Tuerk files finance report past deadline

Allentown mayoral candidate cites scheduling issues

Matt Tuerk, the Democratic nominee for Allentown mayor, filed his campaign finance reports a week past the county’s deadline.

In Lehigh County, candidates are required to file campaign finance reports with the county by the second Friday before an election and 30 days after election day. Campaign finance reports detail all campaign donations received and all expenses made in support of the candidate’s run for office.

Tuerk said that his report was late because of “unexpected scheduling difficulties” with his campaign’s treasurer. He sent his reports to the Morning Call via email Wednesday but did not file them officially with the county, as required by campaign finance law, until Friday. Tuerk also did not file a campaign finance statement, which details money Tuerk accepted or spent outside of the campaign committee, until Monday.

Candidates incur a $20 daily fee for the first six business days that a report is overdue and $10 for each business day after that. The maximum fee a candidate can incur for late finance reports is $250.

Tuerk paid Lehigh County $220 in late fees Monday. Candidates are prohibited from using campaign funds to pay off late fees, and those who have not paid their late fees cannot assume office or run for office.

Tuerk’s Republican challenger, Tim Ramos, filed his campaign finance reports Oct. 22, the day they were due. Ramos raised $38,347 since the primary election in May and spent $29,311. He received $5,000 from the PA Future

Fund political action committee, which describes itself as a “pro-growth” committee that works to elect Republicans across Pennsylvania.

Ramos also received $6,500 from Bob Lovett, founding chair and current trustee of the Da Vinci Science Center. Bill Bachenberg, owner of shooting range Lehigh Valley Sporting Clays and founder of the nonprofit Camp Freedom, donated $5,000 to Ramos’ campaign.

Ramos collected $4,262.50 from the Lisa Scheller for Congress campaign between July and October for a shared office space on Allentown’s Eighth Street.

The report listed $500 in unpaid campaign debts.

Tuerk has raised $49,600 since the May primary and spent $52,109, according to his finance reports.

Tuerk received $12,250 from several PACs, including Friends of Bob Donchez, Plumbers Union Local 990 Election Political Action Fund, the Lehigh Valley Association of Realtors and Friends of Peter Schweyer.

Tuerk received $5,000 individual donations from Robert Revera, CEO of New York waterproofing products company Penetron Group, and Murat Guzel, CEO of Whitehall Township food company Natural Food Groups.

In the Democratic primary election where Tuerk faced Mayor Ray O’Connell, City Council President Julio Guridy and Council member Ce-Ce Gerlach, Tuerk raised more than double any of his opponents, according to his May campaign finance report. He raised nearly $124,000 before May, when he filed his last campaign report, and had spent around $91,000 since the beginning of the year.