Local Government TV

Monday, October 26, 2015

Why Did Scomillio Give NorCo GOP $26,000?

Vic Scomillio is the Republican nominee in the race for Northampton County judge. He faces Democrat Sam Murray in what should be a very close race. Sam will win in Bethlehem and Easton, but Vic will win the northern tier in an election cycle with few contested seats. Turn out is expected to be very low. In these kinds of races, Republicans generally tend to win. I can think of few races more important. Judges are elected for ten-year terms, unlike other elected officials. Once they succeed, they never really stand for election again, Voters are simply asked to retain them in a position that pays $161,850 per year.

All candidates, even judicial, must file periodic reports enabling voters to see who is contributing to their campaigns and how that money is being spent. One of the most important of these is the report called the Pre-Election report, filed the second Friday before every race.

Scomillio's Pre-Election Report shows he has raised $75,457.06 on top of $24.811.55 that he already had. He contributed $46,465.06 of his own money to the race. His major contributors are
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Citizens for Urban Renewal (J.B. Reilly) $1,000 6/11/15.
Nolan Perin $1,000
S. Graham Simmons $1,000 (Norris, McLaughlin firm)
Steve Hoffman $500 (Norris McLaughlin firm)
Charles Chrin $2,500
L.Anderson Daub $2,500
Menelaos Valianatos $2,250
John Malloy $1,000 (Victaulic)

The $1,000 from Citizens for Urban Renewal, a donation that was made on 6/11/15, is actually a donation from the NIZ Twins, J.B. Reilly and Joe Topper. They formed this PAC to help perpetuate their urban growth regime into Northampton County and Whitehall Township. They failed in Whitehall, but managed to get John Brown elected in Northampton County with a $50,000 contribution laundered through the state Republican party.

This donation was made before news of the federal investigation into hanky panky in Allentown. Though presumed innocent, J.B. Reilly is one of the names on which feds have expressed interest. Wouldn't a judicial candidate return this tainted money to remove any appearance of impropriety?  Look at Sam Murray as an example. He demonstrated his good judgment by severing all ties with Mike Fleck three months before feds raided Allentown. Scomillio should return the donation he received from Reilly.

What also troubles me about this donation is I am unable to find a record of it in the finance reports filed by Citizens for Urban Renewal. I guess when you're used to throwing around sums like $50,000, this seems like chump change. Still, it's a violation of election reporting requirements.

I am also bothered by Scomillio's $26,000 contribution to the NorCo GOP, made on October . Though he technically is the Republican candidate, this really is a nonpartisan race. The lawyers and Democrats who contribute to Scomillio are right to expect to see that money used to help him get elected, not one of the Republican Council candidates. It is also possible that Scomillio has given this money to County Republicans so they can run a hit piece on Sam Murray.

Much of Vic's support, about $12,000, comes in the form of contributions of $250 or less.

I have a separate report about Sam Murray's finances below. .

13 comments:

  1. ...and unless you go to the Voter`s Registration office you can`t access these reports on line. Where the money comes from is as important often as the candidate`s qualifications. Why doesn`t voter registration post these ?

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  2. Judicial candidate reports are filed in Harrisburg and are available online. Scomillio's is up already. As for county candidates, I think a way needs to be found to get these online ASAP.

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  3. But Murray's expense report is not up. So you got it from somewhere.

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  4. you r grasping at straws again. your hatred knows no bounds

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  5. As ineffective as scomillio was in his county govt position, why should we expect anything different in a judicial position?

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  6. "But Murray's expense report is not up. So you got it from somewhere"

    His report is filed in the elections office and in Harrisburg. I made a copy bc if i write about one report, I should write about both.

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  7. "you r grasping at straws again. your hatred knows no bounds"

    Do you have any rebuttal to make, or is this just going to be a personal attack?

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  8. Let this alone!! J Reilly, his family and business holdings are doing good for the cities!! Victor is a good man.This is politics. All business owners contribute to almost all the candidates.

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  9. Im voting for Sam Murray! Victor is no way qualified to be a county judge

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  10. What about donations from honest ABE, and i'm not talking about the Kassis kind? Come on Barney...

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  11. There are no Atiyeh donations this round.

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  12. Word is Vic is aware of some questionable mailings going out on behalf of Murray. The mailers are using county lists that should not be used for political purposes. Not sure if it is true but the story is going around.

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  13. No one is using county lists, if there is such a thing. That would be idiotic since 1/3 of the county staff does not even live in the county. Sam uses voter lists. This is disinformation fom a candidate who is having a rough time explaining that he cost txpayers $300,000 on a basic violation of due process and whose legal advice resulted in a lost arbitration that will probably cost taxpayers another million. Vic needs more seasoning before he ascends to the judicial heavens. That's just the reality and most people recognize it.

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