NorCo Exec: McClure Ahead of Lynch in Money Race

Incumbent Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure and his Republican rival, personal trainer Steve Lynch, have both filed timely post primary campaign finance reports. Although you never know what will happen in a horse race or an election, McClure is about six lengths ahead as they leave the gate. 

McClure reports that he has $181,192.41 as of June 7, while Lynch has a more modest $19,824.95. But Lynch nearly matched McClure in money raised between May 4 and June 7. McClure received $17,550 in campaign contributions, while Lynch raked in $12,991.45 during the same period. 

Historically, even as a Council member, most of McClure's money comes from trade unions and lawyers at the numerous law firms he got to know while practicing law himself. As Executive, McClure is also accepting donations from people who owe their jobs to him. 

McClure also received $1,000 from DA Terry Houck, who owes nothing to him and has proven to be a very independent prosecutor, exactly like John Morganelli. Houck's sole shortcoming is his use of Richard Huntington Pepper XXIII as an unpaid summer intern.  

Since 2000, and long before I started blogging, I have argued that anyone who contributes to a county campaign should be barred from doing business with the county for a period of two years. I have actually urged Council to adopt an ordinance to that effect. I even drafted one, but it got nowhere. The argument against my proposal is that this arguably violates free speech. Moreover, campaign finance reform should come from the state, not local government. 

McClure also accepted $500 from the King Spry law firm, which was hired last week to do outside legal work for the county. Given the wide number of rival law firms that also contributed to McClure, I highly doubt this modest donation was a motivating factor. It's ridiculous to suggest McClure would sell out for $500. 

As a matter of full disclosure, I will report that one of McClure's contributors is myself. I donated $125 on top of $100 I previously gave. I did so because McClure has been highly effective in his first term as Executive. I am impressed by the way he responded to the Covid-19 pandemic, which includes air purifiers inside the courthouse that kills respiratory viruses. His decision to build a parking lot across the street from the courthouse with a functioning crosswalk indicates he does care about the workers. Now he just needs to pay them.   

Lynch's biggest contributor in this time period is himself. He donated $8,350 in his personal funds to his campaign. His next biggest contributor is Lisa Scheller, for whom he worked as a field director when she ran for Congress against Susan Wild. 

Interestingly, I see no contributions to Lynch from GOP heavyweights like L. Anderson Daub.