District attorney candidates file financial reports
Republican District Attorney Richard Goldinger has received small and large contributions from a variety of people during his campaign for his fifth term in office, while his Independent challenger, attorney Jennifer Gilliland Vanasdale’s campaign is largely self-funded, according to financial reports.
Goldinger, who was not challenged in the primary, has been filing campaign finance reports with the county Elections Bureau since January. Vanasdale, who entered the race after the primary, filed her first report Friday.
In the latest report filed Oct. 26 that covers June through October, Goldinger’s campaign committee, the Citizens for Rich Goldinger, brought forward $10,519 from the previous reporting period and received $29,398 in contributions to have $39,917 available.
The committee spent $33,261 for campaign yard signs, pass out cards, newspaper and radio advertising, mailers and an outdoor sign, and had an ending cash balance of $6,656 and in-kind contributions valued at $2,841.
Unpaid debts totaling $19,178 have been carried over since the first reporting period.
His committee received $3,148 in contributions of $50 or less, $9,250 in contributions between $50 and $250 and $17,000 in contributions over $250 including $300 from the Committee to Elect Leslie Osche, the chairman of the county commissioners, $1,000 from Goldinger, $1,000 from Joseph V. Charlton of Charlton Law of Sarver and $2,000 from David J. Shrager, a Pittsburgh attorney.
In a report covering 30 days from May through early June, the committee reported a cash balance of $10,519 and the $19,178 debt. The same balance and debt are listed on a report covering January through May 1. The debt is for expenses paid for by Goldinger and a family member.
According to Goldinger’s candidate report, he brought forward $385 from the previous period and reported no contributions. He spent $2,366 on fundraiser invitations, shirts, advertising, postage and copies of documents from the bureau, and reported an ending cash balance of $2,751. Goldinger spent $361 from January to May.
Vanasdale didn’t file reports for the early reporting periods because she didn’t run in the primary. She and her committee, Citizens for Jen GV, filed reports Friday that cover July 1 through Oct. 23.
Her committee reported contributions of $90,496, which includes $60,300 from herself, expenditures of $61,543, an ending cash balance of $28,952, in-kind contributions of $24,574 and an unpaid debt of $60,000, which is owed to her.
Contributions to her committee of up to $50 total $234, contributions from $50 to $250 total $1,050 and contributions over $250 total $89,130. Vanasdale’s contributions to her committee are $35,000, $25,000, $200 and $100 made from August to October. In addition, the committee reported $24,423 in in-kind contributions from her.
The other major donor is William E. Adams, a retiree from Portersville, who made four contributions totaling $26,030.
Expenses reported by the committee are for print, digital, billboard, radio and TV advertising, mailers and contributions to several events.
Vanasdale’s candidate report contains $60,000 in expenditures as loans to the committee.
