Pawlowski Amends Finance Report, Pays Fine Out of His Own Pocket

Allentown waiters and waitresses, your tips from Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski may be a tad lower than usual this week. He's just had to spend $270 out of his own pocket.

Last week, I informed Stacy Sterner, Lehigh County's chief clerk of voters' registration and elections, that Mayor Ed had improperly used campaign funds. He used donated money to pay a $270 fine - the maximum that can be imposed - for filing his campaign finance reports late. As Sterner told me, "People who contribute to campaigns have a right to expect that candidates will use donated funds to further their campaigns, not to act negligently." My own concern is that it deprives the public of its right to follow the money in a timely fashion. I formally requested Ms. Sterner to take remedial action.

Ms. Sterner has emailed this response. "Dear Mr. O'Hare, I have notified Ed Pawlowski in reference to the $270 expenditure made by his committee. He filed an amended report with me, yesterday, [Monday] indicating that he has reimbursed his committee the $270 out of his personal funds."

You know what? I was at the Lehigh County Government Center on Monday, too. I must have just missed him. I would have loved talking with him about Renaissance Square.

It's disturbing that the Mayor of Pennsylvania's third largest city would have such a cavalier attitude towards campaign disclosure, especially since he has raised $108,588 over the last two years. But I am gratified that Ms. Sterner acted so quickly. And I wish to thank Demothug, who made me aware it is illegal to use donated money to pay a campaign finance fine.