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Gray outraises Smithgall in race for mayor
Two-thirds of money coming from donors outside city
Intelligencer Journal
Lancaster New Era
Oct 27, 2009 08:31 EST
By TOM MURSE, Staff Writer

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Lancaster Mayor Rick Gray, trying to win a second term in the Nov. 3 election, has raised and spent nearly five times the money challenger Charlie Smithgall has since June, new finance reports show.

Gray, a Democrat and former defense attorney, brought in $33,908 and spent nearly as much since June 9, the beginning of the latest reporting period. He had $20,805 on hand as of Oct. 19, the close of the reporting period.

Those figures don't include the more than $20,000 Gray's campaign netted at an art auction held after Friday's deadline for filing finance reports.

Smithgall, a Republican and city pharmacist who served two terms in City Hall before losing to Gray in 2005, raised only $6,900 and spent nearly all of it. He had only $519 on hand.

The level of fundraising and campaign spending pales in comparison to what Gray and Smithgall spent four years ago, and is the smallest amount in any modern mayoral race, according to newspaper records.

The two spent nearly $229,000 in 2005 — a record for any Lancaster mayoral contest. Smithgall outspent Gray the last time around, $146,792 to $82,072, but ended up losing by 16 percentage points.

In previous elections, Smithgall and his 2001 Democratic opponent, Ed Ruoff, spent a combined $113,900. And in 1997, Smithgall and opponent Jon Lyons spent a combined $185,000, according to newspaper records.

The reason for the relatively low level of spending this year can be easily explained: Gray didn't have an opponent until mid-year, when Smithgall, who won the Republican primary as a write-in candidate, decided to challenge Gray in the general election.

The other interesting wrinkle to this year's fundraising in the mayoral race: Roughly two thirds of the cash has been given by people who live outside the city and can't vote in the election.

At least $21,168 in 91 separate contributions to Gray's campaign came from donors who live outside the city, an analysis of his finance report shows. The mayor's campaign got 50 contributions worth $9,426 from city residents.

Those numbers, however, do not include the $3,311 Gray received in un-itemized contributions, or those $50 or less.

Smithgall's report shows that $4,900 of his $6,900 came from 10 donors who live outside the city. He did not have any contributions of $50 or less.

Gray received seven contributions of $1,000 or more. They were from Matthew G. Brown of West Chester ($2,500), who works at ARRO Consulting Inc. in Manheim Township; Robert L. Pfannebecker, an attorney from Holtwood ($1,500); Jon C. Lyons, a Lancaster attorney ($1,050); Michael D. Lockhart of Lancaster ($1,000), the chairman, president and chief executive officer of Armstrong World Industries; Lois Dostalik, a business management consultant of Lancaster ($1,000); Friends of John Callahan ($1,000), the campaign committee of Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan; and Kenneth Stoudt of East Lampeter Township ($1,000).

On Monday, Gray's committee also reported receiving $1,500 from Gov. Ed Rendell's campaign committee.

Smithgall received only two contributions of more than $1,000. They were from Erich Burlefinger of West Lampeter Township ($2,000), the general partner of the Burle Business Park, and Beverly R. Steinman of Lancaster Township ($1,000), a director of Lancaster Newspapers Inc.

Smithgall's campaign received three contributions of $500. They were from Charles McWilliams, a Lancaster funeral director; John C. and Beverly B. Schantz of Lancaster; and John M. and Sara T. Buckwalter of Manheim Township, chairman of the board of Lancaster Newspapers Inc.

tmurse@lnpnews.com


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Showing 5 most recent comments out of 38 total TalkBack comments about this article
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QUOTE (Kate @ Oct 27 2009, 07:18 PM)
Whoa Artie - speaking of fear - you're "frightened" over allegations that Smithgall will cut firefighters. Aren't you also using fear to drive your support for Mayor Gray?

Disclaimer - I am not promoting either candidate. My main focus is on safety for city residents, businesses and visitors.


See, here's the thing, Smithgall going around saying he's going to can firefighters is frightening because everyone knows he will do it. He already has. It is a truth, and one that every resident, business owner and visitor to this city deserve to know when making their decision at the polls.

Smithgall going around screaming about crime increases and Gray not liking the police department is a tactic. A tactic that uses lies to instill fear in voters. The fear Charlie is fabricating is a falsehood that he is using to manipulate voters into electing him.

One protects voters, one uses them.

See the difference?
avgwhiteguy
QUOTE (Kate @ Oct 27 2009, 02:46 PM)
Rick can dance at the Rumba club every night until it closes but I would challenge him to walk home from there at that hour.

I would not even attempt it.

Kate, I know you are an attractive woman, while I'm just an ugly old man. I can understand why you might fear for your safety a lot more than I would. And I am not trying to be sarcastic.
Artie See
QUOTE (Shirley U Geste @ Oct 27 2009, 08:08 PM)
I would agree with that statment based on Talkback posters who live in the city.

My question is where does the Hispanic community stand?

Would they not be a large voting block that can sway this election?


As a rule the Hispanic people will vote democrate... I believe they are the people who put Rick over the top in the last election...? and I see no reason for them to vote for Charlie....
toobad
I thought the same thing. Quite a few I have discussed the matter with recently appear to be leaning toward Smithgall. I am curious if this is a select few or the attitude in general. Gray should take note and reach out to this community and discuss their concerns or he could be back in a courtroom next year.
Shirley U Geste
QUOTE (Shirley U Geste @ Oct 28 2009, 06:22 AM)
I thought the same thing. Quite a few I have discussed the matter with recently appear to be leaning toward Smithgall. I am curious if this is a select few or the attitude in general. Gray should take note and reach out to this community and discuss their concerns or he could be back in a courtroom next year.


I find it funny how any minority could even think of voting for Smithgall. His term for them is "those people" and he used that phrase frequently in his last go around as mayor.

avgwhiteguy
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