by Mark R. Potter
Regional Editor
Cuyahoga Falls -- Some local City Council candidates spent as much as $3,000 and some as little as zero in the November 2007 post-general election finance report.
According to campaign finance reports from the Summit County Board of elections marking the period of Oct. 17 through Dec. 7:
* In the four-year At-Large Council race between incumbent victor Kathy Hummel (D) and Mary Myers (R), Hummel received one contribution in the amount of $500 from the Realtors Political Action Committee of Columbus. She had a carry-over amount from the last reporting period in the amount of $333.54. Hummel's only expenditure was in the amount of $833.54 used toward the repayment of a loan. She reported receiving $557.29 in in-kind contributions from the Cuyahoga Falls Democratic Club for advertising -- materials or services provided the candidates that do not include monetary contributions.
Myers reported receiving no contributions for the period, but had a carry-over balance of $287.88, which she paid to The Salvation Army as a charitable donation after the election.
* Ward 1 Council member Debbie Ritzinger (D), who ran unchallenged in the race, did not receive any contributions for the period and did not have any expenditures. But she received an in-kind contribution of $557.29 from the Cuyahoga Falls Democratic Club for media. She has an onhand balance of $57.84.
* Ward 2 Republican incumbent Mary Ellen Pyke spent only $42.18 to PIP Printing in Cuyahoga Falls. She did not receive any monetary contributions during the period and has an on hand balance of $137.90. Pyke's Democratic challenger Juanita Deptowicz spent all of the $430 she brought forward from her last report on postcards and postage stamps. She did not receive any monetary contributions during the period, but had an in-kind contribution of $557.29 from the Cuyahoga Falls Democratic Club for media.
* Ward 3 Council member Ken Barnhart (R), who ran unchallenged in November, reported receiving and spending $3,000, and lists $867.98 in outstanding loans, however, supplemental pages of his report detailing the transactions was not submitted, according to Rose DeBord, who handles finances at the board. Barnhart has an onhand balance of $245.87.
DeBord said candidates are given "ample" time to submit additional campaign finance information after the filing deadline and are sent notices telling them that they must do so or their cases would be submitted to the Ohio Elections Commission.
* In the Ward 4 race, winner Mark Ihasz (D) did not spend any money for the period, but did receive two $100 checks from the Realtors Political Action Committee of Columbus and Patricia Ann Henry of Cuyahoga Falls. He also received $2,126.94 in in-kind contributions, including $949.88 from the Summit County Democratic Party for mailers. He has an onhand balance of $315.17.
Ward Souders (I) who was unsuccessful in his bid for Ward 4, received $2,000 from the Robart for Mayor Committee and spent $2,247. Around $1,850 of that amount was paid to Ad Graphics Inc. of Akron for mailing advertisements. Souders' campaign owes $656 in loans. He has an onhand balance of $22.29.
E-mail: mpotter@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-686-3915