Report: Montco Dems Gave $8,500 to Nonpartisan Lansdale PAC

A Lansdale political action committee (PAC) that identifies itself as nonpartisan has received thousands in contributions from the county Democratic organization, and has failed to file required documentation for its activities during the primary election cycle, according to county officials.

The Montgomery County Democratic Committee in 2012 contributed $3,500, and in 2013 contributed $8,500, to the Friends of Lansdale Political Action Committee, according to 2012 and 2013 annual campaign finance reports.

Yet, Friends of Lansdale, through its 2011 Political Committee Registration Statement, identifies itself as a nonpartisan PAC, meaning it has no affiliation to the Republican or Democratic parties. Furthermore, the PAC recorded that it intended to operate as a committee in the 2011 Election Year only.

Furthermore, all Democratic candidates endorsed by the Lansdale Democratic Party are also endorsed by Friends of Lansdale, except one—party-endorsed incumbent Mary Fuller in Ward One.

Another candidate in Ward One, Joe Wolf, is not endorsed by the Lansdale Democratic Party, but has the support of Friends of Lansdale.

An email to MCDC Executive Director Dianna DiIllio was not returned as of Friday, which sought comment on the contribution to a nonpartisan PAC and potential funneling of money to the PAC by the MCDC. If DiIllio chooses to respond, her comments will be added to this story.

The 2012 report was also filed two days late than on the required due date of Jan. 31, 2013.

Friends of Lansdale PAC has also failed to file both of the required pre-Primary campaign finance reports for 2013 on their due dates, according to Montgomery County Voter Services on Wednesday. 

According to county voter services, expense report filing guidelines require a Second Friday Pre-Primary report (May 10).

Friends of Lansdale treasurer Tom Benner said he mailed the 2013 campaign finance report on May 7 or May 8. The report accounts donations and expenses for a political campaign.

Between Jan. 1, 2013 and May 6, 2013, Friends of Lansdale totaled $11,923 in contributions. With a carry forward from last year of $4,744.18, Friends of Lansdale PAC has funds totaling $16,667.18, according to Benner.

Benner said Friends of Lansdale has spent $1,539.48 between Jan. 1 and May 6, 2013. The ending balance as of May 6 is $15,127.70.

"The main expenditures don't happen until the week before the election," Benner said. "We do not have to report them until 30 days post-Primary."

Thus far, in 2013, Friends of Lansdale has funded thousands of dollars in mailers and postage, per attribution on said mailers, with no receipts to show for it.

In 2012, Friends of Lansdale recorded a total of $4,885 in contributions. Of that, $3,000 was given by MCDC on July 18, 2012, and $500 on Sept. 24, 2012, according to the report. MCDC was the only committee to contribute more than $250 to the PAC.

Other supporters of Friends of Lansdale in 2012 included Mohammed Mollah and tax collector Jim Hanratty.

There was one individual contributor to Friends of Lansdale in 2012: Current Lansdale Council Democratic endorsed candidate, Friends of Lansdale endorsed candidate and Lansdale Democratic Party Corresponding Secretary Liz Troy, who contributed $1,000 toward the PAC.

In 2013, Benner said donations from the MCDC accounted for $8,500 in donations, given in three separate checks.

"Our major donor every single year is Montgomery County Democratic Committee," Benner said. "They are usually our Number One donor. Above half of all we get in is from them. For us, $8,500 is not unusual."

Three other PACs have thrown their support behind Friends of Lansdale this year, contributing $500 each: International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Chapter 830 Drive, of Philadelphia, and the law firm Obermayer, Rebmann, Maxwell and Hippel.

Center City, Philadelphia-based international law firm Cozen O'Connor gave $250 to the PAC this year.

Benner said Friends of Lansdale had two fundraising events in 2013, where a total of $6,800 was raised.

Friends of Lansdale lists expenditures totaling $303.87 for 2012, including $253 as a reimbursement for fundraising to Lansdale Democratic Committee Chairman Jack Hansen.

In 2011, Friends of Lansdale also submitted two Political Committee Registration Statements two months apart. The only change: Valerie Tinney removed as chairperson and replaced with Hansen's stepson Louis D. Epps, according to the document.

Friends of Lansdale came under scrutiny in 2011 when its campaign finance report pre-Primary showed zero contributions or expenditures between Jan. 1 and May 2, 2011.

In 2011, then-candidate and current candidate Leon Angelichio told Patch Friends of Lansdale has not only expensed four different campaign mailers, but also palm cards, literature drops and yard signs.

Mailers alone can cost upwards of $5,000. Postage at 44 cents each for the 1,704 Democrats just in Ward 3 totals $749.

Furthermore, a fundraiser for Friends of Lansdale was held April 29, 2011 at the home of  Hansen. Donors were asked to give anywhere between $1,000 (Obama donor) to $25 (friend).

Hansen said in 2011 that fundraiser brought in $1,900 for the PAC.

According to Hansen, all expenses were done on “a handshake” and no money has been deposited because the bank did not open an account for Friends of Lansdale.