Incumbent GOP state legislators outraise challengers
Cutrona, Fischer, Boccieri hold large financial advantages
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The Republican incumbent state legislators who represent the Mahoning Valley have significant financial advantages over their Democratic challengers right before the election.
Pregeneral election finance reports, for the period between June 6 and Oct. 14, show state Sen. Al Cutrona, R-Canfield, raised $98,350 to $33,464 for Democrat Michael Kripchak of Youngstown. The district includes all of Mahoning, Columbiana and Carroll counties.
In the 65th Ohio House District race, state Rep. David Thomas, R-Jefferson, raised $82,988 in the pregeneral period compared to $30,237.51 for Democrat John Barbo of Geneva. The district includes portions of Trumbull and Ashtabula counties.
In the 59th Ohio House District race, state Rep. Tex Fischer, R-Canfield, raised $90,954.42 in the pregeneral period with Democrat Wayne Penny of Canfield not filing a single campaign finance report with the Ohio Secretary of State's Office. The district includes parts of Mahoning and Columbiana counties.
The Valley legislator to raise the most money in the pregeneral period was state Rep. Nick Santucci, R-Niles, who is running unopposed for the 64th House seat. He raised $118,120 in the period. Santucci's district includes portions of Trumbull County.
In the only Valley race for an open seat ---- the 58th House District ---- Democrat John Boccieri of Poland, a former congressman and state legislator, raised $45,465 in the period compared to $22,800 for Republican Heather Fronk of Poland. The district includes parts of Mahoning County.
For Cutrona, Thomas, Fischer, Santucci and Boccieri, much of the money they collected in the filing period came from political action committees.
Of the $45,465 raised by Boccieri between June 6 and Oct. 14, $33,350 came from PACs.
Boccieri spent $35,693.08 in the period with his largest expenses being $8,550 to Art Advisors of Columbus for direct mail and $7,810 to iHeart Media for radio ads.
Boccieri's campaign had $48,405 left as of Oct. 14.
Fronk raised $22,800 in the pregeneral period with $13,500 coming from Fischer's campaign.
Fronk spent $11,063, including $2,707 as reimbursements to her for campaign expenses.
Fronk didn't include the money she carried over from the previous filing period on her report with a majority of the fund collected during that period coming from Cutrona's campaign.
Including the carryover, Fronk's campaign had $37,310 as of Oct. 14.
Of the $98,350 raised by Cutrona in the period, $48,500 came from PACs.
Cutrona spent $117,717.51 in the period with $100,000 going to the Republican Senate Campaign Committee, the Republican Senate campaign arm.
Cutrona also received $73,251 in in-kind contributions during this period, including $31,248 from the RSCC for media ads, printing and posting; and $40,323 from the Ohio Republican Party for mail.
Kripchak raised $33,494 in the period, including $7,000 from his parents, and spent $22,432. His largest expense was $14,000 to Danny Thomas Jr. and Associates of Struthers for campaign management.
As of Oct. 14, Cutrona had $220,255 in his campaign fund compared to $15,791.28 for Kripchak.
Of the $90,954.42 raised by Fischer in the pregeneral period, $60,450 came from PACs.
Fischer also reported $59,420.91 in in-kind contributions during the period from the Ohio Republican Organizational Committee (OHROC), the House Republican campaign arm. The money was for advertising.
Of the $101,446.15 spent by Fischer in the period, $70,418 went to OHROC in donations, according to his report.
Fischer had $57,014.48 in his fund as of Oct. 14.
Of the $82,988 raised by Thomas in the pregeneral period, $49,874 came from PACs.
Thomas reported $74,555 spent in the period with $50,000 going to OHROC in donations.
Barbo raised $30,237 in the period and spent $14,882 with his largest expense being $10,950 to Fulton Sign of Mentor for signs and shirts.
As of Oct. 14, Thomas had $16,823.01 in his campaign fund compared with $15,354.57 for Barbo.
While Santucci is running unopposed this year, he raised $118,120 in this period, including $50,450 from PACs.
Santucci spent $164,274.75 in the period with $90,000 going to OHROC and $31,730 going to GM Financial for "vehicle for campaign purposes."
In the postprimary period, Santucci paid $15,000 to GM Financial for the same reason and earlier this year, his campaign paid $15,000 to R.D. Banks Chevrolet of Champion for a vehicle for campaign purposes.
After expenses, Santucci had $95,512 in his campaign fund as of Oct. 14.