mike Carroll has pleasantly surprised me with his desire to overhaul the campaign finance laws (there aren't many) of Pennsylvania and reform the redistricting process. Forget the the bat thing. He is opposed in the 118th by Terrance O'Conner who wants to solve the fiscal crises of the PA by repealing the sales tax on ammunition. Carroll has $26,000 cash on hand and O'Conner didn't report anything.

One of my favorite State Reps has always been Phyllis Mundy. She has been a champion for senior citizens and the rate payers of NEPA Blue Cross and lately has been trying to stop the rape of our environment by the gas drilling companies. Her Republican opponent is West Pittston Mayor Bill Goldsworthy who I don't know much about but he seems to be a good guy. The Libertarian in the race will make Goldy's life more complicated. Tim Mullen is a third party candidate I can root for. I have long advocated that the minor party's like the Greens, Constitutional and Libertarians, etc. concentrate on local elections that they may just win instead of running candidates for President, Governor and Senator that don't have a chance. Build a bench folks. As far as money goes Goldy and Mullin don't have any and Phyllis has about $67,000.

O'Connor Kickoff tonight

The Luzerne County GOP sent this heads up:


Campaign Kickoff

Terrence O’Connor

Republican Candidate for State Representative, 118th District

Monday, April 19, 7 p.m.

Dupont VFW, Main Street, Dupont

O'Conner is the only candidate for the nomination and will take on Democratic State Rep. Mike Carroll in the fall.

Here is list of what is important to him from the issues page on his website:

Issues

PROTECT OUR LIBERTIES
• Support state sovereignty under the 10th amendment.
• Fight unconstitutional federal takeovers of healthcare and industry.
• Support the Pa. Freedom of Healthcare Act (House Bill 2053 of 2009).

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
• Reduce the size of state government
• Lower taxes on individuals and businesses
• No toll booths on Route 80
• Lower property taxes

ENERGY
• Build nuclear power plants to meet growing energy needs and create jobs.
• Drill for natural gas to reduce dependence on foreign energy.
• Marcellus shale drilling creates jobs, economic growth and domestic energy.

PROTECT 2ND AMENDMENT RIGHTS
• Repeal state sales tax on ammunition.
• Reclaim abandoned quarries by converting to public shooting ranges.

Challengers

In 2008 not one of our Democratic members of the PA State House from Luzerne County had a Republican opponent. This year all 6 seats that that I keep track of will be contested in the fall.

The only open seat is the 119th District were we have Republican candidate Rick Arnold and 3 Dems in what promises to be a spirited primary to succeed John Yudichak who is running for the State Senate. The Democratic contenders are recent Controller candidate Bob Morgan, Bear Creek Surpervisor Gary Zingaretti and Attorney Gerald Mullery.

In the 12oth Phyllis Mundy will be facing Republican West Pittston Mayor Bill Goldsworthy and Libertarian Tim Mullen.

Majority Leader Todd Eachus has represented the 116th since 1997 and now finds himself up to his ass in alligators over the Bonusgate scandal. He will have to get past Republican attorney Tarah Toohill in the fall.

Pittston Rep Mike Carroll had a primary challenge from young PJ Best 2 years ago in the 118th but no opposition in the fall. Republican Terrance O'Conner will not get him a free pass this time.

Eddie Day Pashinski defeated former reformer Christine Katsock (we dodged a bullet there) in the 2006 election to succeed Kevin Blaum who was one of the best people we ever sent to Harrisburg. Fellow Plains Twp resident Jim O'Meara will snag the Republican nomination in the 121st.

Renee Butts out

At a campaign event for GOP Controller candidate Bob Sypniewski last May Renee Butts announced that she will be seeking the Republican nomination for the 118th State Rep District seat held by Democrat Mike Carroll. Well, things change and Renee now has other priorities.

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So far I haven't heard of any Republican willing to take on any of the Democratic Luzerne County state legislators next year. I hope that some people will be willing to step up to the plate because I hate unopposed elections. After this year's version of the state budget fiasco they all deserve an opponent and that includes Republican Karen Boback.

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Renee was kind enough to send along an explanation of her decision:

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I apologize to the many who pledged to support me in my race for State Representative for the 118th Legislative District, and to all the people of the 118th who need a voice and need to be heard by their state representative, but I am no longer going to contend for this position.

Mr. Right proposed to me, and Mr. Right (one of the few conservative young men in this area) does not live in the 118th, and I’ve chosen the greater certainty of a life with Mr. Right over running against an incumbent Dem in NEPA (i.e. David vs. Goliath). My fiancé works in Hazleton – a long commute from the 118th. It would have been a bit premature to ask him to sell a house and move for an election I may not win. (I don’t think there are too many jobs for chemical engineers in the area, either.)

I feel as if I am letting down many of you. I’m sorry I was not able to be the person and the voice you needed. I wish I could find someone to take my place. I hope and pray that the 118th will find someone worthy to represent them or that the incumbent will make you more of a priority and change some of his stances, such as the tolling of I-80.

As I am no longer running, I feel compelled to tell you what else colored my decision. The other element to my decision was people in my own party. Yes, fellow Republicans. And I suppose what this comes down to isn’t one party or another – it is what is right for the people. I met with some resistance from Republicans who felt I should have worked for other state reps. They trotted out my former opponent’s resume, which includes working for people whom they wish to remove from office. (Why would they have wanted me to work for these people again?) They were willing to support someone they disagreed with instead of a young woman with a will to fight and a heartfelt desire to defend the best interests of the 118th and the interests of all Pennsylvanians, not to mention a woman whose ideals jived with their own. However, this was not the primary reason. Again, the primary reason is Mr. Right. Otherwise, I thought it might have, at the very least, been fun to try to win over these people. And, if not, prove them wrong, prove to them that I could have been their voice and worked tirelessly for them.

However, I do want to give a special thanks to the West End Republicans of Monroe County. These people were willing to whole-heartedly throw their support behind a political newcomer, not even from their hometown. But they liked what I had to say. There is a lot of heart there and anyone who would take my place would find a wealth of tireless enthusiasm and great welcome from these wonderful people. I wasn’t even from their county, but we connected over a desire for a different direction for Pennsylvania.

And to the many people who think I loathe Democrats, all of my bridesmaids are members of your party. But friendship, and the willingness to pull each other out of sticky situations definitely crosses the aisle. Though we disagree politically (I may loathe their ideals, and they may loathe mine), we are always there for each other. I hope that whichever party your next state representative is from will make the same commitment to you, because that is his responsibility. I hope that your next state rep can be truly a part of your communities, a part of your lives, and serve you proudly.

God Bless you all! I only hope for the best for you!

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Renee Butts

Renee Butts for State Represenative

At a campaign event for GOP Controller candidate Bob Sypniewski a few weeks ago Renee Butts announced that she will be seeking the Republican nomination for the 118th State Rep District seat held by Democrat Mike Carroll.


Renee is a resident of Laflin and graduated from Coughlin High School in Wilkes-Barre. She got a BA in English from Kings College and her Masters from Wilkes University. Her hot issues are reducing property taxes, cutting wasteful spending in Harrisburg and opposes tolls on I-80. She wants to crack down on puppy mills and has a Husky named Reagan. Butts made a short speech emphasizing that she wasn't going to run away from the area like so many people who have aspirations to be a teacher but don't have the political connections to get hired. She said she will stand and fight.


She should have a website up soon. I asked her for a statement on her candidacy:

My name is Renee Butts and I am running for State Representative for the 118th Legislative District. I will cut wasteful government spending and thus lower taxes. I shall encourage more businesses offering more desirable jobs to come to our area to help combat the brain drain. I will make some changes in our state that will benefit the taxpayers.
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I have been an active member of Voice of the People USA since 2007. We have spoken out for legal immigration, spoken out against drugs and crime in our communities, spoken out for free speech, and spoken out vehemently against wasteful government spending. Pennsylvania ranks 44th in the country for personal income growth. I'm hoping to better this deplorable statistic.
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I have also worked for Luzerne County Commissioner Steve Urban. He has been a mentor and role model to me.
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I have also volunteered at His Resting Place Maternity Home to tutor a woman residing there as well as teaching a free creative writing class. I have been closely involved with the my father, Bob Butts, in his Kindness Grant program. Among the Kindness Grants we have distributed, we have given to Wyoming Seminary Lower School to promote empathy among students and also we gave a Kindness Grant to an animal shelter to save a Siberian Husky with heart worms.
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I have taken education courses at Wilkes University and completed my student teaching at Pittston Area. I am well-aware of the wasteful spending of school districts, the rife nepotism, the problems within our educational system, and also the struggles of working parents to be there for their children. I possess a BA from King's College in English/Writing and an MA in Creative Writing from Wilkes University. Cee Kay Auto is our family business. I am in touch with the struggles facing business owners and their employees.
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I will, if the people choose me, hold monthly town hall meetings - each in a different area of the 118th - to address the concerns of the taxpayers and to keep them informed of what is taking place in the PA House. I am hoping that we can work together to revitalize Pennsylvania.


She has experience speaking to a crowd like this address to the anti-immigrant group Voice of the People in May 2008.

Looking to the fall-State Rep races

Or lack of contests. Barring some write-in efforts that I'm not aware of it looks like our 5 Luzerne County Democratic state representatives will be unopposed in November. I read that Todd Eachus has secured both nominations in the 116th District getting 800+ write-ins on the GOP side. In the 120th Phyllis Mundy has no opposition and the same goes for Eddie Day Pashinski in the 121st as well as John Yudichak in the 119th. Mike Carroll cruised to victory in the 118th primary with no announced Republican taking him on in the general.

That leaves the 117th District Republican Freshman Karen Boback as the only one being challenged in November. 2006 Republican 20th Senatorial candidate Russ Bigus recently switched to the Democrats and is on the ballot. Boback beat a little known Dem last time by 2 to 1 after winning a crowded primary. This time she won the primary by about 1100 votes out of 7300 cast while Bigus was unopposed for the Democratic nomination and garnered 5665. The question now is will Bigus be able to use his past GOP ties and tap into the resentment I'm hearing from some back mountain Republicans about the slash and burn tactics of the Boback camp.

117th State Rep

This should be the most interesting race of the night. Karen Boback has endured one after another assault from James May. She's on TV but he doesn't have the money to do it. He has a good ground game and may just pull an upset.

Update: There is an ad in today's Times-Leader written by someone named James May attacking James May. Kind of reminds me of the "Real Bob Casey" thing a few years ago. And according to this sign the good Doctor thinks she has already won.

118th State Rep

PJ Best has done well but he won't beat Mike Carroll. He hasn't even updated his website. Young Mr. Best will be heard from again

118th State Rep debate tonight

The League of Women Voters of Wilkes-Barre is hosting a public debate between state Rep. Mike Carroll and P.J. Best at 7 p.m. Thursday at Pittston Area High School auditorium, 5 Stout St., Yatesville

118th State Rep debate set

The League of Women Voters of Wilkes-Barre is hosting a public debate between state Rep. Mike Carroll and P.J. Best at 7 p.m. Thursday at Pittston Area High School auditorium, 5 Stout St., Yatesville

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The TL has a write-up about the race today. Both Democrats want to provide property tax relief and improve the state’s health insurance program. But I have ask why there hasn't been any tax relief yet but slots money is being used for a Hockey Arena and other such pork like giving money back to the Mohegan Sun to pave a parking lot. Carroll voted to put tolls on I-80 saying there is no other way to raise funds for the much-needed repairs on Pennsylvania roadways. “In the end there is no easy way to fix this. In the end doing nothing is not an option.” Best opposes tolls on I-80 contending it is a job killer. “It’s a tax on the people. It’s not only a toll on the people that drive 80, it’s a tax in disguise.”

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No word yet if either candidate will mount a write in effort for the Republican nomination since our local GOP dropped the ball again and have not fielded a candidate.

Write over

Political sign covers county tourism billboard


A downtown Pittston billboard that was supposed to contain a publicly funded message about Luzerne County tourism has been covered with a political campaign banner. State Rep. Michael Carroll, D-Avoca, said his banner went up a few days after Easter, which was on March 23. He said his campaign purchased the ad and he had no idea the billboard was already being rented by the county.


It sounds like the company was selling the same space twice and hoping nobody would notice after getting a no bid contract to do the billboards. And a good question was raised by Steve Urban who asks what is the value of buying generic tourism ads within the county?


The mystery of the location of the bench ads at bus stops has been solved by TL reporter Jennifer Learn-Andes; the benches are on Broad Street in Hazleton, the Pittston Bypass, Main Street in Duryea and River Street in Plains Township.

Local Teamsters back Best

Teamsters Local 229 officially Endorses PJ Best for State Representative in 118

Pittston, PA March 19, 2008.

Notification was received Wednesday morning regarding an unprecedented primary endorsement of PJ Best from the Teamsters Local 229. While the union typically endorses a candidate, the endorsement does not typically occur until the general election in November. "I'm honored that the Teamsters Local 229 valued my position against I-80 tolls and turnpike privatization enough to receive a primary endorsement," PJ stated in response to his endorsement. "I promise to work non-stop for the people of the 118th district."

PJ's campaign platform is strong on repealing the toll on I-80 and preventing privatization of the turnpike as well as fighting hard to eliminate property taxes that his opponent promised relief of in 2006.

For more information on PJ's position regarding the toll, please visit www.no80toll.com and for all information visit www.pjbest.org.

Best is running for the Democratic nomination in the 118th District against incumbent freshman Mike Carroll.

Meet the candidate

Tonight you can find 118th State Rep Candidate PJ Best at the Hughestown Hose Company, 30 Center St., Hughestown, PA 18640.

10th CD Republican candidate Chris Hackett is busy the next few days. Tonight at 7PM he will be at Grotto's Pizza at Harveys Lake on Rte 415. Tomorrow he will attend the Lycoming Grange Candidate Forum 5:30pm – 7:30pm at the Lycova Grange Hall . (map) On Saturday you can find him at the Sayre VFW Post #1536, 932 West Lockhart Street. 3pm-6pm.

Bigus gave money to Boback

I was searching through the PA Campaign Finance Reports for the candidates in the Pennsyvania 117th District State Represenative race and I spotted this interesting contribution to incumbent Republican freshman Karen Boback.


RUSSELL P. & MELANIE A. BIGUS DALLAS, PA 18612
9/6/2007
$175.00


Bigus was a candidate in the 2006 Republican State Senate primary coming in 4th with 13% of the vote. Not bad for a first time candidate without the money or the name recognition of his opponents. Recently he became a Democrat after quiting his day job and is looking to take on the winner of the Republican primary between Boback and James May. Bigus doesn't have a campaign website set up yet and I don't have his email address to ask his version of events. I know you read the blog Russ, please contact me. Silence is deadly.

There are more interesting tidbits in these reports about the race. I'm also looking at the 118th District contest.


James May sent me this :

James May Leads Karen Boback in Campaign Cash

May is more than $18,000 ahead of Boback, whose campaign is in the red

The first campaign finance report of the primary season was recently published, showing that Republican James May has already raised significant funds in his bid to replace Karen Boback as State Representative in the 117th District. Often seen as a marker of early support, May’s campaign committee leads Boback’s in both cash balance and in bottom line figures after debts and obligations.

Boback reported $24,893 in her campaign coffers, while May reported $28,818. Of note, Boback’s committee holds a debt of more than $25,000, largely stemming from an earlier home equity loan she took out for her campaign. This debt leaves her committee $677 in the red. Although May and his wife made a personal loan of $11,201 to his committee, they carry no outside debt. May’s committee netted $17,617—an overall lead in excess of $18,000.

May cautions that an early lead does not necessarily predict success. “While I’m thrilled with the wide grassroots support I’m already seeing in this race, Rep. Boback has some heavy Harrisburg hitters supporting her, including the PSEA teachers’ union. They’re a powerful lobby that bankrolled her campaign with $9,200; they won’t sit idly by and watch,” says May.

May also notes that incumbency has aided Boback in getting her message out. “I have personally gotten multiple high-gloss full-color flyers mailed to my house from Rep. Boback’s office. These mailers, paid for with taxpayer dollars, give Rep. Boback a distinct advantage. It’s a system I certainly would like to reform if I am elected,” May notes.

Boback and May will face off in the April 22 GOP Primary. The winner will take on Democrat Russ Bigus, whose committee was not activated before the reporting deadline and did not file a report.

Online copies of the reports are available at http://www.campaignfinance.state.pa.us.