Over $1.5M has been raised in Centre County’s PA State House races. Who is funding them?
With six candidates seeking election to three different Pennsylvania State House districts that include Centre County, $1.53 million has been poured into local campaigns.
Through campaign finance data provided by the candidates via the Pennsylvania Department of State’s website, anyone can see how much money has been raised by a candidate, how much an individual or political action committee has donated, and what a candidate has spent the money on.
The Centre Daily Times has combed through countless pages of data to understand who is funding local campaigns, including Democrat Paul Takac and Republican Justin Behrens in House District 82, Democrat Rep. Scott Conklin and Republican Steve Yetsko in HD-77, and Democrat Robert Zeigler and Republican Rep. Kerry Benninghoff in HD-171.
Through this data, it’s clear that the newly created 82nd House District is a competitive and expensive race. Through redistricting, the 2022 Pennsylvania House District map has Centre County split into three districts: 77, 171 and a new district, 82. The open seat in the 82nd District is a race many around the state are watching, as both parties try to gain more representation in the state House.
Takac has raised over half a million dollars and personally loaned his campaign over $100,000. Behrens has raised $83,808.60 and personally loaned his campaign over $40,000.
Below is how much each candidate in House districts 82, 77 and 171 has raised and spent in their respective races, as well as top donors and largest aggregate expenses. This article is updated as of Nov. 7.
The most recent filing, cycle 5, was due Oct. 28.
Candidates are now in a 24-hour reporting period (cycle 11), where they have to report each day if they received any donations, up to and including Nov. 8. Though some have reported donations, they are not yet included in the Department of State’s tally, although it is included in the top donors data in this article.
Justin Behrens, Republican, HD-82
Centre County Future PAC, of which Behrens is listed as a supported candidate, has raised $83,808.60 and spent $83,218.74. He has $589.86 on hand.
In the data available, there are no small dollar donations reported (under $50).
Largest contributions from political committees:
$10,000 Student First PAC
$6,000, Benninghoff for Representative
$5,000, Build PA PAC
$5,000, Northeast Republican House Delegation
$3,500, PA Future Fund
Largest individual contributions:
$43,158.60, Justin Behrens
$2,500, John Chrin, Skytop, partner at Circle Wealth Management
$500, Dan Meuser, Wyoming, Pa., Pennsylvania House member
$500, Donald Stickler, State College, retired
$500, Lisa and Patrick Pribula, Exeter, self-employed contractor
$500, Nancy and Paul Silvis, Port Matilda, owner of Silco Tek
Behrens has also personally loaned the committee/campaign $41,355, according to the reports online.
The largest aggregate expense is $72,468.64 to RGB Politics for various campaign materials.
The value of in-kind contributions is reported as $116,866.16, which includes an aggregate of $112,011 for “cable” and “production” from the Commonwealth Leaders Fund.
Paul Takac, Democrat, HD-82
As of Nov. 3, Friends of Paul Takac reported raising $558,094.26 and spending $373,516.81 this year. On hand, he has $250,149.80. There are $25,038.91 worth of in-kind contributions reported.
He has raised $42,241.63 in small dollar donations (under $50).
Largest contributions from political committees:
$88,955, The PAC for America’s Future - PA
$60,000, Pennsylvania SEIU COPE
$35,000, Change PA
$25,000, FAIRNESS PAC
$23,500, Friends of Joanna McClinton
Largest individual contributions are:
$50,100, Paul Takac
$10,800 from Karla Jurvetson, of Los Altos, Calif., self-employed physician
$7,500, Eric Feigelson, of State College, professor at Penn State
$5,700, Micaela Hayes, of State College, physician at Geisinger
$5,000, Stephen Kaufer, of Newton, Mass.
Takac has also personally loaned his campaign $100,100, according to the reports online.
The largest aggregate expense is $228,505.77 to the House Democratic Campaign Committee for campaign services and materials.
Steve Yetsko, Republican, HD-77
As of Nov. 3, Steve Yetkso, under “Let’s Go With Yetsko,” has raised $24,695.85. He has spent $16,870.50. With money brought forward from previous cycles, he has $8,852 on hand. He reported $5,823.23 worth of in-kind donations.
Through small dollar donations (under $50), he has raised $560.
Largest contributions from political committees:
$1,500 GT Commonwealth PAC
$1,000 Huntingdon County Republican Committee
$1,000 Wayne Langerholc For Senate
Largest individual contributions are:
$4,500, Robert Shearer, retired
$3,000, Daniel R. Hawbaker, of Port Matilda, retired
$2,000, Jeffery Powell, of Philipsburg, owner of JJ Powell
$1,200, Nancy L. Silvis, of Port Matilda, retired
$1,100, Bruce E. Helms, of Warriors Mark, retired
The largest aggregate expense is $10,175.74 to Communication Concepts for various campaign materials.
Scott Conklin, Democrat, HD-77
As of Nov. 3, Friends of Scott Conklin has raised at least $22,853.40 and spent $27,389.71. With the money brought forward from previous cycles, he has $17,721.18 on hand. He had $2,575 worth of in-kind contributions.
Through small dollar donations (under $50), he has raised $937.90.
Largest contributions from political committees:
$12,500, AFSCME
$5,000, Friends of Joanna McClinton
$2,500, Bike PAC
$2,000, Teamsters #8
$1,250, Malady and Wooten PAC
Largest individual contributions are:
$2,000, Maria Sweet, of State College
$500, Daunne Morris, of Philadelphia
$500, Ron Filippelli, of State College
$250, Evan Myers, of State College
$250, Jenna Henry, of State College
The largest aggregate expense is $9,999.40 to Effectv for advertisements.
Kerry Benninghoff, Republican, HD-171
The Kerry Benninghoff for Rep Committee reported raising $721,907.61 and spending $720,885.27. With money brought forward from previous cycles, he has $105,485.96 on hand. The value of in-kind contributions is reported at $7,044.11.
He raised $168.03 through small dollar donations (under $50).
Largest contributions from political committees:
$25,000, Steamfitters Local Union 449 PAC
$22,500, Pennsylvania Bankers Public Affairs Committee
$21,000, PAA-PAC
$16,500, The Pennsylvania Insurance PAC
$13,500, Transportation Construction Industries PAC
Largest individual contributions are:
$20,000, Zachary & Vanessa Shamberg, of Camp Hill, president and CEO of Pennsylvania Health Care Association
$20,000, William Weisberg & Benjamin Volpe, of Beachwood, Ohio, co-owner of Saber Healthcare Group
$20,000, Ara M. Kervandjian, of State College, CEO of Primecore
$10,000, J.B. Reilly and Kathleen A. Waterbury, Bethlehem, president of City Center Investment Corp.
$10,000, John & Jane Malloy, Bethlehem, president and CEO of Victaulic
$10,000, Michael J. Perrucci, of Bethlehem, attorney at Florio & Perrucci
$10,000, Naresh & Monikaben Patel, of State College, CEO of Priminent Technologies
The largest aggregate expense is $475,000 to the House Republican Campaign Committee for various campaign support items and advertising.
Robert Zeigler, Democrat, HD-171
As of Nov. 7, the Zeigler: For A Better Tomorrow report for cycle 5 (due Oct. 28) has not been submitted. Cycle 3 (due June 16) was submitted Nov. 7.
In an email, Zeigler said the reports are late due to his treasurer needing to focus on some personal, family issues.
Erin Wise, associate with MFStrategies and fundraiser for Zeigler’s campaign, wrote in an email Thursday that the reports are being straightened out, and offered some insight on what he’s raised since he declared his candidacy.
“So far to date, Robert has raised $66,443.08 this cycle in direct and in-kind contributions, with over 90% of that coming directly from individuals and none of the contributions coming from corporate PACs,” Wise said.
He has “just over $60,000 in expenditures,” she said.
His cycle 5 report shows roughly $34,000 raised, Wise said.
Through small dollar donations (under $50), he has raised $9,100.79, according to data available online.
According to data available online, he has raised $42,993.09 and spent $13,010.69. With money brought forward from previous cycles, he has $33,741.34 on hand. He has $2,629.73 in in-kind contributions.
Largest contributions from political committees:
$1,000, Free Thought Equality PAC
$500, Patton Halfmoon Democrats
$500, Teamsters Local 8 PAC
$400, Friends of Joe Waltz
$250, Mifflin County Democratic Committee
Largest individual contributions are:
- $2,250, Nicholas Kello, of State College, not employed
- $2,050, Evan Myers, of State College, senior vice president at AccuWeather
- $1,000, Elizabeth Goreham, of State College
- $800, Deb Smith, of Bellefonte, not employed
- $600, Bernard Cantorna, of State College, lawyer at Centre County District Attorney’s office
- $600, Susan Trainor, of State College, nurse practitioner, Mount Nittany Physician Group
His largest aggregate expense is $8,702.01 for campaign fundraising services.
This story was originally published November 4, 2022 at 12:23 PM.
