In his post election campaign finance report, filed December 3, 2009, Allentown Mayor Edwin Pawlowski lists an $8,000 expenditure for to "misc. canvassers for election day." But he fails to tell us who they are, or how much was paid to each.Was it really an election day slush fund?
According to commenter Sandra Walters Weiss, "I am almost ashamed to admit I am a registered Democrat after some of the outrageous things I have witnessed including pulling people off the streets in Allentown and paying them by headlight out of some slush fund ... ." One thing is certain, that's a lot of loose change to be carrying around on election day.
Before she retired, Voting Registrar Stacy Sterner directed Pawlowski to amend that report and identify the people being paid. To date, Pawlowski has failed to comply, notwithstanding two telephone calls from Acting Registrar Terri Harkins.
How much money went to LV Independent's Ryan O'Donnell, the very independent blogger who had already pocketed $2,930 for "consultant services?" Did campaign manager Michael Fleck keep a portion? Did Lisa Pawlowski decide that she was one of the canvassers and pay herself? How much went to SEIU or ACORN? Who was the bag man?
We know none of these things because King Edwin has been awfully slow to tell us.
This is pretty strange behavior from someone who has insisted his campaign finance reports are "totally transparent."
The truth is that this is the third time, in three years, that Hizzoner has run afoul of the Lehigh County Voting Registrar. In 2007, Hizzoner actually attempted to get away with using campaign funds to pay a $270 fine for a late report. Sterner ordered him to pay the fine out of his own pocket. In 2008, he was even more deceptive. He filed a bogus report, falsely claiming his coffers were empty, when he actually raised $101,599. He was ordered to amend that report, too.
12 comments:
Bernie,
Thanks for this post. Pawlowski needs to reveal his expenditures.
"We believe in good government and holding elected officials accountable." - Ryan O'Donnell
Who cares.
At the end of the day, the Republicans in Lehigh County will not present a better candidate for this office for many, many, years to come.
Ed Pawlowski is the best option we have in Allentown, hands down.
Unless and until Mayor Pawlowski comes forward with an honest accounting of his $8,000 election day cash handouts, I'll assume he transferred the money from his donors straight into his own pocket. I believe Pawlowski would do this too. He obviously had the race in the bag and he's always griping about deserving more money.
What, those in-charge have to listen to the 'unwashed' masses? First they don't care, unless it comes with an I-Pod. Pick your fights!
What a tangled web we weave
When we practice to deceive
the only thing "transparent" about pawlowski's election funding is that it stinks. For politicians with a local history, the kind of fundraising he has done is one thing. For politicians who made their first run for an office of such stature, he had to make deals to have the kind of success he has had.
Failing to fully account for $8,000 is just a small portion of what stinks about Pawlowski's campaign finances.
Anon 8:51,
You ask who cares? Those who believe in good government care. Those who believe in holding elected officials accountable care. You apparently excuse him bc he is not one of them 'thar Republicans.
Bernie,
We know you don't believe in good government. You support the like of Anle, Tony Phillips, and Charlie Dent. If you call that good government I want to be bad.
Those who seek to destroy life
better look out a new day is ahead.
Clean the water
Prepare proper food.
End the war.
Seek living wages for all.
Let's not take better care of
our roads over our people.
It's the citizen that is in
charge and not the government.
Use your write in option.
Support candidates that are from the bottom for they have the courage to fight for us and not the candidate that was pushed onto the stage by the puppet masters.
If your not sure which one is which; stay home on election day!
A true patriot, urging people NOT to vote. What's next, a poll tax?
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