Mr. Baseball: Morganelli's $280,000 Donor

He's running unopposed, but his campaign coffers are bulging with $178,317.54, according to the campaign finance report he filed last week. In the first few months of this year, he's already raised $57,420, more than most of us earn in a year.

I'm speaking, of course, about Northampton County DA John Morganelli. Defense lawyers throughout the Lehigh Valley have dutifully lined up to pay fealty with contributions ranging somewhere between $250 and $500. The more prominent the defense lawyer, the more money.

In addition to accepting contributions from defense lawyers, Morganelli has taken $26,000 from an alphabet soup of unions in the first few months of this year. It is these very unions who usually tip him off about those dreaded illegal aliens working at pallet companies and construction sites.

But Morganelli's biggest contributor, by far, is a person who has likely never visited Northampton County. He's Baltimore lawyer Peter G. Angelos, whom you can see with Fidel when the O's played Cuban All-Stars ten years ago. Known as Mr. Baseball, Angelos has pretty much destroyed the Orioles. But his control over Maryland's legislature is so legendary that his measures are simply called "Angelos bills." He's a heavy campaign contributor in Maryland, but is spreading his tentacles into Pennsylvania, too.

In the first few months of this year, he's already given Morganelli $10,000. Last year, Morganelli was able to dine out quite a bit and buy DA suits because Angelos gave him $20,000.

But that's peanuts.

According to state campaign finance records, Angelos has given Morganelli a whopping $250,200 since 2004. All told, we're talking about $280,200.

That's a lot of baseballs.

So what's in it for him? Obviously, Angelos wanted a friendly Attorney General. But what is the faucet still open and pouring money, to the tune of $30,000 into Morganelli coffers?

It might be a clearing house. Angelos might be pouring money into Morganelli, which will then be given to Democratic County Council candidates in this year's election.

Angelos employee Lamont McClure happens to be one of those Northampton County Council candidates. And as it happens, Morganelli has already poured $1,000 into his coffers. McClure's wife, incidentally, happens to work for Morganelli as an Assistant DA.

This money might also be a "thank you" gift. In past years, Morganelli was never troubled by the dual office question, even when it involved Angle. But that suddenly changed last year, and right after McClure told Angle, "You're going down."

Morganelli, aided by Judge Franciosa, forced Angle to resign his school board seat and persuaded the Supreme Court that Angle's appeal was moot.

So that $30,000 might be Angelos' way of saying thanks.

I doubt Angelos knows or cares about any of the issues facing Northampton County. But these guys recognize power, and has likely identified Morganelli as one person who can help him wield it.

Peter Koehler To Refuse ALL Campaign Contributions in Easton City Council Race

Peter Koehler, manager of Koehler Kheel Realty, is running against Reno Pesaresi for the Democratic nomination to Easton City Council, District 1. That district includes College Hill, the downtown, and a sliver of the west ward. The Den winner will face incumbent Republican Roger Ruggles, who is running unopposed in his primary.

Koehler, like John Stoffa, is yet another candidate who refuses to participate in the "pay to play" fundraising so prevalent in local politics. Here's a statement he made during a Thursday news conference.

"Thank you for coming. There are two reasons I’m holding this press conference today. The first, to discuss my own campaign finances for the upcoming election.

"We need a different kind of candidate running for city council. We all know how campaign contributions can sway an election. And too often campaign contributions during the election process become more important than the core issues facing our community. And that is simply not right, and it is not fair to our taxpayers. We need an electoral culture change.

"And I want the voters of the District 1 seat to know that I am the one candidate that will truly make this a reality. That is why I will not be accepting any campaign contributions during this election cycle. And if elected to City Council, I will not be indebted to anyone.

"I will be self-financing my campaign. But I will also tell you that the sky is not the limit. I am placing a cap of $10,000 on my campaign, and will not spend one penny more. This self-imposed cap is for the ENTIRE election cycle—primary and general included.

"It’s unfortunate that candidates need to spend money to propel them into public office, but I will tell you this – money isn’t everything. At least not to my campaign. Going door-to-door, meeting voters and talking with them on their front porches is what matters. And that’s what I’ll be doing in the months to come.

"Serving this community I have known and cherished for decades is my goal.

"And that leads me to my next reason for hold this press conference today.

"I will not be accepting any salary or benefits if elected to council. Once I receive a paycheck, I will be donating it to a local non-profit or charity.

"Integrity, honesty and trust are the cornerstones of my campaign. I will never be indebted to anyone when elected to council, and voters should know that I am not running for the pay.

I’m running to make a difference."