Northampton County DA: the money race
Democrat Terry Houck outraised Republican Tom Carroll by $21,600 since spring in the race to become the Northampton County’s first new district attorney in 28 years, campaign finance reports out Friday show.
And Houck, a career prosecutor, also outspent Carroll, an attorney, by more. Houck’s campaign doled out $72,500 for his general election run, compared to $45,000 by Carroll, the reports show.
When coupled with what was left in their accounts after the primary, Houck now has $7,600 and Carroll $19,500 heading into the final days of the autumn race. Carroll’s reports show that he is using Facebook, T-shirts, yard signs, flyers, radio ads and a mailer to get his message out. Houck spent his campaign cash on mailers, phone banks and palm cards.
Houck owes $65,000 to his wife, Linda Houck, his report shows. Carroll owes $2,500 to Robert Pfenning, Bethlehem.
The race is a high profile one in the county where there hasn’t been a competitive district attorney’s race since 1991 when Democrat John Morganelli won the office. He decided not to seek an eighth term and is running instead for one of two open county judge seats. Also running for judge are Republican Victor Scomillio and Democrat Abe Kassis.
Houck, 63, of Forks Township, has served as Morganelli’s first assistant for 13 years. He started out as a Philadelphia police officer and has also been a prosecutor in Bucks and Lehigh counties. He twice ran unsuccessfully for Bucks County district attorney.
Carroll, 57, of Bethlehem, was a prosecutor in Montgomery and Northampton counties and now has a private practice where he’s defended clients in 18 counties. He unsuccessfully ran for judge in 2013 and is chairman of the Lehigh Valley Tea Party.
The election is Nov. 5