Coder top spender in election
WAYNESBURG – Greene County Commissioner-elect Dave Coder was the top spender during the last campaign financial reporting period stretching from two weeks before the Nov. 3 election to the end of November, according to financial reports filed Thursday.
For the last reporting period, which ran from Oct. 19 to Nov. 23, Coder, a Democrat, reported spending $17,062 for what proved to be a successful bid for commissioner.
Coder started the reporting period with $11,059 and raised $10,005 during that time, which included $1,000 contributions each from EQT State PAC and Gloria Bishop of Wexford.
During the final period, he also received 11 contributions of $500; eight of $250 and four of $100. His campaign was left with a $4,002 balance.
Coder also had been the top spender in the previous reporting period, which ran from June 8 through Oct. 19. During that time, he received $16,900 in contributions and spent $10,109.68.
Coder received 3,791 votes in the Nov. 3 election, placing third among the four candidates.
Incumbent Democratic Commissioner Blair Zimmerman led the pack with 4,476 votes, followed by incumbent Republican Commissioner Archie Trader with 3,841 votes. Newcomer, Republican Keith McClure received 3,195 votes.
Zimmerman, Trader and McClure all spent much less than Coder in the last two financial reporting cycles, according to their statements.
During the last reporting period, Zimmerman raised $1,750 and spent $1,814. He received two contributions of $500 and three of $250. In the previous reporting period, Zimmerman had raised $3,650 and spent $4,313. He was the only candidate without a campaign committee.
Trader reported starting the final reporting period with $5,791. He raised $500 and spent $1,797, leaving a balance of $4,495. During the final reporting period, Trader received two contributions of $250 each. He also filed a report for a late contribution on Oct. 25 for $2,373 from the state Republican Party. In the earlier reporting period, Trader raised $10,800 and spent $5,258.54
McClure started the final reporting period with $24.57. He raised $2,250 and spent $2,069, leaving a balance of $205.39. Contributions during the last reporting cycle included $1,000 each from EQT Corp. PAC and the state Republican Party. McClure also reported an in-kind contribution of $2,373 from the state Republican Party for campaign literature and postage. In the previous reporting period, McClure had raised $3,300 and spent $3,892.