Gray outraises Smithgall in race for mayor Options

[Lancaster Online]

[Artie See]

Smithgall received only two contributions of more than $1,000. They were from Erich Burlefinger of West Lampeter Township ($2,000), the general partner of the Burle Business Park, and Beverly R. Steinman of Lancaster Township ($1,000), a director of Lancaster Newspapers Inc.

Smithgall's campaign received three contributions of $500. They were from Charles McWilliams, a Lancaster funeral director; John C. and Beverly B. Schantz of Lancaster; and John M. and Sara T. Buckwalter of Manheim Township, chairman of the board of Lancaster Newspapers Inc.

[Artie See]

Those numbers, however, do not include the $3,311 Gray received in un-itemized contributions, or those $50 or less.

Smithgall's report shows that $4,900 of his $6,900 came from 10 donors who live outside the city. He did not have any contributions of $50 or less.

Contributions of $50 or less usually come from working people, or from other average people of limited financial means. In other words, most of the people who live in Lancaster City.

[runutz]

Shill.

[Artie See]

Shill.

That is the only response you have left, considering that you cannot argue with the facts.

[runutz]

That is the only response you have left, considering that you cannot argue with the facts.

Gray is equally supported by sources outside the city, and support from business is not necessarily a bad thing. Your supposition that small contributions come from "the people" and the implication that they are somehow more virtuous is part of a tedious penchant for bashing in the guise of advocacy. My opinion, and I pretty sure I am not alone, but then it really isn't all about you.

[Dont B Fooled]

Contributions of $50 or less usually come from working people, or from other average people of limited financial means. In other words, most of the people who live in Lancaster City.

You can only try and "guess" if your statement is true or not. But how about this....

"Those figures don't include the more than $20,000 Gray's campaign netted at an art auction held after Friday's deadline for filing finance reports"

So the Mayor adds an "Arts Manager" to this city payroll and obviously benefits personally from it from that community. That's OK...nothing wrong with it but wouldn't it be better if he used that money to hire a Crime statistician or some other more meaningful position that would help clean up Lancaster City or help reduce or prevent the crime wave that is rolling like a steam locomotive downtown? Seriously Artie....in today's financial environment this position certainly cannot be justified other than by those who are directly involved in this area including the Mayor.

[Artie See]

So the Mayor adds an "Arts Manager" to this city payroll and obviously benefits personally from it from that community. That's OK...nothing wrong with it but wouldn't it be better if he used that money to hire a Crime statistician or some other more meaningful position that would help clean up Lancaster City or help reduce or prevent the crime wave that is rolling like a steam locomotive downtown? Seriously Artie....in today's financial environment this position certainly cannot be justified other than by those who are directly involved in this area including the Mayor.

First of all, I do not agree with Rick Gray's decision to hire an arts manager.

Second of all, the arts manager was hired using grant money, not Lancaster City tax proceeds. If it is ever proposed to put the arts manager position on the Lancaster City payroll, I promise that I will speak out against it loud and long.

Rick Gray isn't perfect, but he's a far better manager than Smithgall. Period. Anyone who has attended City Council committee meetings during both the Smithgall and Gray administrations can see this quite clearly.

[runutz]

You can only try and "guess" if your statement is true or not. But how about this....

Friends of John Callahan ($1,000), the campaign committee of Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan

Gray takes money from Bethlehem. Bethelhem just got a casino. Hotels make a good place for a casino. Gray had the Brunswick closed to bring in a casino. Hmmmmmm........

This post has been edited by runutz: Oct 27 2009, 11:15 AM

[Dont B Fooled]

First of all, I do not agree with Rick Gray's decision to hire an arts manager.

Second of all, the arts manager was hired using grant money, not Lancaster City tax proceeds. If it is ever proposed to put the arts manager position on the Lancaster City payroll, I promise that I will speak out against it loud and long.

Rick Gray isn't perfect, but he's a far better manager than Smithgall. Period. Anyone who has attended City Council committee meetings during both the Smithgall and Gray administrations can see this quite clearly.

Fair enough. We agree on this point. But you can bet when the grant money expires somehow the position will remain and somehow the City will have some expense in it. There's no way for me to know that for a fact but I think that's a pretty good guess. I don't attend City Council meetings so I cannot say first hand how Gray or Smithgall performs at them so I have no comment. As individuals I prefer Smithgall over Gray by a long shot. As far as business sense, neither of them are great at it but I would pick the guy that I at least feel I can sit at the table and talk to in the hopes that something can be accomplished and Smithgall has Gray beat on that front in a big way.

[my2cntz]

Smithgall: Been there but couldn't help
Gray: Here now, but can't help".

Good choices Lancaster!

[citydweller]

Smithgall received only two contributions of more than $1,000. They were from Erich Burlefinger of West Lampeter Township ($2,000), the general partner of the Burle Business Park, and Beverly R. Steinman of Lancaster Township ($1,000), a director of Lancaster Newspapers Inc.

Smithgall's campaign received three contributions of $500. They were from Charles McWilliams, a Lancaster funeral director; John C. and Beverly B. Schantz of Lancaster; and John M. and Sara T. Buckwalter of Manheim Township, chairman of the board of Lancaster Newspapers Inc.

Methinks LNP must have a new taxpayer-funded project on the drawing board.

[runutz]

Methinks LNP must have a new taxpayer-funded project on the drawing board.

Chuck sells papers. He got the NE endoresment, has the Intell weighed in?

[greidel]

Gray takes money from Bethlehem. Bethelhem just got a casino. Hotels make a good place for a casino. Gray had the Brunswick closed to bring in a casino. Hmmmmmm........

If you are looking for casino conspiricies, try this out: the Steinman family, who is known to be into horse racing, appears to be backing Charlie. As is a partner in Burle Business Park, a place with close highway access and acres of free parking (which casino patrons would expect).

This post has been edited by greidel: Oct 27 2009, 12:55 PM

[knowntome]

Contributions of $50 or less usually come from working people, or from other average people of limited financial means. In other words, most of the people who live in Lancaster City.

They sure didn't come from any of the small trash haulers that Gray screwed.