Enclosed is an email I sent Wednesday to Stacy Sterner,, Lehigh County's chief clerk of voters' registration and elections.Dear Ms. Sterner,
Thank you so much for speaking to me today and yesterday. As you are aware, I was calling about a $270 expenditure on Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski's campaign finance reports, dated July 7, 2007, containing the notation "campaign report late fees." This expenditure was made in the 2007 Cycle 5 report, the second Friday pre-election report.
As you explained yesterday, Pawlowski was assessed the maximum fine your office can impose for filing late, which goes up each day a candidate is tardy, depriving the public of its valuable right to know in a meaningful way. Permitting a candidate to use donated money to pay that fine rewards his failure to be transparent.
Yesterday, when I noted Mayor Pawlowski's fine on my blog, I was informed "PA campaign finance law says that candidates must pay fines with personal funds - they are not allowed to use donated campaign money."
You have confirmed this, noting that people who contribute to campaigns have a right to expect that candidates will use donated funds to further their campaigns, not to act negligently. You informed me that if this report is challenged, you have two options. First, involve the District Attorney for a criminal prosecution. Second, require the candidate or his treasurer to pay this fine using personal funds.
I wish to notify you formally that I challenge this $270 expenditure because it deprives the public of its right to follow the money in a timely fashion. Because I detest the criminalization of politics, I ask that you contact the candidate and ask him to dig into his pocket before approaching the District Attorney.
Thanking you, I am,
Bernie O'HareLehigh Valley Ramblings
9 comments:
Kudos, Kudos, Kudos, Bernie! You impress me immensely. Kim Beitler
I'm blushing!
Need a bomb sniffing dog?
I seem to remember in one report he claimed "babysitter expenses". It would be interesting to see how much of this money is ending up in his personal pockets. This is the Mayor who is bellyaching about a raise but rumored to have made $30,000 consulting. But, how, if works 7x24 as he claims?
During an interview with Bob Daday on RCN he stated (this is a direct quote) - "I think about my kids going to college and how I can do that on a Mayor's salary."
Why is EVERYTHING about him?
Bernie, be careful. This is now lil' Chicago.
Beware of any dark sedans following you or lurking about wherever you are.
Rumors are that Controller Hoffman might be 'missing'. Actually we are taking bets if he has experienced the screaming, obscenity laced phone call or he has been ordered to appear before his eminence, for the screaming, obscenity laced meeting.
Oh, yeah, and stop obstructing Allentown from "moving forward".
Babysitter fees? Why does he even have them - his wife doesn't work and she doesn't have to go to those functions - in fact, has anyone ever checked to make sure she attended the functions on the day in question? If he's so worried about the money, why doesn't she go get a job - you know, like all other famiies do when they need to pay their bills?
Also, what about the florist's fees?
Where did he do this alleged consulting? I don't know Bernie - maybe some of the other cities around the region should be asked about their vendor lists.
And this from the man who wants to run our fair City? Some man of the people he's turned out to be.
Is this legal?
Although I agree that "Babysitting Fees" should not be a legitimate claim for the expense report, that doesn't mean his wife shouldn't attend those events. When you are a public official everyone wants you at their event and many times there are a few events slated for the same night.
If she stayed home while he was attending events it would be damaging to their marriage. If he showed up alone all the time people would question the health of their marriage and his fidelity.
It happens all the time - especially at election time when the whisper campaigns start.
The fact is that the salaries of these public officials are unbeleivably low. They are almost insuring that people with true talent do not run for office, because of the salary limitations. Not only do you make a salary that anyone else in the private sector who was running an organization with a budget of that size, would laugh at, but you also have to endure constant public scrutiny, and to get the job you have to go through a gruelling process of getting elected; by raising money and kissing ass. It's amazing that ANYONE does it.
That being said, Pawlowski knew the salary when he campaigned for the job and he should never whine about it.
I have a post about what Ed has being doing with the money. That will go in next week.
"That being said, Pawlowski knew the salary when he campaigned for the job and he should never whine about it."
Pawlowski, nor anyone else, has ever stated he should get a raise. The debate was over the next mayor should getting a raise.
If the mayor is doing as bad of a job as you all say you need not to worry about him getting another dime.
I've always been concerned that Ed Pawlowski was abusing the public office of Mayor to supplement his income. Since he is so talented and the jon doesn't pay much, he seems to feel entitled to use campaign funds for personal expenses, accept free meals, use a city vehicle for personal use. I think he really feels deserves these perks of office.
Please do follow up on how his campaign funds are spent. I believe it will be very interesting.
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