Politics & Government

Show Me The Money Shelby: Board Candidates Report Campaign Contributions

Political candidate for Shelby Township Supervisor Bob Leman raised the most campaign contributions among candidates running for the Board of Trustees.

Someone is paying for the mailings and lawn signs of candidates running for Shelby Township's local offices, but who?

Under Michigan campaign finance law that information is public record and must be filed with the Macomb County clerk's office.

A candidate's committee to elect must file annual campaign statements as well as pre- and post-election campaign statements for elections where the candidate's name appears on the ballot, including the Aug. 7 primary.

Find out what's happening in Shelby-Uticawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The deadline for filing pre-primary statements was July 27. According to the Macomb County Clerk's Office, the only candidate who failed to file this statement, and could be prosecuted for doing so, is candidate for trustee, Nick Nightingale.

The biggest fundraisers for the Shelby Township Board of Trustees were the two Republican candidates for supervisor, and incumbent Leman raised the most with $35,720 and Stathakis raised $30, 486.

Find out what's happening in Shelby-Uticawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Among the clerk candidates, current clerk Stanley Grot raised nearly than double than that of candidate , with $22,220 over $10,229.

Another high-stakes fundraising race will be between current trustees and Michael Flynn, who are both running for treasurer. Manzella raised $20,650 and Flynn raised $24,265.

Candidate Paula Filar was the largest trustee fundraiser, with $12,040; Paul Viar raised $7,526; raised $6,007; raised $5,580; Vincent A. Bernardi raised $5,700; raised $4,902; raised $4,10; raised $3,180; Ann Byrd Brown raised $1,700 and Raquel Moore raised $1,30.

Contribution information was unavailable for trustee candidates and . reported zero because he said his campaign is completely self-funded and does not accept contributions.

The following information is based on reports filed with the county clerk.

Here's a look at the fundraising numbers for the supervisor race. The numbes represent only those contributions made by cash or check. They do not include the personal loans some candidates report to owe. Also, Patch has only made note of the contributors employee if it was listed on the reporting documents. 

Supervisor

  • Total Contributions: $30,486.54
  • Spent: $30,083.02
  • Remaining: $405.52
  • $250+ Contributors: Vito Strolis, employed by Ruehle's Services, $400; Carl Dallo, Employed by 17th Street, $400; Paul Saad, employed by Signature Associates, $300; Michele LoChirco, employed by MJC, $400; Mitchell O'Conner, employed by Spalding DeDecker Associates, Inc., $400; Richard Stathakis, $9,900; Gaetano Caccamo, employed by Guy-Con Building, $300; Karen Flisnik, employed by Purvis and Foster, $500; MaryAnn Lawrence, $500; Ronald Filar, employed by Filar and Associates, $500; David Filar, employed by Filar Electric, $500; Maria Perfili, employed by Vince's, $500; Linda Importa, employed by Vince's $500; Stacy Cerget, employed by Fazal Kahn, $500; Sarah Ward, $500, Robert Taylor, $500; Shelby Township Leadership PAC, $2,800; Domenic Balestro, employed by Palazzo Grande, $500; James Lahood, employed by Palazzo Grande, $500;

  • Total Contributions: $35,720
  • Spent: $22,541.50
  • Remaining: $13,178.51
  • $250+ Contributors: Gina Sheppman, employed by Esplindido Restaurant, $250; Jacqueline Bayer, $500; Pauline Stamper, employed by Stamper and Co., $500; Valentina Kovacevska, $500; Richard James, employed by Financial Services of America, $500; Kyle Anderson, $300; Ralph Maccarone III, $250; Miraj Mehta, $500; Priti Mehta, $500; Rod Westich, employed by Duggan Manufacturing, $500; Michael Arndt, $500; Stephen Lindsay, $300; Julie Santamaria, $500; Lawrence Leman, $500; Maurice Amicci, employeed by Ocean Breeze Restaurant, $250; William Byers, employeed by Byers Towing, $250, Sharon Byers, $250; Haitham Shamoun, $450; Jason Shmittler, $300; Stavros Toma, employeed by United Wireless, $250; Steve Messina, employeed by Messina Trucking, $500; Tony Srbinvonich, employeed by Donut Hole, $250; Stanley Muszynski, employeed by Excellent Police Equipment, $250; Timothy Dolan, employeed by Dolan Optical, $500; Amar Toma, employeed by United Wireless, $500; Iain MacDonald,employeed Interstate Alarm, $500; Cynthia Zapzcynski, employeed by Financial Services of America, $500; Kimberly Belcastro, $500; Netraid, $500; Lucas Towing, $300; Barbara Rossman, $400; Jone James, $250; Brian Bidus, $450; Roy Rose, $450; Frank Monaco, employeed Franklin Floors, $500; Bridgette Monaco, $500; William McNish, employeed by McNish Insurance, $500; Fosta Toma, $500; Nancy Bates, $300; Brian Toma, employeed United Wireless, $500; CTE Lisa Manzella, $300; Priscilla Stevens, $500; Joseph Toia, $300

Under Michigan campaign finance law, if a contributor donates more than $100 total to a campaign, they must also provide their occupation and employer information. The pre-primary statements are available in PDF form on the clerk's website.


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