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Friday, October 25, 2013

Callahan Raises $500,000 in NorCo Exec Race

In what appears to be a fundraising record for County Executive races in Northampton and Lehigh County, Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan has raised over a half million dollars in his bid to become Northampton County's Executive. In a campaign finance report filed late Friday afternoon, Callahan disclosed contributions of $161,983 between the primary and October 21. This brings his total to $513,456 from nearly 600 individual contributors.

Callahan's Republican opponent, Bangor Mayor John Brown, raised $11,000 over the same time period.

Going into the final days of the campaign, Callahan has a 17 to 1 cash advantage over Brown. Callahan has $118,540 cash on hand compared to Brown’s $6,817.

Callahan campaign manager Eric Nagy, however, is concentrating on grassroots appeal, claiming 25,000 voter contacts since July. "John has been knocking doors and feels very encouraged by the positive response from voters," noted Nagy.

The Brown campaign is also relying on grassroots appeal, with Brown focused on direct voter contact.

Brown has also received a little help from the state republican party, which spent $10,882.49 for campaign literature and postage on his behalf.

Winning the money race is no guarantee of victory. Just four years ago, when Northampton County Executive John Stoffa sought re-election, he refused to take money from anyone.

I'll have more to say about these reports next week.

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

And no one ran against him. So his wonderful act was not that wonderful.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Ann McHale ran against him.

Anonymous said...

My guess is that he raised all that money to bank for his senate run..which according to insiders will be announced in 2014. Why else would he be raising all that $$$? and yet,besides a few mailers,we've haven't really seen any big money spent.

Bernie O'Hare said...

You are mistaken. Let me explain. To run for the U.S. Senate or Congress, Callahan would need to form a federal committee. There are strict limits on raising funds and how much can be transferred from a state committee. It would make no sense to raise this money locally, he would have to send it back and ask for new contributions.

Anonymous said...

So his Governor's run is still doable with the money he is now raising.

Bernie O'Hare said...

You just said he was running for the Senate. Now it's Governor. Maybe he's running for county exec.

Anonymous said...

Johnny Casino will have a tough time as county executive. Word on the street is the Republicans for county council are leading in the polls. Hayden Phillips will lead another sweep of all five seats.

Jonny boy will find they won't go for his spending ways or hack picks for cabinet positions.

Bernie O'Hare said...

I see. He'll keep us safe from the UN

Anonymous said...

Hard to imagine a poll was done by the Republicans. There has been talk that Callahan and his advisors are writing off the Dem's running for council.

Could just be a rumor.

Anonymous said...

Word on the street is the Republicans for county council are leading in the polls.

Please provide a link to these polls. I'd like to know what organization conducted it, how many people were polled, and the percentage of the lead.

Other than Peg Fararro leading word on the street is that you are full of shit, or live on a street with teabaggers who wrongly believe the government shutdown was appreciated by voters.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like JC will be moving on to bigger and better positions. Nice war chest.

Anonymous said...

"Other than Peg Fararro leading word on the street is that you are full of shit,"

that made me smile

Bernie O'Hare said...

The Rs have run a poll, during the time period for this report, but the cost of this expense is listed nowhere.

Anonymous said...

"Word on the street is Republicans for County Council are leading in the polls."

And what polls might those be? No candidate has conducted a poll in this race except Brown and Callahan. There is no rumor, there is no speculations, outside your head, that the Republicans are going to have a good day on November 5.

Calling it right here: Democrats worst Council result is 7-2. The potential for 8-1 exists.

Anonymous said...

The poll I took asked nothing about County Council races. It asked about the County Exec race, and was looking for favorables/unfavorables. I assumed was State Party determining if they wanted to dump any more money in the race.

Bernie, Brown has to be getting in-kind contributions from someone, or the State Party. Why are they not reported on his forms?

Anonymous said...

Johnny Casino and Booby D are responsible for the incarceration of James Gregory, no amount of fundraising will change that.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Cuckoo

Anonymous said...

That's alot favors

Anonymous said...

Pay2play

Anonymous said...

1:20, if that is truly the case, they deserve a medal. He should win a seat just for doing us a service by getting that bum help. Can you imagine the poor people on Gregory's caseload? I bet they were abused and overlooked.

Bernie O'Hare said...

The person responsible for Gregory's incarceration is Gregory. He certainly got an assist from Tricia Mezzaacappa, but he did it to himself.

Anonymous said...

In fairness I could make an argument that I have a 12 inch love pipe.

The facts don't support that argument.
Just as the facts show Greggy-boy is incarcerated because he is a dumb ass who violated a PFA Order not once, but multiple times in multiple ways, including on public radio. He was given a warning with a brief county stint, but still refused to obey the Order after his release. He and his trick pony, Mezzacappa, had a free-for-all harassing his ex-girlfriend and he ended up behind bars again.

There is nothing political about why he is in prison.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Several anonymous slurs from Tricia Mezzacappa have been deleted.

Anonymous said...

"Anonymous Anonymous said...
Johnny Casino and Booby D are responsible for the incarceration of James Gregory, no amount of fundraising will change that.

1:20 PM"

If true, that singular achievement would be almost enough to make me rethink my position on Johnny Cover-up.

Almost...

-Clem

Anonymous said...

An obscene amount of money under any circumstances. Why he won`t get my vote. Northammpton County is for sale again.

Anonymous said...

Bernie I read th4e council candidates answers in the Easton Express. Hayden Phillips sounds the best at cutting costs. He will cut parks and other non-essential services. The county needs to cut most of these things.

If he is successful we may be able to forgo any future tax increases. The others sounded dumb. Phillips will stop Callahan from his heavy spending ways.

Anonymous said...

Hayden Phillips will cut costs like, Gracedale, the prison, the courts, human services, and all other non-essential stuff. Once in he will cut off water and oxygen to the northern tier.

Bernie O'Hare said...

If you like Scott Ott, you 'll love Hayden Phillips.