UPDATED: Following the Money in Lehigh County Comm'r Race

Seven Democrats and four Republicans are running for four at-large Lehigh County Comm'r seats. The Republican candidates are running unopposed, but Tuesday's election will narrow the Democratic candidates down to four. The purpose of this story is to tell you about the campaign finance reports that candidates are required to file before the election. This way you know who is financing them and how they are spending campaign funds. 

The seven Democrats in this hunt are Sheila Alvarado, 37, a legislative aide to State Rep. Pet Schweyer; Michael Blichar Jr., 28, an administrator at Northampton Community College; incumbent Dan Hartzell, 72, a retired Morning Call reporter and columnist; Jon Irons, 36, data manager at Communities in Schools of Eastern Pa.; Victor VJ Martinez, owner of the popular La Mega radio station;  April Riddick; 55, a community activist and project manager; and realtor Joe Setton, who briefly served as an appointed South Whitehall Township Commissioner. A more detailed biography of all seven Democrats can be found at Pennsylvania Capital Star. 

Sheila Alvarado raised $2,285, all of it was in the form of small contributions of $250 or less. This included a $150 contribution from fellow candidate Danny Hartzell. She did accept an in-kind from her boss, Peter Schweyer for printing expenses. Other than that, she garnered none of the usual PAC contributions that litter campaign finance reports. She spent $915.91, mostly for yard signs. 

Michael Blichar raised $942.19, including an amazing $150 from fellow candidate Dan Hartzell. Like Alavarado, he relied on small contributions He spent $383.19, mostly for yard signs. 

Dan Hartzell  apparently has a distaste for money in politics. He started this race with $1,365.84, and only raised $150 from Lehigh Connty Exec Phil Armstrong ($100) and South Whitehall Tp Comm'r Brad Osborne ($50). As you can see, he gave $150 contributions to two of the candidates running against him. He did not use his PAC, but gave out of his own pocket. 

Hartzell spent $503.50 for palm cards, and has $1,012.34 going into the closing days of the campaign. 

Let's see. This guy gave to people running against him and only raised $150. It's almost like he wants to lose. That's exactly the kind of person you want to keep in office. 

Jon Irons raised $9,702 and in-kind contributions of $2,716.51. Over $4,000 came in the form of small contributions of $250 or less, including donations from Controller Mark Pinsley ($150) and Comm'r Dave Harrington ($100). His larger contributions are from St. Lukes' Dr. Michael Pipestone ($2,500), Elaine Mickel ($1,000, Illinois), Jonetta Irons ($1,000, Illinois), Joseph Irons ($500, Illinois) and Randall Bongarten ($300, NY),  His in-kinds are from Lehigh Valley Stands Up ($1,500, vote builder access) and $1,000 from photographer Adam Hoff for head shots. (He must have a very big head).

Irons spent $7585.20 for three mailers, palm cards and yard signs. 

He has $2,100 going into the closing days of this race. 

Victor Martinez self-funded his campaign with $4,300.  He spent $4,187.80, and most of that went for yard signs and campaign T-shirts.  Victor Martinez  spoke out against a proposal to have social workers, and not cops, respond to 9-1-1 calls. He is also a relentless supporter of diversity in  government. 

April Riddick missed the reporting deadline. She told me she was a little under the weather, has only $100, and it totally slipped her mind. I appreciate her honesty. During the course of our conversation, I learned that she has coached T-ball for the past 30 years. She's an exceptional person, even if her views and mine differ. 

I was unable to locate an expense report for Joe Setton. He has a campaign website and signs, so he obviously has spent money. I called the number listed on his campaign page as well as his realtor office. I also emailed him. I've received no reply. It's possible he filed and his report just never made it to  the county web page. It's also possible that he failed to file.

The four Republican candidates are Jacqueline Rivera, Rita Sisselberger, Gary S. Fedorcha and Paul Moat. They are running unopposed.  I will wait to delve into their backgrounds and finances until the general election. 

Updated 1;10 pm: Setton filed! Joe Setton adevised me this morning that he did, in fact, filedhjis campaign finance report on May 3. I was unable to locate it yesterday but found it now. Setton spent $1310 out of his own pocket. He fails to indicated how the money was spent, butit was obviously on signs and a webpage.