Gerlach's filing is off by $2.2 million (US Rep, R-PA)

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/13287907.htm

Gerlach's filing is off by $2.2 million

snip>

A spokesman for U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach (R., Pa.) conceded yesterday that Gerlach had overstated his campaign receipts for this year by $2.2 million. But it was all a clerical and computer error, campaign spokesman Mark Campbell said.

Nevertheless, the result yesterday was a complaint filed with the Federal Election Commission by Gerlach's presumed Democratic opponent, Lower Merion lawyer Lois Murphy.

"This goes beyond sloppy accounting," said Murphy, who is running for her party's nomination for the 2006 contest. "The errors are so large and dramatic that you can't rely on the reports."

snip>


This story may not turn out to be a big deal, but it is at least a sign of disarray in Gerlach's campaign for this highly competitive seat in the House. Murphy came very close to beating Gerlach last time. It looks as if some of the Republican rats may already be leaving the Gerlach ship, according to the article.


more from the article>

The reports were approved by Gerlach's longtime treasurer, Alan Randzin, who was recently reelected to a second term as treasurer of Chester County.

Randzin resigned from his campaign post on Oct. 15 and said yesterday that he did so because serving as county treasurer, as well as running for reelection and dealing with an illness in his family, left him little time for Gerlach's campaign. It demanded between 40 and 60 hours a month, he said.

snip>

"The reports were approved by Gerlach's longtime treasurer, Alan Randzin, who was recently reelected to a second term as treasurer of Chester County."

"An FEC audit earlier this year found that Gerlach had accepted more than $35,000 in excessive contributions during the last election cycle that were subsequently returned to the donors."

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/states/pennsylvania/counties/montgomery_county/13287907.htm

Wonder if he got some Abramoff dough earlier this year, and handed it back in a rush in the past few days before he got caught....but forgot to tell his bagman.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/7/18/214822/892

snip>

Rove wants to keep Gerlach in Congress because Gerlach is one of the core residents of Tom DeLay's House of Scandal. Gerlach has received almost $30,000 directly from DeLay's scandal money, so his unwavering loyalty to DeLay (and Rove and Bush, of course) is rock solid. Gerlach has also given $2,000 to DeLay's legal defense fund.

snip>

doesn't it?

of intimidating any opposition?

to launder funds at one point and then chickening out and fixing the books.

The repub is the state legislature redrew this discrict just for this guy. He has northern Chester County (ALL county row offices controled by Rs), a sliver of Montgomery County and a third of Berks County. This is one of the richest areas of PA; prime Repug territory. With that said he's won his district by less than 7000 votes the last two cycles. He needs all of the $ he can get to fight for his life.

In retrospect the district is not part of the current repug party. Women tend to work and are well educated (the district as a whole is well educated), there's a high percentage of chatholics in the district, and sentiment is generally pro-choice. In spite of overwhelming R registration, Kerry and Gore have done well in this part of the state.

I really think there's still a chance to get Gerlach out of there before he gets completely entrenched.

1. she cannot be trusted with money if she's that sloppy of a record keeper

2. she's a crook who's trying to cover up theft, with sloppy bookkeeping