Fallsnewspress.com - Silver Lake mayoral candidates file finance reports

by Phil Keren

Editor

Silver Lake -- The village leader and his challenger in last fall's mayoral election probably did not set any fundraising records, as each ran financially-modest campaigns.

Mayor Bernie Hovey earned election to a four-year term as he defeated former Village Councilwoman Pat Grant in November. According to final and official results from the Summit County Board of Elections, Hovey received 696 votes (or 72.05 percent) and Grant collected 270 (27.95 percent).

In a previous story, Hovey said he declined to accept any monetary contributions to his campaign and noted he felt that practice was not necessary when vying for elected office in Silver Lake.

Meanwhile, Grant spent $361.27 in the post-general election reporting period.

Both Hovey and Grant filed post-general election campaign finance reports, covering campaign finance activity from Oct. 17 through Dec. 7, with the Summit County Board of Elections.

Reports submitted by the Committee to Elect Bernie Hovey listed $417.47 as in-kind contributions from Hovey to the committee. An in-kind contribution is typically an item or service donated by an individual or group to a campaign. However, Paul Theiss, the treasurer for the campaign, said since all of the funds raised and spent by the committee came from the candidate, the Board of Elections told him the money should be listed as in-kind contributions.

The committee reported paying Whitehall Graphics $213.49 for campaign brochures and Omega HTC $203.98 for campaign pencils.

Hovey's campaign did not submit a pre-general election report. A board representative said a candidate is required to file a pre-general election finance report if he or she raises or spends $1,000 during a reporting period.

The Patricia Grant For Mayor committee brought forward $314.85 from the previous report and accepted $225 in monetary contributions, leaving it with $539.85 in available monies. According to the report filed by committee treasurer Stuart D. Grant, all of those funds were expended or donated.

Susanne Drbal gave $100 to the Grant committee, while former Silver Lake Mayor Ann Thudium and Fran Bittle donated $50 each to the campaign. Anne Lubinski's $25 contribution was the only other campaign donation received during the post-general election reporting period.

Grant's committee wrote a $215.55 check to Heinen's for election results committee supplies. The campaign also made two payments of $72.86 each to Office Max for printing supplies. On Dec. 8, the Grant committee donated its remaining funds ($178.58) to the Silver Lake Home and School League, according to the report.

E-mail: pkeren@recordpub.com

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