Konop has primary debt of $21,000

6/10/2006

Toledo attorney Ben Konop, the Democratic nominee for a seat on the Lucas County board of commissioners, starts the drive to the November general election with only $800 cash on hand and a primary debt of $21,000.

In comparison, GOP nominee George Sarantou, a Toledo city councilman, starts with more than $1,800 cash and no debt.

Candidates who ran in the May 2 primary and special City Council election were required to report their campaign finances to the county Board of Elections yesterday for the period April 13 to June 2.

The Democratic commissioner candidate who spent the most money during that reporting period ultimately did not win the party's nomination.

Phil Copeland, a Toledo city councilman, spent $30,438 compared with Mr. Konop's $24,861 and Maumee Mayor Tim Wagener's $14,171, according to their reports.

Mr. Konop, a Toledo lawyer, received 47 percent of the Democratic vote, followed by Mr. Wagener with 27 percent and Mr. Copeland with 26 percent.

Mr. Konop started the reporting period with $7,300, raised $2,355 in contributions, loaned his campaign $16,000, and spent $24,861, his report said.

Mr. Sarantou, who won the GOP primary nomination, started the reporting period with $7,279, raised $1,670, spent $7,107, and ended with $1,842 in his campaign war chest for the Nov. 7 election.

He received 71 percent of the GOP vote in the primary, defeating Sylvania school board member Pam Haynam, who spent $5,927 on her campaign during the period.

In the Toledo City Council District 3 election, incumbent Taylor Balderas, the endorsed Democrat, spent $4,244 but ended with $7,124 unspent.

After a recount, she lost the primary by five votes to Mike Craig, an unendorsed Democrat, who spent $11,575 and ended the campaign with $1,461 in reserve.

Mr. Craig received a $10,000 contribution from the United Auto Workers PAC.