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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Simmons' Grass Roots Support v. Horton's Auslanders

div>After examining the campaign finance reports filed by Michael Horton and Justin Simmons, I can tell you the following:

1) Horton has spent more than $250,000, nearly twice as much as the $127,000 spent by Simmons.

2) Simmons lists 16 pages of small contributions from Lehigh Valley residents, which indicates a lot of grass roots support.

3) Horton has only 22 Lehigh Valley contributors, who gave him just $1,860.

4) Most of Simmons' larger contributions come from the Republican establishment, which indicates that he has repaired much of the damage done during his primary challenge to Karen Beyer.

5) For a supposed hand-picked puppet of Elmer Gates, Simmons comes cheap. The Fuller dude only gave him $600 during this crucial period in the election cycle.

6) There are numerous PayPal transactions, revealing Simmons to be the first LV candidate I've seen who has effectively used the Internet to get numerous, smaller donations.

7) Simmons' biggest contributor is the HRCC, which gave him $25,000.

8) 99% of Horton's money comes from outside his District, including $169,475 from House Dems, $10,000 from Philadelphia leader Dwight Evans, $10,000 from the Guv', and $10,000 from a PAC controlled by a Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyer

Based on the numbers, it appears that Simmons is relying heavily on grass roots local support (with the exception of the HRCC). Horton's strategy is to allow outsiders to buy his seat.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Did Simmons include the in kind support he is getting from non-profits?

Anonymous said...

Bernie
Could you link these budgets?

Anonymous said...

wow 600 from Gates, Simmons is a cheap date if that's all it takes to be his puppet, or maybe *gasp* Simmons really is running a grass-roots campaign.

Although we should just dismiss that idea, even HDCC says Simmons is supported by shadowy back room right wing extremists. Why would they lie about something like that? I mean the Democratic party I know always takes the moral high ground, right? Never makes baseless accusations, right? Although recently Taliban Dan and Aqua Buddha come to mind.

Anonymous said...

Nice work Bernie. The more we find out about the arrogant and shady Horton, the less we know. Lots of questions. Lots of secrecy. And NO support from anyone who actually lives in his district. Who the hell is this guy?

Anonymous said...

We checked your links and can't find campaign donations.

Anonymous said...

Horton accepted thousands from outsiders. Puppet, you say. Who's
the puppet? Horton fits the bill.

Anonymous said...

Why doesn't The Morning Call do any articles about this stuff. I think the people should know. Why wasn't The Morning Call at the NAACP event when he made racist comments.

Has anyone figured out why he went from being a VP at a Fortune 500 company to a constable? The Morning Call hasn't asked him.

Anonymous said...

"Although we should just dismiss that idea, even HDCC says Simmons is supported by shadowy back room right wing extremists."

You sound like a MSNBC pundit. Get new material.

Anonymous said...

Yea, why did Horton leave a Fortune 500 company to become a local constable? Doesn't make any sense.
What does it say about his business acumen

Bernie O'Hare said...

Actually, The MC has covered this race more thoroughly than most political races. They are stretched thin, but they've produced a few articles (3??) about this race. There is usually just one.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"We checked your links and can't find campaign donations."

No those links are to the campaign sites. There is no online record of the contributions. Those will not be ready until AFTER the election when they will do us no good. I physically examined the reports and this is my report. I would have liked to copy, scan and upload them so that many eyes can look at them, but there is so much going on right now that I have had no time.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"Could you link these budgets?"

I'm sorry. They are not on the state site yet and I had no time to copy, scan and upload them myself. Yesterday was a long day.

Anonymous said...

ernie O'Hare said...

"Could you link these budgets?"

I'm sorry. They are not on the state site yet and I had no time to copy, scan and upload them myself. Yesterday was a long day.

12:20 PM

Thanks Bernie for trying and letting us know.

Anonymous said...

Residents and voters in East Allentown's lone polling district in the 131rd district say that Democratic Candidate Ed Horton seemingly has avoided this basically democratic polling district in favor of larger numbers of voters elsewhere ... Justin Simmons, however, has been there on the East Side.

The 131rd district in 2000 basically consisted of 6 east side districts plus the entire South Side, the 1st and 6th Wards and maybe some other polling places ... But in 2002 the state legislature shifted it away from the East Side ... Thus the East Side was split into three districts which all east side polling districts proved to be a minor part of each sistrict.

East Siders don't appreciate what the state legislature did to us ... And we don't appreciate how we were treated in the recent Allentown State Hospital announced closures and land transfer ...

Unfortunately, because how the districts are constituted the Allentown State Hospital has not been an issue in any race ... Sammuelson has no opposition and neither does Mann ... Yes there is a token race between Brennen and Molony but Molony has not raised the issue and Beyer is already gone in the 131rd ..

Anonymous said...

On local blogs everybody is always saying "why doesn't the Morning Call cover this" well the answer is everybody has dropped their print subscription and mcall is struggling to survive. They do not have the manpower to cover the news. We all need to buck and re subscribe to preserve the print media until they figure how to make it in the digital age or accept that we need Berine for real news.

Anonymous said...

Horton's reports are the DOS website. Simmons are not. He is obviously trying to hide something. He could easily file the report online electronically, which makes it available for public online inspection much faster. Instead Simmons mails his report, then it requires some Department of State employee to enter the report so it can be made public online. (Is that government waste? Some state employee is paid to enter reports for candidates who are trying to hide their contributions.) (Also, Simmons did this against Beyer, too. And Bernie called him out for it then.)

Also, I noticed that Simmons missed a few of his candidate reports. Simmons presently has 3 reports available online-2 committee reports and 1 candidate report. Horton has 3 committee reports and 3 candidate reports. Who is being more open and honest now?

In PA, all committees need to file finance reports and candidates for office also need to file reports for themselves. Simmons did not file a candidate report for 1 of the cycles in spring.

Who is the cheat now?

Anonymous said...

Check out here if you really want to see who bought and paid for Simmons...
http://www.scribd.com/doc/40356268/24-Hour-Reports#fullscreen:on

http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=18&objID=488707&mode=2

These are the late contributions of over $500.00 to Simmons..

10/26/2010
2010036
Simmons, Justin Friends of
10/25/2010
HRCC
Harrisburg, PA
$13,000.00

10/26/2010
2010036
Simmons, Justin Friends of
10/26/2010
HRCC
Harrisburg, PA
$5,000.00

10/26/2010
2010036
Simmons, Justin Friends of
10/26/2010
PA Cable PAC
Harrisburg, PA
$750.00

10/25/2010
2010036
Simmons, Justin Friends of
10/22/2010
Patriots for Perry
Dillsburg, PA
$500.00

10/25/2010
2010036
Simmons, Justin Friends of
10/23/2010
Rep Party of PA
Harrisburg, PA
$4,315.00
In-Kind

10/25/2010
2010036
Simmons, Justin Friends of
10/23/2010
Rep Party of PA
Harrisburg, PA
$1,863.00
In-Kind

10/25/2010
2010036
Simmons, Justin Friends of
10/22/2010
Rep Party of PA
Harrisburg, PA
$4,315.00
In-Kind

10/25/2010
2010036
Simmons, Justin Friends of
10/22/2010
Rep Party of PA
Harrisburg, PA
$1,863.00
In-Kind

10/26/2010
2010036
Simmons, Justin Friends of
10/26/2010
Rep Party of PA
Harrisburg, PA
$3,905.00
In-Kind

10/26/2010
2010036
Simmons, Justin Friends of
10/26/2010
Rep Party of PA
Harrisburg, PA
$1,116.00
In-Kind

10/26/2010
2010036
Simmons, Justin Friends of
10/26/2010
Rep Party of PA
Harrisburg, PA
$10,000.00

Anonymous said...

still doesn't add up to horton's money

SEIU 668
HARRISBURG,&nbspPA &nbsp17110 8/31/2010 $500.00
SEIU 668
HARRISBURG,&nbspPA &nbsp17110 10/14/2010 $500.00
PSEA PACE
HARRISBURG,&nbspPA &nbsp17105 9/1/2010 $2,500.00
PSEA PACE
HARRISBURG,&nbspPA &nbsp17105 10/2/2010 $2,500.00
LABORERS LOCAL 1174
ALLENTOWN,&nbspPA &nbsp18109 9/19/2010 $2,000.00
CITIZENS TO ELECT DWIGHT EVANS
PHILADELPHIA,&nbspPA &nbsp19138 9/20/2010 $5,000.00
CITIZENS TO ELECT DWIGHT EVANS
PHILADELPHIA,&nbspPA &nbsp19138 10/11/2010 $5,000.00
SEIU COPE
HARRISBURG,&nbspPA &nbsp17102 9/22/2010 $500.00
STURLA FOR REPRESENTATIVE
LANCASTER,&nbspPA &nbsp17603 10/2/2010 $500.00
FRIENDS OF JENNIFER MANN
ALLENTOWN,&nbspPA &nbsp18105 10/2/2010 $500.00
RENDELL '95
PHILADELPHIA,&nbspPA &nbsp19102 10/11/2010 $10,000.00

Anonymous said...

COMMITTEE FOR A BETTER TOMORROW
PHILADELPHIA,&nbspPA &nbsp19107 10/12/2010 $10,000.00
BOILERMAKERS LOCAL NO. 13
NEWPORTVILLE,&nbspPA &nbsp19056 10/13/2010 $500.00
STEAMFITTERS LOCAL UNION 420
PHILADELPHIA,&nbspPA &nbsp19154 10/13/2010 $500.00
PENNSYLVANIA AFL-CIO COPE
HARRISBURG,&nbspPA &nbsp17101 10/14/2010 $500.00
BRICKLAYERS AND ALLIED CRAFTSMAN LOCAL 5
HARRISBURG,&nbspPA &nbsp17104 10/13/2010 $500.00
SHEET METAL WORKERS UNION LOCAL 19
PHILADELPHIA,&nbspPA &nbsp19147 10/13/2010 $300.00
Page Total: $41,800.00

A DEMOCRATIC PARTY
HARRISBURG,&nbspPA &nbsp17101
Occupation:
Employer: PA
Description: DESIGN, PRODUCTION, MAIL HOUSE, POSTAGE
9/17/2010 $8,425.00
PA DEMOCRATIC PARTY
HARRISBURG,&nbspPA &nbsp17101
Occupation:
Employer: PA
Description: DESIGN, PRODUCTION, MAIL HOUSE, POSTAGE
9/22/2010 $8,425.00
PA DEMOCRATIC PARTY
HARRISBURG,&nbspPA &nbsp17101
Occupation:
Employer: PA
Description: DESIGN, PRODUCTION, MAIL HOUSE, POSTAGE
9/22/2010 $8,425.00
PA DEMOCRATIC PARTY
HARRISBURG,&nbspPA &nbsp17101
Occupation:
Employer: PA
Description: DESIGN, PRODUCTION, MAIL HOUSE, POSTAGE
9/28/2010 $6,400.00
PA DEMOCRATIC PARTY
HARRISBURG,&nbspPA &nbsp17101
Occupation:
Employer: PA
Description: DESIGN, PRODUCTION, MAIL HOUSE, POSTAGE
10/1/2010 $6,400.00
PA DEMOCRATIC PARTY
HARRISBURG,&nbspPA &nbsp17101
Occupation:
Employer: PA
Description: DESIGN, PRODUCTION, MAIL HOUSE, POSTAGE
10/4/2010 $8,425.00
PA DEMOCRATIC PARTY
HARRISBURG,&nbspPA &nbsp17101
Occupation:
Employer: PA
Description: DESIGN, PRODUCTION, MAIL HOUSE, POSTAGE
10/6/2010 $8,425.00
PA DEMOCRATIC PARTY
HARRISBURG,&nbspPA &nbsp17101
Occupation:
Employer: PA
Description: DESIGN, PRODUCTION, MAIL HOUSE, POSTAGE
10/8/2010 $6,400.00
PA DEMOCRATIC PARTY
HARRISBURG,&nbspPA &nbsp17101
Occupation:
Employer: PA
Description: DESIGN, PRODUCTION, MAIL HOUSE, POSTAGE
10/12/2010 $6,400.00
PA HDCC
HARRISBURG,&nbspPA &nbsp17101
Occupation:
Employer: PA
Description: VIDEO SHOOT
9/24/2010 $10,000.00
PA HDCC
HARRISBURG,&nbspPA &nbsp17101
Occupation:
Employer: PA
Description: WFMZ TV BUY
10/7/2010 $49,225.00
PA HDCC
HARRISBURG,&nbspPA &nbsp17101
Occupation:
Employer: PA
Description: SPOT PRODUCTION
10/14/2010 $3,150.00
PA HDCC
HARRISBURG,&nbspPA &nbsp17101
Occupation:
Employer: PA
Description: SPOT PRODUCTION
10/14/2010 $2,950.00
PA HDCC
HARRISBURG,&nbspPA &nbsp17101
Occupation:
Employer: PA
Description: VOICE TALENT
10/14/2010 $300.00
PA HDCC
HARRISBURG,&nbspPA &nbsp17101
Occupation:
Employer: PA
Description: VIDEO SHOOT
10/14/2010 $4,000.00
PA HDCC
HARRISBURG,&nbspPA &nbsp17101
Occupation:
Employer: PA
Description: CABLE TV BUY
10/15/2010 $17,125.00
PA HDCC
HARRISBURG,&nbspPA &nbsp17101
Occupation:
Employer: PA
Description: CABLE TV BUY
10/15/2010 $15,000.00
MATT CROSLIS AND TIM BRENNAN
ALLENTOWN,&nbspPA &nbsp18104
Occupation: ATTORNEYS
Employer: CROSLIS AND BRENNAN
ALLENTOWN,&nbspPA &nbsp18103
Description: LEGAL SERVICES
10/15/2010 $865.00
Page Total: $170,340.00

10/25/2010
2010041
Horton, Mike Citizens for
10/25/2010
Citizens to Elect Dwight Evans St R
Philadelphia, PA
$5,000.00
10/25/2010
2010041
Horton, Mike Citizens for
10/25/2010
LAWPAC
Harrisburg, PA
$10,000.00
10/25/2010
2010041
Horton, Mike Citizens for
10/25/2010
PA SEIU COPE
Harrisburg, PA
$2,000.00

Anonymous said...

PA DEMOCRATIC PARTY
HARRISBURG,&nbspPA &nbsp17101
Occupation:
Employer: PA
Description: DESIGN, PRODUCTION, MAIL HOUSE, POSTAGE
9/17/2010 $8,425.00
PA DEMOCRATIC PARTY
HARRISBURG,&nbspPA &nbsp17101
Occupation:
Employer: PA
Description: DESIGN, PRODUCTION, MAIL HOUSE, POSTAGE
9/22/2010 $8,425.00
PA DEMOCRATIC PARTY
HARRISBURG,&nbspPA &nbsp17101
Occupation:
Employer: PA
Description: DESIGN, PRODUCTION, MAIL HOUSE, POSTAGE
9/22/2010 $8,425.00
PA DEMOCRATIC PARTY
HARRISBURG,&nbspPA &nbsp17101
Occupation:
Employer: PA
Description: DESIGN, PRODUCTION, MAIL HOUSE, POSTAGE
9/28/2010 $6,400.00
PA DEMOCRATIC PARTY
HARRISBURG,&nbspPA &nbsp17101
Occupation:
Employer: PA
Description: DESIGN, PRODUCTION, MAIL HOUSE, POSTAGE
10/1/2010 $6,400.00
PA DEMOCRATIC PARTY
HARRISBURG,&nbspPA &nbsp17101
Occupation:
Employer: PA
Description: DESIGN, PRODUCTION, MAIL HOUSE, POSTAGE
10/4/2010 $8,425.00
PA DEMOCRATIC PARTY
HARRISBURG,&nbspPA &nbsp17101
Occupation:
Employer: PA
Description: DESIGN, PRODUCTION, MAIL HOUSE, POSTAGE
10/6/2010 $8,425.00
PA DEMOCRATIC PARTY
HARRISBURG,&nbspPA &nbsp17101
Occupation:
Employer: PA
Description: DESIGN, PRODUCTION, MAIL HOUSE, POSTAGE
10/8/2010 $6,400.00
PA DEMOCRATIC PARTY
HARRISBURG,&nbspPA &nbsp17101
Occupation:
Employer: PA
Description: DESIGN, PRODUCTION, MAIL HOUSE, POSTAGE
10/12/2010 $6,400.00
PA HDCC
HARRISBURG,&nbspPA &nbsp17101
Occupation:
Employer: PA
Description: VIDEO SHOOT
9/24/2010 $10,000.00
PA HDCC
HARRISBURG,&nbspPA &nbsp17101
Occupation:
Employer: PA
Description: WFMZ TV BUY
10/7/2010 $49,225.00
PA HDCC
HARRISBURG,&nbspPA &nbsp17101
Occupation:
Employer: PA
Description: SPOT PRODUCTION
10/14/2010 $3,150.00
PA HDCC
HARRISBURG,&nbspPA &nbsp17101
Occupation:
Employer: PA
Description: SPOT PRODUCTION
10/14/2010 $2,950.00
PA HDCC
HARRISBURG,&nbspPA &nbsp17101
Occupation:
Employer: PA
Description: VOICE TALENT
10/14/2010 $300.00
PA HDCC
HARRISBURG,&nbspPA &nbsp17101
Occupation:
Employer: PA
Description: VIDEO SHOOT
10/14/2010 $4,000.00
PA HDCC
HARRISBURG,&nbspPA &nbsp17101
Occupation:
Employer: PA
Description: CABLE TV BUY
10/15/2010 $17,125.00
PA HDCC
HARRISBURG,&nbspPA &nbsp17101
Occupation:
Employer: PA
Description: CABLE TV BUY
10/15/2010 $15,000.00
MATT CROSLIS AND TIM BRENNAN
ALLENTOWN,&nbspPA &nbsp18104
Occupation: ATTORNEYS
Employer: CROSLIS AND BRENNAN
ALLENTOWN,&nbspPA &nbsp18103
Description: LEGAL SERVICES
10/15/2010 $865.00
Page Total: $170,340.00

Anonymous said...

so is there a point to that? Or are you just trying to prove how Horton (AKA Ed Randell, Dwight Evans, and HDCC)is outspending Simmons?

Also Simmons' report is available at the County, where Bernie got it if you are really that concerned and want to read the 16 pages of local contributions that funded his campaign.