Mundy has more money, spends more than Kaufer

Democratic state Rep. Phyllis Mundy had 10 times the amount of money in her campaign coffers than her Republican challenger for the 120th District Aaron Kaufer had as of Oct. 22. And Mundy has outspent Kaufer by a more than 2-1 pace between Sept. 18 and Oct. 22.

That's the power of incumbency and years of building up her campaign war chest, which started the year with $35,861.

Kaufer, a newcomer to politics and a fellow Kingston resident, has held his own in fundraising, bringing in $30,870 during the most recent reporting cycle campaigns were required to make financial reports for. That cycle incorporates Sept. 18-Oct. 22. His campaign spent $31,734.

The campaign for Mundy, a 22-year-state House member, raised $42,238 in that same span but spent $66,615. As of Oct. 22, Mundy had $27,446 in the bank; Kaufer had $2,637.

Cycle 5 reports were due to be filed last week, but because of Hurricane Sandy, the state office that posts the reports, the Department of State, hasn't had the time to post all of the reports on its website.

None of the other three contested Luzerne County state House races had reports for both candidates posted on the Department of State Website and efforts to get the reports on Friday were unsuccessful.

In the rematch race between state Rep. Mike Carroll, D-Avoca, and Terrence O'Connor, a Monroe County Republican, for the 118th District seat, O'Connor likely didn't file a report because he made a choice not to raise any money.

Carroll, on the other hand, did. It showed he raised $43,210 in the cycle and spent $22,630. There was a remaining balance of $49,295 in his campaign account.

In the 116th District, Democrat Ransom Young's committee showed he was the big spender in the county, shelling out $55,891 last cycle and raising $66,875. He had $14,953 remaining as of Oct. 22.

The Butler Township supervisor contributed $45,000 of his own money to the campaign during the cycle is his attempt to unseat freshman legislator Tarah Toohil, R-Butler Township. His campaign also received $2,500 from the Friends of Todd Eachus campaign. Eachus, who served as House Majority Leader, was defeated by Toohil in 2010.

Toohil's report was not posted.

In the 119th District, another rematch from 2010, Rep. Gerald Mullery, D-Newport Township, raised $18,204 for the period giving him a total of $25,487. He spent $8,968 leaving him a balance of $16,518.

His Republican opponent, Rice Township homebuilder Rick Arnold, reported raising $20,625 and spending $26,482. His campaign was in the red as of Oct. 22, showing minus $5,806 in the bank.

State Reps Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Wilkes-Barre, and Karen Boback, R-Harveys Lake, are running unopposed on the ballot as is state Sen. John Gordner, R-Berwick.