Friday night, I posted the post-primary campaign finance reports filed by Steve Baratta and Terry Houck in Northampton County's DA race. (The pre-primary reports are here). These reports enable us to see who is behind each race and how candidates are spending their money. If you include in-kind contributions, over $422,000 has been spent so far in this race. I've learned the following
1. Big Money Has Returned to Local Political Campaigns. - For a few years after disgraced Allentown Mayor Edwin "Fed Ed" Pawlowski was convicted of bribery, a lot of donors were very hesitant to give money to anyone. It's safe to say big money has returned. They include many of the very same people who once contributed to Fed Ed. They include NZ twins J.B. Reilly and Joe Topper, who gave $10,000 each to Baratta. They include Abe Atiyeh, who gave $5,000 to Houck. If they wanted to contribute to Joe Biden or Donald Trump, they'd be limited to $3,300. But incredibly, there are no limits in local races. This enables a few deep pockets to buy a race..
2. Immigration lawyer Ray Lahoud Emerges as Kingmaker. - Out of the blue - or perhaps I should say out of the red because he's a registered Republican - immigration lawyer Ray Lahoud has suddenly emerged as a big spender in political races. In 2022, he gave $3 million to SuperPACs across the country, putting him at #57 nationwide. In this contest, he provided $10,000 in money and spent $62,301 with in-kind contributions for robo calls, TV advertising, polling and digital and social media ads. He alone is responsible for $72,000 of Baratta's spending. He's also been a bundler. That's a person who gets contributions from others like JB Reilly and Joe Topper.
While Ray makes too much money to want the job as top assistant, and I have no reason to believe he has any nefarious designs, it's pretty clear that he will have unlimited access should Baratta win the general.
Ray told me he plans to continue spending.
If this spending tells you anything, it's that we need the state legislature to step forward and start to impose limits on spending in local or state races. I do not fault Baratta or Lahoud. They are playing by the rules. I'm sure Houck would only be too happy to allow someone to spend $72,000 on his behalf. But this dilutes democracy by enabling one person or a special few to buy political races.
Pennsylvania is one of just 11 states that impose no limits on campaign spending.
Blogger's Note: Friday was the due date for post primary campaign finance reports. I have many of them, but had to leave the courthouse before the quitting bell tolled. I will get the rest on Tuesday, when the courthouse re-opens, and will start telling you about the remaining races then.
16 comments:
Why would an immigration lawyer spend so much to influence a law enforcement race? I think we all know exactly why. Ron Heckman is kicking himself for not running for judge and getting on that free shit gravy train.
That is a lot of money but Ray practices federal law. he never has to go before northampton county and is an honest person so even if he did he is by the book and always has been. he picks person over party. he's just an incredibly loyal person and has long been a friend of baratta that goes back to when he was a kid and was reinforced by mr george baurkot who was a leader in the lebanese community.
Campaign Finance reform is desperately needed in Pennsylvania. I do not blame any donor or candidate, but blame a legislature that does not want to do anything to level a playing field here.
This actually sickens me. Truly. Why does Baratta want the gig so badly that he is going so hard for it? Personal vendetta? Ego? Really, why is he — and his sidekick — determined to buy this election? I sure hope Houck is somehow able to pull out a victory just to send a message to those few who manipulate elections. Lahoud wants something in exchange for his checkbook and contacts, but just what is that? Favors for his clients, perhaps? A DA who is bought is one about whom an entire community should worry. It is clear Baratta is bad news for Northampton County. Terry, get out and knock and every single door between now and November. If you don’t have the big money, at least buy some sneakers.
I've never heard Bob Freeman speak out for limits in either money or number of terms. He's a perfect example of "Mr. Freeman Goes To Harrisburg" that turned into "He Stayed There Forever As A Shiftless Ward Of Hard Working Taxpayers And He Just Kept Cashing His Checks."
@10:31, if you are sickened, then call your leaders in the legislature to demand a change in campaign finance laws. Don't blame the donors. Didn't Houck receive donations? So, I assume Houck is "bought" according to your absurd remarks.
@8:56: why? I don't know exactly why. Terry Houck supports immigrants, just like Stephen Baratta. So, why do you say?
Agree 100% Houck is bought also, by the republicans this time around
I blame the voters. Why base your vote on who runs the most ads?
Hi, 11:26 am, I’m 10:31 am. First, my remark was anything but absurd and there is a big difference between the money raised by the two candidates, with only one of the two buying an election. Second, how do you know I’m not in touch with those in office? And “demanding” isn’t my style, so I prefer other persuasive tactics.
The only people in Northampton County who had any respect for Baratta as a judge , were criminals.
He would be a disaster as a prosecutor.
"there is a big difference between the money raised by the two candidates, with only one of the two buying an election."
No, both guys tried to buy the election. One was just better at it.
Don't hate the players, hate the game.
Disgusting. The money could be best spent elsewhere.
Ayo, B.O. I can smell your bullshit a mile away. Not sure if it's just your usually biased propaganda or your actual BO. Are you getting a little jealous that your time of having "unlimited access" to that DA office is coming to an end? Everyone knows you stroll in and out now at your leisure spending hours with Terry trying to come up with some bullshit spin to keep this remotely competitive (you are failing miserably by the way). I see that the good ole upstanding felon Tom Severson is all over Terrance's finance reports. I knew no one with a right mind would ever leave their political future in the hands of a goof-ball novice like Bruno. Do you still maintain Baratta committed a political crime by sending out a text message under the guise of "The Republican Friends for Terry Houck". You got any actual evidence of such, or did you just realize that was done by the Houck campaign without a legally registered PAC? I would love to see Baratta sue you. I'll light a candle tonight for such...here's looking at you kid!
Well since so far no report on how Gary beat Houck in court is listed yet ill comment here while I wait.. As I have stated over and over Terry Houck is a arrogant DA. Read what his ADA said its an extremely difficult case to prove with the drug toxicology and proving what drug caused death. Guess what you don't bring that case and waste tax dollars. You already had the guy on PWI take it and run. Instead you try and waste tax dollars and try and be a big man.. guess what you lost big time. Get a new horse in the race Bernie Terry is a loser.
Why is a won or loss in that case relevant to the question whether Houck should be a DA? Houck lost on drug delivery resulting in death but won all six other counts. Ferrante's bail has been revoked and he's sitting in jail. I am proud of Terry for trying this case. I personally know two mothers who lost their children to fentanyl. If the dealer could be identified, Houck might be able to stop a few more deaths by prosecuting. That's the point here. It's about public awareness and saving lives. You don't brush these cases under the rug. You try them and raise public awareness so that more mothers do not see their children die. Houck did the right thing, and your complaints here are pathetic. Shame on you. I'll definitely write about it.
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