Beacon Journal staff writer
Summit County Executive Russ Pry has plenty of campaign cash available as he starts his run for re-election.
Pry, who is seeking a second four-year term, entered this year with $116,798 on hand, according to annual campaign finance reports filed last week with the county Board of Elections. It’s the most money stockpiled by any countywide, nonjudicial candidate up for election this year.
“We are going to continue to raise money and we are going to make sure we are well-funded to put together a positive message on what we’ve accomplished over the last four years,” said Pry, a Democrat.
He faces Republican challenger Frank Larson, the mayor of Munroe Falls, in the general election. Larson was re-elected as mayor last fall. In his post-general election report, his committee noted that he had $158.82 in the account.
Larson, who wasn’t required to file an annual report, couldn’t be reached for comment.
Pry’s report shows that he raised $21,551 and spent $16,829 in the previous reporting period. The majority of his cash was carried over from previous years.
He received $5,175 from his own employees. The largest single donation — $1,000 — came from Welty Building Co. in Fairlawn.
In other countywide, non-judicial races:
• Democratic sheriff candidates Steve Barry and Frank Martucci — who are facing off in the March primary — had $4,020 and $2,971 on hand, respectively.
Barry, a retired sheriff’s captain, had raised $11,605 and spent $9,534. Martucci, a retired Akron police detective, had raised $9,120 and spent $6,428.
Republican candidate Randy Rivers did not file a report.
• Incumbent Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh, a Democrat, has a hefty campaign chest compared to her Democratic challenger in the March primary. Walsh had $96,724 available, while Leonard Hazelett turned in a report with all zeros.
Walsh reported raising $12,730 and spending $3,926.
Republican candidate Candace Kim Knox didn’t file a report.
• Fiscal Officer Kristen Scalise, a Democrat, had $35,407 available. She raised $40,265 during the reporting period and spent $16,274. Nearly half of her contributions came directly from her employees who donated $19,805.
Her chief of staff, Jack LaMonica, gave $1,800.
Republican candidate Ronald Antal did not file an annual report. He won a seat on Boston Heights council last year, and reported having $844 available in his post-general election report.
• Incumbent Engineer Al Brubaker, a Democrat, had $68,088 available. He reported $26,395 in contributions and $4,061 in expenses. He received $1,700 from his employees.
Republican candidate Bruce Robinson formed a campaign committee last month.
• Incumbent Clerk of Courts Daniel Horrigan had $20,782 available. He reported $23,250 in contributions and $13,348 in expenses. He received $605 from his staff.
Republican candidate Kandi O’Connor formed a campaign committee last month.
The next campaign finance filing deadline is Feb. 23. Candidates are required to file a pre-primary report if they have raised $1,000 or more.
Campaign finance reports are available online at the elections board website: www.summitcountyboe.com.
Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com.
