Lehigh Valley business leaders donate heavily to Republican slates in East Penn, Parkland
Donations were given through two political action committees
A group of Lehigh Valley business leaders has given another financial boost to Republican candidates running for East Penn and Parkland school boards on Nov. 7, giving them a large fundraising edge over their opponents.
More than $30,000 in combined donations from nearly 10 entrepreneurs were given to two political action committees – Common Sense Solutions and Your Voice on the Board, according to the most recent campaign finance reports.
The money, in turn, is being used to support two slates of candidates that, among other issues, advocate for parental rights, transparency, reversing learning loss from the coronavirus pandemic and keeping taxes low. Some have said they want books they deem inappropriate restricted and question policies allowing transgender students to use restrooms associated with their gender identity.
Big donors to one or both of the PACs include David Jaindl, president of Jaindl Farms; Anthony Salvaggio, president of Computer Aid; and William Bachenberg, a co-owner of Lehigh Valley Sporting Clays in North Whitehall Township. Bachenberg was subpoenaed to testify before a U.S. House of Representatives Jan. 6 committee about his role as chair of “alternate” electors in the 2020 presidential election.
In addition, Paul Martino, a Bucks County venture capitalist, again contributed to Common Sense Solutions, this time through Back to School PA, the PAC he founded.
Common Sense Solutions, a PAC launched by Republican Dean Browning, a former Lehigh County commissioner, raised $27,450 between June 6 and Oct. 23, according to a campaign finance report filed with the state.
The Your Voice on the Board PAC raised $21,950 in the same period, campaign finance reports show.
The two PACs far outraised Concerned Parents of Parkland and Valley Values PAC, two local political action committees raising money on behalf of challengers in both districts that include incumbent Democrats and Republicans and newcomers.
Those PACs, however, drew support from Democratic office holders, including state Sen. Nick Miller, state Reps. Mike Schlossberg and Peter Schweyer and a PAC associated with U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, D-7th.
Concerned Parents of Parkland brought in $4,374 while Valley Values raised $8,238 from June 6 to Oct. 23.
Here is a closer look at the donations given by the major local political action committees in the race.
Parkland PACs
Common Sense Solution
Common Sense Solutions is raising money for Republicans Michael Deering, Beth Finch, Natalie Janotka, Bobby Lanyon and George Rivera, all of whom are seeking four-year terms for five seats, and Mike Millo, who is seeking a two-year term. They are running under a slate called Education First for Parkland. All won Republican nominations in the spring.
The PAC had a $60 carryover from the spring and raised $27,450 between June 6 and Oct. 23 – far more than the $16,850 it raised between Jan. 1 and June 5. The PAC spent $27,188.
One of the largest donations came from Martino’s Back to School PAC, which gave $5,000. Martino, whose PAC grew out of his frustration with covid-related school closures in his children’s Central Bucks School District, gave $3,000 of his own money to Common Sense Solutions in the spring.
Another $5,000 came from Bachenberg, who was recently sued in federal court for allegedly failing to pay for a forensic analysis of voting machines in Pennsylvania’s Fulton County after results did not show evidence of fraud. Bachenberg gave $2,500 in the spring.
Other donors included Jaindl ($2,000); Salvaggio ($2,000); developer Robert J. Johnson ($1,000); Catherine Jaindl-Leuthe ($1,000); David Lobach Jr., chairman and CEO of Embassy Bank of the Lehigh Valley ($1,000); Ernie Stiegler, CEO of SWBR Marketing & Media ($1,000); Andrew W. Wright, president of Vinart Enterprises ($2,000); Catherine Wright ($2,000); David Scheuermann, president of Scheuermann Excavating ($1,500); and Joseph Ruffino, owner of Biaggio Pizzeria ($500).
Jaindl, Bachenberg, Johnson, Salvaggio, Stiegler, Jaindl-Leuthe and Catherine Wright contributed for the May primary as well.
School Board candidates Millo and Lanyon gave $1,750 and $400, respectively. Zachary Mako for Pa, the finance committee for State Rep. Zachary Mako, R-183rd, gave $750.
The bulk of the expenses – $22,837 – went to Ream Printing Company for direct mailing.
Concerned Parents of Parkland
Concerned Parents of Parkland is raising money on behalf of incumbent Republicans Carol Facchiano and Lisa Roth, incumbent Democrats Jay Rohatgi and Marisa Zielgler and newcomer Democrat Christopher Pirrotta, all of whom are seeking four-year terms. Rohatgi is also seeking a two-year term.
The PAC had $1,017 left over from the spring and raised $4,374. That’s about $1,300 more than it raised for the May primary. It spent $4,454 between June 6 and Oct. 23, according to a campaign finance report. Donations from individuals were mostly under $250.
Larger donors included Lehigh County Democratic Committee ($250), Friends of Pete Schweyer, the finance committee for Schweyer, a Democrat who serves in the 22nd House District ($250) and Alyssa Ellowitch ($250). Ellowitch also gave $250 in the spring.
Other donations included $500 from Friends of Nick Miller, the campaign finance committee for State Sen. Nick MIller, D-14th; $500 from Friends of Marisa Ziegler, the finance committee for the incumbent candidate, $500 from Friends of Mike Schlossberg, the finance committee for state Rep. Mike Schlossberg, D-132nd; and $500 from We Invest in Lives and Dreams PAC, which is affiliated with U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, a Democrat who lives in Parkland.
Schlossberg, who also lives in Parkland, gave $500 in the spring while Wild individually previously gave $200.
The PAC also received $500 from Lucy Horton and $500 from Mark Federov, manager of White Dog Management.
Expenses mostly covered costs associated with printing, website fees, yard signs and postage.
PSEA PACE
The Pennsylvania State Education Association’s Political Action Committee for Education gave $500 to Ziegler and $500 to Rohatgi between June 6 and Oct. 23, according to a campaign finance report.
East Penn PACs
Your Voice on the Board PAC
The Your Voice on the Board PAC is supporting an eponymously named slate of Republicans that includes Paul Barbehenn, Kristofer DePaolo, Lawrence Huyssen and Angelic Schneider. The PAC is also supporting Republican Matt Mull who was once part of the slate, but decided in the fall to run on his own. Five seats are up for election for four-year terms.
The PAC carried over $436 and raised $21,950. It spent $15,866 and had an ending cash balance of $6,519 as of Oct. 23. It also had $2,000 in unpaid debts, according to a campaign finance report.
Many of the donors to Common Sense Solutions also gave to Your Voice on the Board. They include Jaindl ($2,000); Scheuermann ($1,500); Jaindl-Leuthe ($1,000); Lobach ($1,000); Ernie and Cathy Stiegler ($1,000); Andrew and Ann Wright ($2,000) Arthur and Catherine Wright ($2,000); Salvaggio ($2,000) and Robert and Kathleen Johnson ($1,000).
All had previously donated to the Your Voice on the Board PAC with Arthur and Catherine Wright donating $4,000 between May 3 and June 5, according to a campaign finance report.
Some of the candidates also donated to the PAC, including Mull ($1,500); Barbehenn ($5,000); and DePaolo ($550). DePaolo also gave $1,500 between May 3 and June 5.
Citizens for Mackenzie, the finance committee for State Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-187th, gave $100 while school board incumbent Republican Michael Felegy gave $100. Dan and Oriana Hood gave $500 while Barbara Tantaros gave $300.
Martino gave $5,000 to the Your Voice on the Board PAC in the spring but neither he nor his PAC are listed as donating to the group in the June 6 to Oct. 23 reporting period.
Expenses mostly involved costs associated with mailers, advertising, website fees and postage. An unpaid debt of $2,000 was listed as being owed to Pat Breslin of Bethlehem for campaign event management.
Valley Values PAC
The Valley Values PAC is supporting the slate that includes President Joshua Levinson, a Democrat, board Vice President Jeffrey Jankowski, a Republican, Democrats Shonta Ford and Gabrielle Klotz and Republican Tim Kelly. All won Democratic nominations in May for the five open seats.
The PAC had a $9,328 carryover and raised $8,238, giving it $17,566 to spend. The group listed $8,177 in expenses with a $9,389 ending balance, according to the campaign finance report for June 6 to Oct. 23.
Valley Values drew support from the Insulators PAC, which is based in Lanham, Md., ($250); Bridge Across America in Bethlehem ($250); Friends of Mike Schlossberg ($250); and Lehigh County Democratic Committee ($250).
Current board members, who donated to the PAC in the spring, did so again, including $100 from Democrat Allan Byrd, who is not seeking reelection, $200 from Paul Champagne, a registered independent, and $100 from Democrat William Whitney. Former school board member Kenneth Bacher, a Republican, gave $100.
Republican Jane Ervin, a former Lehigh County commissioner who recently wrote an op-ed on the race for The Morning Call, donated $250.
Valley Values PAC also shared some of the same donors with Concerned Parents of Parkland.
Friends of Nick Miller gave Valley Values $500, The Wild-associated PAC We Invest in Lives and Dreams gave $1,500 while Friends of Pete Schweyer gave $1,000.
Other donors included Murat Guzel, an executive with Natural Food Group in Whitehall ($500) and Jennifer Allen, a Lehigh Valley Health Network physician ($500).
Expenses went to costs associated with texting fees, direct mail and phone service.